The stage is set for the grand finale: on Sunday, Europe will witness a new champion crowned as Germany and Türkiye collide in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 championship game in Riga.
Both teams arrive at the title clash carrying perfect records, 8-0 apiece, and with history and ambition pushing them forward.
Germany seeks its second EuroBasket crown, more than three decades after their breakthrough win, while Türkiye is chasing their long-awaited first continental triumph.
Since the modern EuroBasket format came into effect, only one team has managed to lift the trophy while staying undefeated – Slovenia in 2017.
Before that, this rare achievement was completed by Lithuania in 2003 and Yugoslavia in 2001. Türkiye and Germany now stand on the verge of joining that exclusive club.
Germany knows what it feels like to succeed on the biggest stage. Their story began in 1993, when they shocked the basketball world by winning EuroBasket at home, capped off by Christian Welp’s clutch dunk that secured a dramatic 71-70 victory over Russia.
Welp’s heroics earned him the MVP award of that tournament, cementing the triumph as one of the most memorable moments in German basketball history.
Twelve years later, in 2005, another German legend, Dirk Nowitzki, carried his nation all the way to the championship game in Belgrade. Though he was the tournament MVP, Germany fell short in the Final, losing to a powerful Greece side, 78-62.
The most recent and perhaps most defining moment for this generation came in 2023. Led by Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, Germany defeated Serbia 83-77 in Manila to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup – their first world title.
That triumph has provided the core of today’s roster with invaluable experience, as they aim to add a European crown to their growing legacy.
Meanwhile, Türkiye’s journey tells a different tale: one of heartbreaks and near-misses. This year’s run to the Final is historic on its own, marking the first time that the national team has reached the title game outside of their home country.
The first brush with glory came in 2001, when Türkiye reached the EuroBasket Final in Istanbul. Fueled by the energy of 12,000 fans at the Abdi Ipekci Arena, the team pushed hard but ultimately fell short, as Yugoslavia secured a 78-69 win to claim the gold medal.
Nine years later, in 2010, the atmosphere was electric once again in Istanbul, this time at the Sinan Erdem Dome. More than 15,000 passionate fans filled the stands, hoping to see Türkiye lift their first major title in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final.
However, the dream was crushed by Team USA, who rolled to an 81-64 victory despite the incredible run of the hosts.
Now, in 2025, Türkiye is back on the cusp, ready to write a new chapter in its basketball history. With two painful Final losses behind them, the stakes could not be higher: a chance to finally turn silver into gold.
Trophy time: How have Türkiye and Germany fared in Finals? 🏆https://t.co/VI435iTBTo
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 13, 2025
