With group play tipping off, FIBA EuroBasket provides a unique opportunity to evaluate NBA talent in a meaningful competition during the league's quietest month. The tournament, held every four years and featuring 24 of Europe's top basketball nations, often serves as a preview for breakout seasons, as players showcase their skills in expanded roles while representing their home countries.
As we inch closer to October, these are 8 Fantasy Basketball Players to Watch at FIBA EuroBasket who could provide valuable insights into their 2025-26 potential. (Statistics as of August 26, 2025)
1. Pelle Larsson
(SG, Sweden/Miami Heat)
2024-25 stats: 4.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG
1.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
43.8 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 67.2 FT%
A second-round pick in 2024, Pelle Larsson shot decent percentages in a minor role off the bench for Miami as a rookie. Then, Duncan Robinson, who took up a significant chunk of the SG and SF minutes during his lengthy Heat career, signed a deal with the Pistons early this offseason.
With a clearer route to increased playtime in 2025-26, Larsson followed up his rookie campaign with a terrific Summer League, averaging 17.4 PPG on 60.6% true shooting over five games. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has heaped praise on the young Swede this offseason for his competitiveness and fit with the team, as he now gets to put his skills on display as his country’s featured player.
Larsson is not the same level of shooter as Robinson, but was a far superior defender as a rookie and showcased advanced skills as a cutter and playmaker. With Haywood Highsmith also leaving Miami earlier this month, Larsson has a great chance to fill the backup wing role behind starters Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins, and his performance at EuroBasket will be an ideal litmus test.
2. Franz Wagner
(SF, Germany/Orlando Magic)
2024-25 stats: 24.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG
4.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG
46.3 FG%, 29.5 3P%, 87.1 FT%
Franz Wagner’s brother Mo and Isaiah Hartenstein will unfortunately miss the tournament due to injuries, but Germany still has one of EuroBasket’s top rosters with veteran Dennis Schroder (whose Kings deal we highlighted as a sleeper offseason move), ex-NBA players Daniel Theis and Isaac Bonga, and Wagner’s Magic teammate Tristan Da Silva.
In a wide-open Eastern Conference, the expectations are sky high for the Magic this season after trading for Desmond Bane. Entering his fifth NBA season following his best year to date, Wagner is expected to lead the charge for Orlando along with Paolo Banchero.
Despite subpar efficiency from deep in 2024-25, Wagner increased his PPG by 4.5 and improved as a playmaker. He’ll now aim to use international play as a launch pad toward a contending season for Orlando.
3. Nikola Topic
(PG, Serbia/Oklahoma City Thunder)
2024-25 stats: N/A
Nikola Topic was selected 12th overall by the Thunder in 2024, but missed the entire season due to a torn ACL. The talented 20-year-old is in a unique situation. Coming off a championship, Oklahoma City evidently has a stacked roster, but the one area that could be improved is playmaking depth behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
When SGA got rest last season, Jalen Williams shouldered a hefty playmaking load, but the Thunder never featured a true backup PG. Topic can certainly fill that void, especially after leading Summer League in APG at 7.3.
The Serbian has struggled with efficiency, but if he can continue to demonstrate some of the artistry and vision we saw in Las Vegas at EuroBasket, he can be a major factor in the Thunder rotation this season.
4. Sandro Mamukelashvili
(PF, Georgia/Toronto Raptors)
2024-25 stats: 6.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG
0.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
50.2 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 74.1 FT%
Sandro Mamukelashvilli is set to form an imposing frontcourt duo with fellow Georgian and NBA player Goga Bitadze at EuroBasket, after posting his best NBA season to date. In a backup big role for San Antonio, Mamukelashvili displayed an impressive offensive skillset, draining 60 threes on 37.3% while showcasing defensive versatility.
He got particularly hot after Victor Wembanyama went down in February, scoring double-digit points in nearly half of his remaining appearances. This included a tantalizing 34-point showing on 13-14 FG and 7-7 3FG while grabbing five offensive rebounds against the Knicks in March.
Mamukelashvili signed a two-year deal with the Raptors this offseason and figures to have an increased role given Toronto’s lack of depth at the five. His featured role on Georgia’s national team is a great chance to see if he can build on those late-season performances for the Spurs.
5. Zaccharie Risacher
(SF, France/Atlanta Hawks)
2024-25 stats: 12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG
1.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
45.8 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 71.1 FT%
One of the least-discussed number one overall picks in recent history, Zaccharie Risacher got off to a slow start as a rookie, but turned things up a notch down the stretch. Over his final nine games, he went off for 36-plus points twice, including a 15-20 FG display on April 10th, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Tweet via @dlee4three on X
France has one of the deepest rosters at EuroBasket, including young Wizards standouts Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, but star player Victor Wembanyama will miss the competition due to injury. As a result, Risacher will be tasked with a major offensive load and the opportunity to show he’s ready for a sophomore year jump.
6. Ben Saraf
(SG, Israel/Brooklyn Nets)
2024-25 stats: 12.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG
4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
44.4 FG%, 29.0 3P%, 74.9 FT%
The Nets used their record fifth selection in June’s first round to select Ben Saraf, a lefty combo guard who played in Germany last season. Despite a relatively poor showing at Summer League for Saraf, the Nets have a wide open depth chart sorely lacking established talent, and the Israeli will have every chance to take up a considerable guard role as a rookie.
EuroBasket will give him another opportunity to get up to speed against NBA-level players, and he won’t have to go it alone. Saraf will be teaming up with Deni Avdija, who has developed nicely over the past two seasons in Washington and Portland, forming an intriguing lineup that has a great shot to make it out of Group D.
7. Adem Bona
(C, Turkey/Philadelphia 76ers)
2024-25 stats: 5.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG
0.5 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.2 BPG
70.3 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 67.0 FT%
Adem Bona, who was born in Nigeria and moved to Turkey at 13 years old, features on a deep Turkish roster along with Rockets star Alperen Sengun and former NBA players Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman, and Shane Larkin. The 76ers’ big man had a solid rookie season, filling in at center for the oft-injured Joel Embiid, along with Guerschon Yabusele (who signed with the Knicks this offseason) and Andre Drummond.
In 15.6 minutes per game, Bona grabbed 4.2 RPG and shot 70.3% from the field. In a EuroBasket competition hosting some of the best centers in the NBA, Bona can prove he has staying power in the league if he can demonstrate an added dimension beyond the physicality and interior presence he had as a rookie.
8. Neemias Queta
(C, Portugal/Boston Celtics)
2024-25 stats: 5.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG
0.7 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
65.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 75.4 FT%
Neemias Queta takes the final spot among our 8 Fantasy Basketball Players to Watch at FIBA EuroBasket after we highlighted him in July as a Dynasty Riser from Free Agency.
The path to key rotation minutes for the Celtics next season remains clear for the Portuguese national even after Boston signed former Raptor Chris Boucher earlier this month. Boucher provides additional big depth, but the 32 year old has averaged just 17.7 minutes per game over eight NBA seasons.
The early signs for Queta have been solid in limited action, and the opportunity he has in a potential down season for the Celtics is tremendous. As Portugal’s sole NBA player, it may be tough to evaluate him at EuroBasket given a lack of surrounding playmakers, but there is also the possibility he puts the team on his back in a featured role.