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LONDON: Before starting their annual runs toward what they hope is an NBA championship, players like Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic have another trophy to chase this summer.

They’ll be seeking the European title.

EuroBasket — a 24-team tournament pitting the best squads in Europe against one another — opens Wednesday. Spain are the defending champion, and more than two dozen players who currently are on NBA rosters are expected to take part in the event.

“I think you guys have gotten a taste of it a little bit with Olympics maybe and it’s kind of similar for us really how much pride there is in that tournament,” said Sweden guard Pelle Larsson, who plays for the Miami Heat, when asked to explain how big a deal EuroBasket is on his home continent.

“Everyone comes to compete and is really proud to represent their country,” he said. “For a country like Sweden, that is our biggest competition and that’s the most prideful.”

Spain beat France in the final of the 2022 tournament, the most recent last time EuroBasket was held.

Tournament format

Nations were drawn into groups of six. Teams will play the other teams in their group once in the opening stage. The top four teams in each group will advance to the knockout phase in Riga, Latvia, from Sept. 6 through Sept. 14.

Group A preview

Group site: Riga, Latvia

Teams (FIBA world ranking):

Serbia (2), Latvia (9), Czechia (19), Turkiye (27), Estonia (43), Portugal (56)

Outlook: The good news for Latvia is that they will be at home for the entirety of the tournament, with the group stage and the knockout rounds all in Riga. The bad news for Latvia (and Czechia, Turkiye, Estonia and Portugal) is that Serbia will be there as well. Serbia is the tournament favorite for good reason, with Denver’s Nikola Jokic set to lead a team that has been proven on the world stage for some time. Serbia went 7-0 in tune-up games leading into EuroBasket, winning them all by at least 10 points.

Predicted to advance: Serbia, Latvia, Czechia, Turkiye

Group B preview

Group site: Tampere, Finland

Teams (FIBA world ranking): Germany (3), Lithuania (10), Montenegro (16), Finland (20), Great Britain (48), Sweden (49)

Outlook: This could be the most competitive group, with the reigning World Cup champion in Germany, a traditional power like Lithuania and a rising team like Finland — who played very well in exhibitions this summer and get the edge of playing group games at home. Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner should be enough of a 1-2 punch to get Germany into the knockout round. After that, chaos seems possible.

Predicted to advance: Germany, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden

Group C preview

Group site: Limassol, Cyprus

Teams (FIBA world ranking): Spain (5), Greece (13), Italy (14), Georgia (24), Bosnia and Herzegovina (41), Cyprus (84)

Outlook: It is the group of champions, with five of the last eight EuroBasket winners (Spain three times, Greece once, Italy once in that span) all starting out in Cyprus. Count Spain out at one’s own peril; no, it has not been a good summer for the defending champions, but history has shown that coach Sergio Scariolo’s squad always finds a way to give themselves a chance in the biggest moments. And it should be noted that Spain have reached the EuroBasket semifinals in each of the last 11 such tournaments. Hosts Cyprus are on this stage for the first time.

Predicted to advance: Spain, Greece, Italy, Georgia

DUBAI: The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament returned for its third edition on Sunday at the ICC Academy in Dubai with CEO David White highlighting the competition’s growth, role in developing young talent, and contribution to the UAE’s cricket depth and professionalism.

“It’s a great opportunity for these young men to stake a claim to be selected in the full tournament (DP World International League season four), so it’s incredibly important,” he said in a statement recently.

“Last year, there was a big improvement in the standard, and I’m sure it’s going to be an even higher standard again this year.”

“Not only their skills, but also their attitude, their strength and conditioning, the whole level of professionalism has increased,” White added.

“We’ve already had success stories. A lot of these players have played this tournament and then gone on to do well in the main event. The fact that they get to perform in front of cameras, with matches streamed live, adds both pressure and incentive at the same time.”

With the DP World ILT20 Player Auction for season four set just days after the Asia Cup 2025, all eyes will be on the development tournament as teams aim to secure the UAE’s most exciting talent for the minimum of two spots in the playing XI.

“It’s a big opportunity to impress. If they do get selected in one of the franchise teams, they’ll not only participate in the league but also train with world-class coaches,” White said.

The DP World ILT20 season four runs from Dec. 2 to Jan. 4, having established itself as a global competition.

White said: “The league last year really stepped up. It is very pleasing now that we are talked about, in global cricket terms, as one of the big leagues.

“When everyone talks about the big leagues around the world, they talk about DP World ILT20 as well. We’re now mainstream, we’re a league that’s growing, getting bigger, and I’m really excited about Season 4.”

Looking ahead, the tournament’s festive schedule adds further appeal, said White. “December and early January is a tremendous time for us. It is going to be really exciting.

“It gives us an opportunity to market over the Christmas period and the New Year period, the holiday season, which will mean that the crowds will be big, and it will give a real focus for cricket in this region.”

White also highlighted that the DP World ILT20 is strengthening the UAE national team.

“The UAE team have increased their depth, they now qualify for the Asia Cup, and they have the ability to beat any team on the day,” he said.

“What’s exciting about the Asia Cup is that Afghanistan, Pakistan and UAE have had a lot of experience playing in the DP World ILT20, in these conditions, which will certainly help them.”