By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Plenty of international NBA players will be representing their respective countries in the 2022 EuroBasket.
The EuroBasket usually lacks NBA players compared to the European national teams competing in the Olympic Games and FIBA World Cup. But 42 players (reduced to 35) gearing up for the 2022 edition beg to differ.
Keeping in mind that cuts or late additions to the squads are possible, France is in the lead with four NBA players on its preliminary list. Germany, Slovenia, Turkey, Croatia, Greece, and Spain carry three players apiece.
The tournament stretches from 1 to 18 September. In a quick turnaround for the players involved, the 2022 NBA preseason and the first step toward the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season.
Eurohoops presents the list of NBA players in EuroBasket.
France (4)
Despite plenty of youngsters located in the NBA outside the picture and ruling out Frank Ntilikina, the Blues carry four more players projected to play in Cologne and most likely advance to the knockout stage in Berlin.
- Evan Fournier (New York Knicks)
- Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (free agent)
- Theo Maledon (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Frank Ntilikina (Dallas Mavericks)
Germany (3)
Germany will host Group B of the preliminary round and the ensuing single-elimination games. Franz Wagner and free agent Dennis Schroder will be pushing for an extended run since his brother Moritz is out due to an ankle injury.
- Dennis Schroder (free agent)
- Daniel Theis (Indiana Pacers)
- Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
Turkey (3)
Checking in at Tbilisi, Turkey will be looking stronger than ever. Missing Omer Yurtseven, but carrying three NBA players is a big part of the growing optimism for the 12 Giant Men fans.
- Cedi Osman (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)
Omer Yurtseven (Miami Heat)- Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers)
Croatia (3)
The Chequered Ones will be looking to clinch a berth to the Round of 16 in Milan. Both Bojan Bogdanovic and Ivica Zubac already played for Croatia in the ongoing offseason and will be joining forces with Dario Saric finally returning to action.
- Bojan Bogdanovic (Utah Jazz)
- Dario Saric (Phoenix Suns)
- Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)
Greece (3)
Similar to the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the leading player for Greece. A repeat of the 2021 NBA Playoffs would be welcomed by the Greek fans.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Tyler Dorsey (Dallas Mavericks)
Slovenia (3)
From the Greek Freak and the Joker to Luka Doncic. Playing alongside Goran Dragic once more is the question yet to be answered, despite the latter being included in the preliminary list of Slovenia.
- Vlatko Cancar (Denver Nuggets)
- Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
- Goran Dragic (Chicago Bulls)
Spain (3)
Ricky Rubio is injured, and Sergio Rodriguez, Pau Gasol, and Marc Gasol have all retired. But the next generation emerging for Spain looks pretty good as well. Here come the Hernangomez brothers and more.
- Usman Garuba (Houston Rockets)
- Juancho Hernangomez (Toronto Raptors)
- Willy Hernangomez (New Orleans Pelicans)
Georgia (2)
Tornike Shengelia potentially returning to the NBA can up the total of listed players to three. At the moment it is the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks represented in the Georgia squad.
- Goga Bitadze (Indiana Pacers)
- Sandro Mamukelashvili (Milwaukee Bucks)
Lithuania (2)
Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis together can be very demanding for any opponent to match up. Group B rivals are set to face the powerful duo in Cologne and from there possibly more national teams in Berlin.
- Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)
- Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans)
Ukraine (2)
Ukraine, packing Alex Len and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, is among the countries slated to compete in Milan’s Group C. Punching in tickets to Berlin is not a stretch nor a given.
- Alex Len (Sacramento Kings)
- Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Toronto Raptors)