Five EuroBasket stars who could have a breakout year in the NBA

Every EuroBasket brings new names into the spotlight. Alongside established stars like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, the tournament also has a handful of lesser-known players on the radar. They may not dominate headlines yet, but their performances overseas show they’re ready to push for a bigger role in the NBA.

Deni Avdija 

Avdija has been around the league long enough for fans to know him, but it still feels like he hasn’t hit his ceiling. Just 24 years old, he’s using EuroBasket to remind people what made him such a coveted prospect. Playing for Israel, Avdija is averaging 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and he’s doing it with improved efficiency from three. His ability to handle the ball, defend multiple positions and create for others has always been there, but what’s changed is his confidence as a first option. If he can translate this aggression to the NBA, he could finally step into a breakout season.

Adem Bona 

Bona has been one of the revelations for Turkey. Just 22 years old and entering his second NBA season with the 76ers, he has looked like a seasoned veteran anchoring the paint. Bona is averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through the first round of EuroBasket, using his explosiveness to alter shots and punish defenses in transition. For a Philadelphia team that needs reliable depth behind Joel Embiid, Bona’s defensive motor could earn him minutes. He may not light up the box score every night, but energy bigs who can protect the rim have real value, and Bona is already showing he can provide it.

Neemias Queta 

Queta has become a national hero for Portugal. His double-double performances in group play helped Portugal punch above its weight, with Queta posting 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting close to 60 percent from the field. With uncertainty heading into the new season, Queta has a chance to push for a starting spot in Boston. The Celtics don’t need him to be a star, but if he can replicate the dominance he’s showing at EuroBasket, he could quietly become one of the most important depth pieces on a championship roster.

Bilal Coulibaly 

Coulibaly is still raw, but the French wing looks much more polished. At EuroBasket, he’s averaging 9.7 points while flashing the defensive versatility that made him a lottery pick. The Wizards are rebuilding and badly need someone to leap, and Coulibaly is positioned to do just that. His improved decision-making and confidence attacking the rim suggest he’s ready to expand his role, and the international stage has been the perfect proving ground.

Nikola Jovic 

Jovic might be the biggest surprise of the tournament so far. Playing for Serbia, he exploded for 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including three triples, along with six assists and four rebounds in just 16 minutes in the opening game. That kind of versatility makes him invaluable to Miami, a team that thrives on positionless basketball. Jovic has struggled to carve out consistent minutes in the NBA, but EuroBasket is giving him the platform to show he’s more than a developmental piece. If he carries this form, the Heat may finally have to give him a steady role.

None of these players are household names, but that’s what makes EuroBasket so compelling. It gives fans a chance to see emerging talent before it breaks through under NBA lights. Avdija, Bona, Queta, Coulibaly and Jovic all look ready to take that next step, and if their summer form carries over, they could each become one of the NBA season’s surprise stories.