A clash of golden generations: EuroBasket 2025 final preview
Germany, powered by Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder, are enjoying their greatest ever spell in basketball. Türkiye, with Alperen Sengun and the mind of Ergin Ataman, are seeking a first ever major title. Something’s got to give in the final of EuroBasket 2025
It all comes down to this. Behind Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder is one of the deepest rosters ever assembled in EuroBasket history. Alperen Sengun meanwhile will be the key man for Ergin Ataman’s Türkiye, a side committed to a tight rotation. It’s a clash of styles and culture in the final of EuroBasket 2025.
Key information
What: Türkiye vs Germany, EuroBasket 2025 final
Where: Xiaomi Arena, Riga, Latvia
When: 14 September 2025 at 21.00 local, 19.00 (Ireland/UK), 14.00 (EST).
Record to date: Türkiye 8-0, Germany 8-0
Semi finals: Germany 98-86 Finland, Türkiye 94-68 Greece
Tale of the tape
Germany roll into this game with the highest points per game (PPG) in the tournament, a gaudy 101.4, while Türkiye are third on 91.1 PPG. Only 1 of Germany’s 8 wins came by less than 10 points (99-91 vs Slovenia) and they have four players averaging double-digit scoring (Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis and Maodo Lo).
Türkiye meanwhile have won 6 of their 8 games by double digits and they also have four players averaging double digit scoring (Alperen Sengun, Shane Larkin, Cedi Osman, and Ercan Osmani).
This is Germany’s third EuroBasket final, having won in 1993 and lost to Greece in 2005. Germany took bronze in the 2022 edition and are the reigning FIBA World Cup champions. Türkiye meanwhile are in their second ever final, having taken silver at home in 2001. EuroBasket 2025 is also the first time since 2009 that they even reached the quarter final round.
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Key men
While the story with Germany is depth, they go 10 deep and would go 11 if Johannes Voigtmann was healthy, it’s impossible to look past their two top stars. Dennis Schroder is averaging 20.9 PPG on 46.3% shooting along with 6.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Franz Wagner is averaging 21.1 PPG on 45.5% shooting along with 3.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds.
That depth can’t be ignored. Daniel Theis, Maodo Lo, Andreas Obst, and Tristan da Silva all offer real scoring threats. Oscar da Silva, Isaac Bonga, Justus Hollatz, and Johannes Thiemann all ably help to wear down opponents with their contributions.
Türkiye meanwhile have the manpower to match Germany’s depth but Ergin Ataman will stick tightly to an 8 man rotation. The main man is, of course, Alperen Sengun who is averaging 20.8 PPG, 7 assists, and 11 rebounds this tournament, while Shane Larkin has proven a fine veteran presence. Ergin Ataman will also look to the trio of Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, and Kenan Sipahi to contribute.
Osman (30), Sipahi (30), and Korkmaz (28) were, along with Omer Yurtseven (27) dubbed the golden generation back home. It took the emergence of Sengun to really bring success to the national team. Now, those men who were strapped with a big label know this is a chance to deliver.
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What the bookies think
The moneyline has Germany as 8/13 favourites with Türkiye available at 6/5. That is, understandably, really tight. Not only are both sides unbeaten, they have only two mutual opponents (Sweden and Portugal). In both cases the group games went well while their knockout match-ups were dreadful performances. In short, we learned nothing from them.
The point spread has Germany -2.5 favourites, again close to a pick’em. The total meanwhile is interesting at 173.5. For this one I’m going to take some guidance from Germany’s win over Slovenia. If you think Germany will win then jump on the over because they are more likely to force a shootout.
Conversely, if you’re thinking Türkiye take this then you should still be confident that this can be close to the over but it’s a lot tighter. I’d lean to the under in that scenario but, honestly, that’s a walk away bet for me.
Fearless prediction
Every rational cell in my body is saying that Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder have saved their best for the final. This is the most consistent national basketball team on the planet right now. They have the depth, the production line, they have everything to make me want to pick them except for one thing.
Picking against Ergin Ataman in a final feels like a fool’s errand. Yes he’s got Alperen Sengun but the real question is which of his other 7 core men will steal the spotlight. On Friday it was Ercan Osmani, a round earlier it was Furkan Korkmaz. Ataman has a strategy, he’s got a plan. His greatest obstacle is how firmly rooted he is, at all levels, in his tight rotation.
That’s not enough of a hindrance for me to pick against him. It’s time to lay down a legacy. I wouldn’t want to be a toilet in Istanbul or Riga on Sunday night.
Pick: Türkiye 6/5 straight up.
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