Best European National Basketball Teams
by Dan Holmes,
October 02, 2025
Perhaps more than any other major North American team sport, basketball is a global pastime. In recent years, many of the biggest superstars in the National Basketball Association have been European-born. It isn’t surprising that European basketball teams have been among the best in recent international play.
Europe’s Best Basketball Teams
When analyzing the global basketball landscape, the conversation invariably turns to the depth and tactical sophistication of Europe. The continent operates not as a silo, but as a collection of distinct, ferociously proud basketball nations, each with its own identity, style, and pipeline of talent.
Establishing a hierarchy of European national basketball teams requires looking beyond single tournaments to recognize sustained excellence, program infrastructure, and the consistent ability to challenge for the world’s most significant titles.
This is the definitive guide to the best European national basketball teams, a fluid and highly competitive ecosystem where tradition clashes with new-wave talent. The order is a reflection of current power, historical weight, and the capacity to perform when the stakes are highest.
Spain National Team
For the better part of two decades, Spain has been the benchmark against which all other international teams, including the United States, are measured. Their success is built not on overwhelming athleticism, but on a foundation of pristine fundamentals, tactical discipline, and an almost telepathic on-court chemistry forged over countless campaigns.
This is a team that understands angles, spacing, and execution at a granular level. Which is why so many sharp bettors at the best basketball betting sites have checked their odds.
The famed “La Familia” identity was cultivated by the golden generation of Pau and Marc Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Rudy Fernández. Yet, as that era fades, Spain has demonstrated a remarkable ability to regenerate, winning the 2019 FIBA World Cup and 2022 EuroBasket with a new core led by the Hernangómez brothers and Lorenzo Brown, proving their system is the true star. Their consistent excellence keeps them at or near the top of any credible list of the best European basketball teams.
Serbian Basketball
Serbia is a veritable basketball factory, a nation that consistently produces more elite talent per capita than anywhere else on the planet. Carrying the formidable legacy of the great Yugoslavian teams, the Serbians play with a unique blend of brute force, sublime skill, and an inherent court sense that seems passed down through generations. Their signature is the point-center, a playmaking giant who can dismantle defenses from the high post.
While Nikola Jokić is the modern archetype of this identity, the program’s depth is its true strength, with a seemingly endless supply of savvy guards and versatile forwards like Bogdan Bogdanović. Their silver medal finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup was not an accident but an expectation, reaffirming their place among the absolute elite. The European basketball standings in any major tournament are incomplete without Serbia challenging for the podium.
German National Basketball Team
The reigning FIBA World Cup champions have forced a re-evaluation of the continent’s power structure. Germany’s triumph was the culmination of a decade of investment in their domestic league, the Basketball Bundesliga, and a patient, deliberate approach to player development. Their undefeated run in the tournament was a masterclass in cohesion and clutch performance.
Led by the electrifying Dennis Schröder, whose speed dictates the offense, and bolstered by the versatile Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, Germany plays a modern, five-out style. They possess shooting at every position and play with a palpable confidence. This group has proven it belongs in the conversation of the best European national basketball teams right now.
France and International Basketball
No European nation can match France’s combination of top-end NBA talent, size, and raw athleticism. For years, their identity has been anchored by the defensive prowess of Rudy Gobert, a generational rim protector who completely alters the geometry of the court. The arrival of Victor Wembanyama, a talent unlike any seen before, elevates their ceiling to unprecedented heights.
“Les Bleus” have been a consistent medal threat at the Olympics and World Cups, often falling just short of the ultimate prize. Their challenge has been to consistently harness their immense individual talent into a fluid, unstoppable offensive machine for a full tournament. When they are in sync, few European basketball teams can withstand their physical dominance.
Other European Basketball Teams
Lithuania
In this European country basketball national sport is not just a pastime; it is a core component of the national identity, a second religion. This profound cultural connection fuels a program that consistently punches far above its weight class. With a population of under three million, Lithuania’s ability to remain a perennial contender is nothing short of remarkable.
From the legendary Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis to the modern NBA duo of Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valančiūnas, Lithuania has always been defined by its highly skilled, fundamentally sound big men. They play a cerebral, team-oriented game that can frustrate more athletic opponents.
Slovenia
Slovenia’s presence this high is a testament to the transformative power of a single, generational player. Luka Dončić is a basketball savant, an offensive engine capable of single-handedly carrying his nation to improbable heights. His mastery of the pick-and-roll and his uncanny ability to control the pace of the game make Slovenia one of the most difficult teams to prepare for.
Their magical, undefeated run to the 2017 EuroBasket title, with Goran Dragić as the veteran leader, remains their crowning achievement. While their success is heavily reliant on Dončić’s singular genius, his presence alone guarantees them a chance against any opponent on any given night, making them a fixture in any discussion of the top European teams.
Greece
Similar to Slovenia, the Greek national team’s modern identity is inextricably linked to its superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo. “The Greek Freak” brings a level of power and athleticism that few international teams can handle. When he is on the floor, Greece transforms from a solid team into a legitimate medal contender.
The program has a proud history, including the stunning upset of Team USA in the 2006 World Cup semifinals and two EuroBasket titles. The challenge for Greece has been building a consistent offensive system around Antetokounmpo that doesn’t stagnate when he is off the court. Their passionate, physical style of play, however, ensures they are always a formidable opponent.
Beyond these powerhouses lies a deep field of dangerous teams capable of producing upsets and making deep tournament runs. Italy, with its sharpshooting and tactical discipline, Latvia, whose fanatical support is matched by its barrage of three-point shooting, and a historically tough Spanish squad are all part of the fabric that makes European basketball so compelling. These nations underscore the health and competitiveness of the game across the continent.
The hierarchy of European basketball is in a constant state of flux. While Spain set the gold standard for nearly twenty years through system and culture, the paradigm is shifting. The individual brilliance of superstars from Serbia, Slovenia, and Greece, combined with the athletic depth of France and the sudden arrival of Germany as world champions, has created a multipolar landscape.
The race to be considered among the best European national basketball teams is more open than ever. This fierce internal competition is the primary reason the continent continues to close the gap on the United States and consistently produces some of the most compelling, high-level basketball in the world.
European Stars in the NBA
The recent influx of European talent has reshaped NBA rosters, with several players immediately establishing themselves as franchise cornerstones. The most prominent is France’s Wembanyama, a generational prospect whose unprecedented blend of size, skill, and defensive instincts resulted in a historically dominant rookie season. He is the clear standard-bearer for this new wave of European stars.
Beyond Wembanyama, other players have made a significant impact. Turkish center Alperen Şengün has emerged as a brilliant offensive hub for the Houston Rockets, drawing comparisons to Serbian superstar and NBA MVP Nikola Jokić with his elite passing and post-play. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo is Greece’s pride and joy, a former NBA MVP and champion.