Unibet basketball expert Magnus Barstad runs us through EuroBasket 2022 with his tips and groups preview.

Finally! EuroBasket 2022 is here. The last time it was played, an 18-year-old Luka Doncic (playing for Real Madrid at the time) showed the world the immense talent he possesses, as alongside Goran Dragic, he led Slovenia to their first ever European Championship title

It’s unprecedented that three of the best five players in the NBA are playing in the EuroBasket. Since the last EuroBasket in 2017, the NBA Most Valuable Player award has gone to European players four times in a row.

The format of the EuroBasket is four groups with six teams in each group. The four best teams go through to the knockout stages, with firsts playing fourths, and seconds facing thirds.

Group A

Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Montenegro, Spain and Turkey

Even though Spain are missing veterans such as Sergio Llull, Victor Claver, Serge Ibaka, Nikola Mirotic and Ricky Rubio, they are favourites to win Group A at Evens.

Euro legend Rudy Fernandez is the only player left from Spain’s golden generation that dominated European basketball for almost two decades with three golds, three silvers and three bronze finishes. Alongside Rudy, Spain has the Hernangomez brothers, Houston Rockets prospect Garuba, Lopez-Arostegui and Jamie Pradilla.

Group A is one of the weaker groups on paper, and not having Spain as one of the favourites to win the EuroBasket feels strange.

Turkey stand out as the sole challenger to Spain in the group. The likes of Shane Larkin, Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz and Alperen Sengun will be well known names for NBA fans. I am especially interested to follow the young and very talented center Alperen Sengun back in the FIBA format. My gut tells me the 6’11” 20-year-old will be a beast. Last time we saw him in Europe he won the Turkish League MVP at the tender age of 18 years old.

Behind those two teams, I would have Montenegro as the third best and it being a tight call between Belgium, Georgia and Bulgaria for the last knockout spot.

My prediction: 1. Turkey 2. Spain 3. Montenegro 4. Georgia
My bet: Turkey to win the group @ 6/5
One to watch: Alperen Sengun (Turkey)

Group B

Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Bosnia and France

Now this is a group. If we would dub any group of the tournament the “group of death”, this is it. Slovenia are coming off a very impressive and unexpected title in 2017. They have their most important players back, almost no injuries and most importantly a fit and motivated Luka Doncic.

France as a nation are doing a lot right basketball wise and are kicking on as a possible superpower for the next decade. I can’t hide my disappointment with the absence of Victor Wembanyama. Honestly, he might be the most fun NBA-draft prospect I have ever seen.

France still have a solid team led by defensive specialist Rudy Gobert, who is looking to showcase more of his complete arsenal. New York Knicks shooting guard Evan Fournier can often as an NBA player be a bit underwhelming and frustrating, but he is one of those players that can take it up a notch or ten when he laces up for a FIBA game. Some players just have a game that suits the FIBA style better than the NBA style.

In an NBA game I would barely count him as a net positive for his team, but in a FIBA game? He’s a star.

Germany, one of the host nations, has also flourished in the post-Nowitizki era. They will field a decent side for this year’s games, but the list of players not playing is simply too long for them to make a real impact.

Lithuania’s basketball traditions should also be remembered and respected in this group. They might have the best two-man frontline of any team in the tournament with the twin towers of Valanciunas and Sabonis. The physical style and pure strength of the Lithuanian team will cause any team that faces them severe trouble. With two consecutive second place finishes in the 2013 and 2015 EuroBasket, the Lithuanian team will once again look to make their mark on the tournament.

As if those four powerhouse nations aren’t enough? Let’s not forget about Josef Nurkic and his Bosnia that have looked great leading up to EuroBasket, beating group rivals France in an overtime game as recently as four days ago. To conclude the group, all I have to say is I feel for Hungary…

My prediction: 1. Slovenia 2. France 3. Lithuania 4. Germany
My bet: Slovenia to win the group @ 1/1
One to watch: Franz Wagner (Germany)

Group C

Greece, Italy, Estonia, Croatia, Ukraine and Great Britain

If we are being honest there is just one team that is interesting in this group, and no, it’s not GB. With Italy having taken a step down and missing some of their top talent, Group C is looking like a forgone conclusion.

Greece are lining up with what many hold as the world’s best basketball player in Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has said he really wants to bring the EuroBasket back to Athens and is looking to do so alongside his two brothers Kostas (not sure if he is playing due to injury) and Thanasis. The 33-year-old ex-NBA Nick Calathes might have the best jobs out of anyone in the EuroBasket.

Widely held as one of the best players in Europe, the point guard is a master of controlling the pace of a game. He will look to push the pace and deliver dimes with the Giannis brothers running the floor. Greece play at a frantic pace and will not allow defenses to set up in the half court.

Croatia have had solid teams that have been talked about as dark horses with high upside potential. A crushing defeat to Spain in the 2013 third place game is their best finish on record so they will once again look to make a run as outsiders.

The ever-intriguing Mario Hezonja has been out of the NBA for over two years now, but is set to star with NBA big men Ivica Zubac and Dario Saric. Captain of the team is Utah Jazz forward and scoring machine Bojan Bogdanovic. I really like some of the Croatian pieces, they have a good mix of veterans and young players. Can this be the tournament it clicks?

The rest of the group isn’t as strong. Ukraine have a decent side, and are likely to be the fourth team going through to the knockout. Great Britain can definitely compete but getting through will prove difficult.

My prediction: 1. Greece 2. Croatia 3. Italy 4. Ukraine
My bet: Croatia to finish first or second @ 3/4
One to watch: Mario Hezonja (Croatia)

Group D

Israel, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Serbia

Once again a pretty one-sided group as far as far as the winners go. Serbia are overwhelming favourites for the group, with two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic starring for the Serbian team. However, the story here might just be all the players they are missing.

If the Serbian team came full strength, I would have had zero problems calling them massive favourites to win the whole thing. Atlanta Hawks star and FIBA basket assassin Bogdan Bogdanovic is a huge loss, as he would have been one of the stars of the tournament.

Micic (not 100% out), Marjanovic, Jovic, and to some degree Poku as well. The fabulous Milos Teodosic also decided to retire from the national team about a month ago when the coach made it clear he would not be the number one option. Svetislav Pesic was completely transparent and said that having a player of Teodosic’s calibre on the team and not having the ball in his hands at all times is just a waste for everyone. And we can’t see a character and a player as big as him play from a bench role, something he has never done before.

Bold decision – let’s see if he’s right. Why would Teodosic not have the ball in his wizard-like hands you might ask? Well.. Nikola Jokic.

Finland, behind the leadership of veterans Koponen, Huff and their superstar Lauri Markkanen, have intentions of making some noise in the knockout stages. The same can be said for the Czech team. A huge question mark here is the health of Tomas Satoransky. Will we once again get to see the dynamic pick and roll duo of Satoransky and Vesely?

Seven-foot Vesely is one of the most decorated European players of the last decade, winning the EuroLeague MVP in 2019 and the EuroLeague in 2017. He was actually the sixth pick of the 2011 NBA draft, but only played 162 games in the NBA and averaged 3.6 ppg. In Europe though, the high-flying center is a beast. He is just one of “those” players.

Israel with Guy Pnini and Deni Avdija will fight it out with Poland for the last knockout place. While the tallest country in the world looks dead set to finish last in the group.

My prediction: 1. Serbia 2. Finland 3. Czech Republic 4. Poland
My bet: Finland to finish top two @ 7/4
One to watch: Yam Madar (Israel)