FIBA media Survey on Eurobasket 2022: France and Slovenia the best teams, Doncic the biggest star

MUNICH (Germany) – FIBA EuroBasket 2022 is widely considered the most eagerly anticipated edition of Europe’s showpiece tournament and so, inevitably, it has generated all sorts of burning questions throughout the summer.

Naturally, the most frequent questions have to do with predicting how the competition will unfold and what the final outcome will be. So the official FIBA EuroBasket 2022 website turned to all accredited media members at the big event, to give us their predictions. The vast majority of the respondents comes from Europe, but there are some also from other continents and the deadline to submit answers was August 22.

Which are the most surprising takeaways? The phenomenal parity between two contenders when it comes to predicting the champions (spoiler alert: one of those two are the reigning champions) is certainly one. Another is the fact that, for the first time in nearly two decades, Spain are not considered to be among the favorites.

And, last but not least, it’s quite telling that despite the avalanche of superstars that will take part at this huge event and the disparity of opinions around Europe on other matters, there is one player that comes from one of the smallest nations on the continent and yet is the consensus top choice in no less than four categories.

1. France: 30.4% 

Slovenia: 30.4% 

3. Greece: 15.2%

4. Serbia: 12.7%

5. Lithuania: 3.8%

Spain 3.8%

Other & N/A:  3.7%

*[Cumulative answers, combining all three podium spots]:

1. Slovenia: 74.7%

2. France: 62%

3. Serbia: 55.7%

4. Greece: 48.1%

5. Spain: 26.6%

6. Lithuania: 12.7%

7. Germany: 6.3%

8. Turkey: 5.1%

Other & N/A:  8.8%

1. Luka Doncic: 41.8%

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 22.8%

3. Nikola Jokic: 11.4%

4. Rudy Gobert: 8.9%

5. Evan Fournier: 3.8%

6. Domantas Sabonis: 2.5%

Other & N/A:  8.8%

1. Dimitris Itoudis: 27.8%

2. Svetislav Pesic: 13.9%

3. Aleksander Sekulic: 11.4%

4. Sergio Scariolo: 10.1%

5. Vincent Collet: 7.6%

Ergin Ataman: 7.6%

7. Gordon Herbert: 5.1%

8. Gianmarco Pozzecco: 3.8%

Other & N/A:  12.8%

1. Luka Doncic: 60.8%

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15.2%

3. Nikola Jokic: 7.6%

4. Vasilije Micic: 2.5%

Dennis Schroder: 2.5%

Other & N/A: 11.4%

1. Rudy Gobert: 39.2%

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 19%

Nikola Jokic: 19%

4. Jonas Valanciunas: 7.6%

5. Domantas Sabonis: 2.5%

Other & N/A: 12.7%

1. Luka Doncic: 35.4%

2. Nick Calathes: 10.1%

3. Dennis Schroder: 8.9%

4. Goran Dragic: 7.6%

5. Vasilije Micic: 6.3%

Nikola Jokic: 6.3%

7. Tomas Satoransky: 5.1%

8. Tamir Blatt: 3.8%

9. Thomas Huertel: 2.5%

Kostas Sloukas: 2.5%

Nicolo Melli: 2.5%

Other & N/A: 8.8%

*eligible players are those born in or after 2000

1. Franz Wagner: 14%

2. Rokas Jokubaitis: 8.9%

3. Alperen Sengun: 7.6%

Deni Avdija: 7.6%

5. Niccolo Mannion: 5.1%

6. Yam Madar: 3.8%

Theo Maledon: 3.8%

8. Nikola Jovic: 2.5%

Karlo Matkovic: 2.5%

Rati Andronikashvili: 2.5%

Other & N/A: 41.7%

1. Luka Doncic: 45.6%

2. Nikola Jokic: 12.7%

3. Goran Dragic: 8.9%

4. Vasilije Micic: 7.6%

5. Evan Fournier: 5.1%

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 2.5%

Kostas Sloukas: 2.5%

Other & N/A: 15.2%