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KATOWICE (Poland) – Even though Slovenia started their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a defeat to Poland, Luka Doncic added one more page to his already distinguished chapter in the competition’s history books.
In his first official game with the national team as a Los Angeles Laker, he became the first ever player to register more than 30 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals in a single EuroBasket game since at least 1995, when relevant records started being kept.
With an astonishing losing effort of 34 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals in front of the NBA franchise’s delegation in Spodek Arena, Luka Magic continued the Lakers’ tradition of EuroBasket excellence.
The Slovenian leader and EuroBasket 2017 champion is the latest of Lakers players who represented their nation at this stage and collected individual and team accolades.
Pau Gasol (Spain)
Pau Gasol led Spain to a third FIBA EuroBasket title in 2015
You can’t say “FIBA EuroBasket excellence” without mentioning Pau Gasol, who won three EuroBasket titles (2009, 2011, and 2015) with the Spanish national team. He also stepped on the podium in four other editions.
Spain’s legend is also the player with the most appearances (7) in the FIBA EuroBasket All-Star Five, and the one with the most EuroBasket MVP awards (2) alongside Kresimir Kosic. Pau was the EuroBasket Top Scorer in three different editions and is the competition’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,183 points.
He was a key piece in the purple and gold LA franchise winning the NBA title twice during his stint in Los Angeles, from 2008 to 2014.
Vlade Divac (Yugoslavia)
Vlade Divac won five medals at FIBA EuroBasket
The first really big non-US name to pull on the Los Angeles Lakers jersey, Vlade Divac is a multi-time winner at FIBA EuroBasket and twice a member of the EuroBasket All-Star Five. He played in LA from 1989 to 1996 and had another short stint in 2004-05 before retiring.
He first contributed to Yugoslavia’s third-place finish in 1987 and then to two titles, at FIBA EuroBasket 1989 and 1991. Then, he led the team to glory once again at FIBA EuroBasket 1995, stepping on the podium one last time in 1999.
Marc Gasol (Spain)
Marc Gasol played his last FIBA EuroBasket in 2017
Next to his brother Pau, Marc Gasol collected two FIBA EuroBasket titles, in 2009 and 2011. Moreover, the iconic Spanish center brought home three more medals in 2007, 2013, and 2017.
Before returning to Spain as Girona’s president and leader on the floor, he also spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020-21, his last season in the NBA.
Dennis Schroder (Germany)
Dennis Schroder led Germany to third place at FIBA EuroBasket 2022
The German national team captain is, alongside Luka Doncic, the only active player on this list who managed to step on the FIBA EuroBasket podium at least once. That happened back in 2022, when Germany came in third.
Dennis Schroder, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists for the Lakers in 2020-21 and returned for another stint in 2022-23, is Germany’s heart and soul. He had 21 points in this edition’s opening win against Montenegro.
Moreover, he ranks among the most prominent scorers in the history of FIBA EuroBasket, as he is averaging 22.3 points per game in the competition.
Ronny Turiaf (France)
Ronny Turiaf was in Katowice too back at FIBA EuroBasket 2009
Ronny Turiaf didn’t win the FIBA EuroBasket title with the French national team, but he participated in two editions: in 2007, when the tournament was held in Spain, and in 2009 in Poland.
One of the two Ambassadors of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025, the charismatic big man was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, and stayed with the team until 2008.
Luol Deng (Great Britain)
Luol Deng had an exceptional campaign for Great Britain at FIBA EuroBasket 2011
Entering the NBA in 2004 to retire 15 years later, Luol Deng also played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2016 to 2018, after he had established himself as Great Britain’s bona fide superstar.
The current president of the South Sudanese basketball federation had a fantastic campaign at FIBA EuroBasket 2011; he led the competition in points per game with 24.6, adding 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Honorable mentions
Jose Calderon won FIBA EuroBasket 2011 with Spain in Lithuania
The list of European players who played for the Lakers and competed for their country at FIBA EuroBasket includes several more names, such as point guard Jose Calderon, a EuroBasket 2011 champion with Spain. .
Former Laker Ivica Zubac played for Croatia at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, just like Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. Sasha Vujacic is the other Slovenian to have worn the purple and gold, from 2004 to 2010, but didn’t compete for Slovenia at senior level.
With Greece starting off strong in Group C on Thursday, could Kostas Antetokounmpo become another Laker, albeit former in his case, to celebrate podium success at FIBA EuroBasket?
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