Eurobasket by the metrics

By Utkan Şahin/ info@eurohoops.net

Did you expect that Greece – minus Giannis Antetokounmpo – will still remain the tallest team of the tournament? Who is the 2,22 meters giant and is there a short guy who can ball?

We have all the answers and we present them to you. Even if some times that kind of data doesn’t mean much on the floor, it’s good to know what each team will be facing.

The tall Greeks

This is not exactly a stereotype, but it happened. Greece is the top team in average height with 203.8 cm, while Serbia follows with 203.7 cm.

On the bottom of the list, there are the Icelanders which will have to try their best in rebounding with an average height of just 195.3 cm. Here’s the list of the top ten teams in this area.

Age doesn’t matter

They say that it’s all about how you feel, however, a team that will fight for a medal will have to give nine games in 18 days. Having fresh legs may help, but on the other hand, the experience can make a difference.

In any case, one of the four co-hosts, Finland, has the oldest roster with an average age of 29.01 years. On the other hand, Germany is a really new team and that’s proven also by an average age of just 24.04 years.

Oldies but goldies

For many players, this Eurobasket is expected to be their last big tournament. You can’t beat time and Jiri Welsch had a great run, having his first Eurobasket experience back in 1999.

Generally speaking, the 1980 generation is expected to have its last hooray before calling it a day. And we will miss them.

The Oldest players
1	Jiri Welsch (Czech Republic)	37 (27.01.1980)
2	Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain)	37 (13.06.1980)
3	Pau Gasol (İspanya)	37 (06.07.1980)
4	Teemu Rannikko (Finland)	36 (09.09.1980)
5	Tuukka Kotti (Finland)	36 (18.03.1981)
6	Logi Gunnarsson (Iceland)	35 (05.09.1981)
7	Boris Diaw (France)	35 (16.04.1982)
8	Janis Blums (Latvia)	35 (20.04.1982)
9	Marko Popovic (Croatia)	35 (12.06.1982)
10	Hlynur Bæringsson (Iceland)	35 (06.07.1982)

New kids on the block

Speaking about the 80s’, there are players in this Eurobasket who were born almost in the 21st century. There’s a two decades distance and that’s a real generation gap.

That’s why it will be more than interesting to see players like 18 years old Luka Doncic against legends. The youngest player of the tournament is Georgia’s Goga Bitadze.

Short guys can ball

You don’t have to be really tall in order to have a basketball career. Yes, you can’t teach height, but you can’t also defend speed demons like Bobby Dixon aka Ali Muhammed.

He is the shortest and one of the most dangerous players in the whole tournament.

The Giants

Finally, the Bobinator and all his 222 centimeters are present in a Eurobasket tournament. A player that everyone is waiting to watch is the Serbian center.

Add to this list Kristaps Porzingis and you understand the importance of being tall.