Israel’s EuroBasket Rivals: Familiar Faces Beyond Slovenia and France

The Israeli national basketball team has learned its oppstartnts for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, set to take place this summer. The draw revealed that Israel will compete against France, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium, and startland. It’s essential to familiarize ourselves with these rivals as the tournament approaches.

France

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Victor Wembanyama’s fitness ahead of the summer, France boasts a wealth of talent. Stars like Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Bilal Coulibaly, Isaiah Cordinier, and Gershon Yabusele highlight the team’s depth. Injured player Mathias Lessort is expected to recover in time for the tournament, and Theo Maledon is anticipated to take a prominent role at the point guard position following an impressive EuroLeague season. France reached the finals of last summer’s home Olympics in Paris but fell short against the United States. Notably, Nicolas Batum has retired from international play and will not join the squad.

Slovenia

Luka Dončić, the star player from the Los Angeles Lakers, will face the Israeli team. Alongside Dončić, key figures include sharpshooter Klemen Prepelič, as well as young talents like Luka Čančar, who has seen limited minutes in the NBA, and Jaka Blažič. Questions abound regarding potential naturalized players, with options including Mike Toby, Josh Nebo—who has struggled with injuries this season—and even Daniel Gafford, should the Slovenian federation successfully expedite his citizenship.

Poland

Leading the Polish national team will be Jeremy Sochan of the San Antonio Spurs, who has shown steady improvement since joining the NBA. Other notable players include the towering Olek Balcerowski (standing at 2.19 meters) and Mateusz Ponitka, who consistently performs well when representing his country. Poland aims to naturalize Jordan Loyd, according to reports from Europe, adding depth to their already formidable lineup.

Belgium

Belgium presents a team filled with intriguing and high-quality players who can certainly challenge Israel. At the forefront is Tomi Kamara, a standout defensive player and close friend of Israel’s Deni Avdija, who is yet to play for the senior national team. Another promising player is young Ajay Mitchell, who was a rotational player in the Oklahoma City Thunder before suffering an injury in January. Rethin Obasohan, a significant figure from the former Hapoel Jerusalem and now with Manresa, is another vital asset for the Belgian squad.

startland

Considered the weakest team in Israel’s group, startland could still pose a challenge. Israel will enter the match as the favorite but must contend with their star player, Martin Hermannsson, the point guard for Alba Berlin, who has been having a stellar season in the EuroLeague. Another notable contributor is Olver Fridriksson from Marsosi in the Greek league, who, alongside Hermannsson, featured prominently in the qualifiers, averaging 15 points and 6.7 assists.

As the tournament approaches, understanding these teams and their key players will be crucial for Israel’s performance in EuroBasket