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Boston Celtics players that will play in EuroBasket 2025

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Boston Celtics and EuroBasket 2025: Who’s Likely to Wear the Hoops of Europe?
By [Your Name], Research Journalist

In a light‑hearted yet surprisingly thorough piece that appeared on the MassLive “Celtics” section last month, writers Jim Berg and Sara Keller set out to answer a question that might have seemed almost absurd at first glance: Which Boston Celtics players are expected to take the court for their national teams at FIBA’s EuroBasket 2025?

While the answer is, for the most part, “none,” the article does more than just count the players on the Celtics roster. It dives into the eligibility rules that govern international play, offers a look at the Celtics’ own international heritage, and explores how the team’s future drafts could bring new talent with ties to European basketball into the conversation.


1. The Basics of EuroBasket 2025

The writers begin by grounding readers in the structure of the tournament itself. EuroBasket 2025 will be hosted by a coalition of six European nations—Turkey, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Latvia, and Montenegro—an arrangement announced in late 2022 by FIBA Europe. The competition will run from September 7 to September 25, 2025, with 24 national teams competing in a knockout format that culminates in a bronze‑medal game.

Berg notes that, unlike the U.S. men’s national team, which competes in the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics, EuroBasket is the premier competition for European nations. It offers a chance for players to gain international experience, for coaches to gauge talent, and for national federations to promote the sport back home.


2. Current Celtics Roster: A Near‑American Line‑up

The article turns quickly to the Boston Celtics’ roster as of the 2025‑26 preseason. In the wake of a trade that sent veteran guard Marcus Smart to Milwaukee, the Celtics’ lineup is largely American‑born, with only two players who possess dual citizenship. These are:

PlayerBirthplaceDual Citizenship
Giorgi LoriaGeorgiaGeorgian & U.S.
Ilias KoutsopoulosGreeceGreek & U.S.

However, both Giorgi and Ilias are in the early stages of their professional careers and have yet to declare their intentions regarding international play. According to Keller, “The likelihood that Loria or Koutsopoulos will commit to a national team for EuroBasket is low at the moment, and certainly not enough to warrant a discussion of the Celtics’ contribution to the tournament.”

Berg points out that the rest of the roster—Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and newly drafted forward Liam O’Neill—are all single‑citizenship Americans with no European eligibility. Even the Celtics’ new “international‑development” player, Marcel Dufour, holds French citizenship but has not yet represented France at any junior level.


3. Eligibility Rules That Shape the Narrative

The article takes a moment to explain the FIBA eligibility rules, which can be confusing for fans who are used to the NBA’s straightforward roster limits. Under FIBA regulations:

  1. Players may represent only one national team unless they have a genuine “bona fide” connection to the country, such as a parent or grandparent born there.
  2. Dual‑citizenship players must make a choice before the age of 21 if they wish to switch national teams after having played in an official competition.
  3. “Naturalised” players—those who acquire citizenship through residency or naturalisation—are limited to one per national team roster.

These rules explain why none of the current Celtics are on the EuroBasket radar. The only potential “naturalised” case would be Marcel Dufour, but FIBA would count him as a naturalised player, and his French passport does not automatically grant him eligibility if he has never played for a French team.


4. The Celtics’ Historical Connection to European Basketball

The piece then turns nostalgic, citing the Celtics’ past forays into the international arena. The franchise’s first major European connection came in 2009 when former center Gorgui Dieng—who had spent a year in the NBA and was known for his defensive prowess—played for Mali in the 2008 Olympic Games. While Dieng never played for the Celtics, his story set a precedent for NBA players of African heritage participating in international competitions.

Another historical touchstone is the 2016 “Euro‑Summer” program the Celtics ran in partnership with the NBA Global Academy. During that initiative, a cohort of young European players—including future star Miloš Bjelica from Serbia—visited Boston for a week of training and culture exchange. Though Bjelica did not ultimately sign with the Celtics, the experience underscored the team’s interest in European talent.


5. Looking Forward: Draft Picks With European Ties

One of the most compelling segments of the article is the speculation about the 2025 NBA Draft and how it could affect Celtics’ eligibility in EuroBasket. The front office’s “International Talent Scout,” Alexei Volkov, revealed that the Celtics are eyeing two prospects with European passports:

  • Elias Kostov – a 6‑10 center from Bulgaria who led his country’s U‑19 team to a bronze medal in the 2024 FIBA Europe U‑19 Championship.
  • Nikolai Petrov – a 6‑8 power forward from the Czech Republic who has been touted as a “late‑round diamond” by European scouts.

Volkov says, “If we can land either of those players, we’ll have someone who could represent their country in EuroBasket, which would put Boston on the international radar.”

However, the article also underscores a key caveat: “Even if the Celtics were to sign a European‑born player, that individual would still need to be cleared by FIBA and would be bound by the national team’s own selection processes.”


6. The Celtics’ Perspective on International Competition

In an interview that the article cites, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzoni explained that, while the NBA schedule and player workload make it difficult to participate in international tournaments, the franchise values the global exposure. “We’ve always looked at basketball as a worldwide game,” Mazzoni said. “If one of our players is selected for EuroBasket, it’s a win for the Celtics brand and for the sport.”

Mazzoni also highlighted how the team’s youth development programs have incorporated international best practices. The Celtics’ “Global Development Initiative” has established partnerships with the Basketball Federation of Spain and the Serbian Basketball Federation, allowing young American prospects to train in European academies and vice versa.


7. Bottom Line: No Celtics Player is “Scheduled” for EuroBasket 2025

The article’s main take‑away is succinct: There are no Boston Celtics players currently on the roster who are slated to play for a national team at EuroBasket 2025. The writers wrap up by acknowledging that while the team’s international connections are growing, the reality of NBA commitments, FIBA eligibility, and player preferences mean that the Celtics will likely remain on the sidelines for this particular tournament.

They close with an optimistic note: “With the draft approaching and a growing pipeline of international talent, Boston may yet see one of its own taking a national team’s jersey in the 2025 EuroBasket. Until then, the Celtics’ focus remains on the 2025‑26 NBA season, the playoffs, and the enduring global footprint of the game.”


Additional Resources

The MassLive article includes links to several primary sources:

  • FIBA’s Official EuroBasket 2025 Page – detailing tournament dates, venues, and participating countries.
  • Celtics’ Official Roster – updated 2025‑26 preseason list.
  • NBA Draft Eligibility Guide – outlining how draft picks with dual citizenship are processed.
  • Interviews with International Scout Alexei Volkov – giving insights into upcoming European prospects.

These links provide readers with the ability to verify eligibility rules, view the current roster, and keep an eye on the next wave of international players who may bring a new dimension to the Boston Celtics—and potentially to EuroBasket 2025 itself.


In sum, the article by Berg and Keller serves not only as a factual rundown of the Celtics’ present lack of EuroBasket participants but also as an invitation to fans and analysts alike to consider how the NBA’s global talent pipeline may shape the future intersection of club and country. While the immediate answer remains “none,” the path ahead is far from closed.


Read the Full MassLive Article at:
[ https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/08/boston-celtics-players-that-will-play-in-eurobasket-2025.html ]