By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The 24 countries to compete in the EuroBasket 2025 are set.
On March 27, they will be split into four equal groups via a draw. The entire process culminating in an exciting tournament between August 27 to September 14 will highlight the offseason. However, notable absences include Croatia and Mario Hezonja.
With the field at 24 national teams since 2011, traditional powers mostly find a way to the final stage of the EuroBasket. In this case, Croatia eliminated for the first time was an exception.
Eurohoops compiled a Top 5 + 2 list with the most significant absences of the EuroBasket 2025.
Clint Capela
Switzerland was knocked out in the Pre-Qualifiers and instead focused on advancing to the second round of the Pre-Qualifiers of the FIBA World Cup 2027. The last EuroBasket appearance dates back to 1955.
Clint Capela, a veteran of 742 NBA games over the last ten years, represented his country before moving his talents to the league based in North America. Moving up to the senior national team, he played in the Qualifiers of the 2015 and 2017 installments of the EuroBasket. A berth in a summer tournament is necessary for him to consider resurfacing.
Down the stretch of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, Capela hopes to reach the Playoffs for the ninth time in his career and fourth with the Atlanta Hawks.
Mario Hezonja
Battling against France and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia was on the wrong end of a three-way race for two tickets via Group E of the Qualifiers.
Mario Hezonja was on board for four games and delivered impressive showings, averaging 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest, but was not enough to clinch a berth in the EuroBasket.
Refocusing on Real Madrid, lifting trophies at the conclusion of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Spain’s Liga Endesa campaigns emerge as the next goals.
Gabriel Iffe Lundberg
Similar to Croatia, Denmark was ranked third in a three-way race additionally featuring Serbia and Georgia. Players the likes of Gabriel Iffe Lundberg and Shavon Shields boosting the squad over recent years made it seem possible but behind a drought equal to Switzerland, the Scandinavian country last played in the EuroBasket back in 1955.
Lundberg averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per contest over four appearances in Group G of the Qualifiers. Losing a key game against Georgia in Tbilisi marked elimination on Friday.
Back to Partizan Mozzart Bet and playing under the guidance of Zeljko Obradovic, the EuroLeague alongside regional and domestic competitions will keep Lundberg busy through the next months.
Jakob Poeltl
Early in the Pre-Qualifiers, Austria featured Jakob Poeltl but suffered losses across both appearances of the experienced NBA center on the way to elimination. Focusing on the Pre-Qualifiers of the next World Cup just like Switzerland, they also progressed to the second round. However, the country’s last EuroBasket appearance was in 1977.
Poeltl, a veteran of 605 NBA games, tallied 12.0 points and 14.5 rebounds per contest over the two appearances in the Pre-Qualifiers of the EuroBasket. Earlier in his career, he was capped in the Qualifiers of the 2019 installment of the World Cup, following a successful run at the junior level.
Getting ready to be removed from the injury list of the Toronto Raptors, the starting center of Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic is looking to finish the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season in style.
Sasha Vezenkov
Bulgaria fell short in a tight race with Germany, Montenegro, and Sweden in Group D of the Qualifiers.
Sasha Vezenkov did not play in Gameday 6, after scoring 40 points in an overtime win against Sweden on Thursday. His side losing to Germany in Bamberg marked elimination on Sunday.
The rest of the 2024-25 journey will be focused on looking to lead EuroLeague contender Olympiacos at the continental and domestic levels.