Antetokounmpo is the star of the NBA constellation

The Eurobasket, which kicks off today with Great Britain-Lithuania (12:30 p.m.), will once again demonstrate Europe's importance in the NBA, the best league in the world, with the participation of a constellation of stars who compete daily with LeBron James and Stephen Curry, among others. Serbia's Nikola Jokic, Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Slovenia's Luka Doncic are a cut above the rest, although the Greek Freak, as he is known in the United States, needs to take a step forward with his national team. Unlike the others, he has never managed to reach the podium.

“He's the first to arrive in the locker room and the last to leave the court,” explains his teammate Kostas Sloukas on FIBA ​​channels. “You can check your scouting report and try to take something away from him, but he has tricks up his sleeve that make him very difficult to defend,” adds the Finn, another name to watch, Lauri Markkanen, who represents the modern number 4.

The Greek has never won a medal and, along with Doncic and Jokic, will be the shining stars of the Eurobasket.

Antetokounmpo, named NBA Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, won a ring with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022. He will be Spain's most dangerous opponent in the first round in Cyprus.

Doncic, who at just 18 years old already led his national team to the European title, is another star after his multi-million dollar transfer to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Jokic, the best center and NBA MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and champion in 2023 with Denver, wants to ascend to gold after the silver and bronze medals at the European and Olympic Games, the last one in Paris.

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Other stars to watch include German forward Franz Wagner, a forward for the Orlando Magic; Latvian center Porzingis, a former player for Baloncesto Sevilla , and former center for the Atlanta Hawks; Turkish center Alperen Sengün, one of the NBA's best centers and a big sensation for this tournament; Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic; Spaniard Santi Aldama; and Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas. All of them will provide the color.