Türkiye takes silver in EuroBasket Final after heartbreaking loss to Germany

Turkey's remarkable EuroBasket 2025 journey ended in a silver medal after a hard-fought 88-83 loss to Germany in the final at Arena Riga. The Turkish team, which had dominated Group A with a perfect 5-0 record and defeated Sweden, Poland, and Greece in the knockout rounds, came up just short of their first-ever European title.

The final was a thrilling back-and-forth contest. Turkey started strong, taking a double-digit lead in the first three minutes with a flurry of outside shots. However, Germany rallied, and the lead changed hands multiple times. In the final, decisive minutes, Germany's Dennis Schröder hit a critical basket to give his team a three-point lead with 18 seconds remaining, a lead they would not relinquish.

Despite the loss, the Turkish team had a memorable tournament, securing their second-ever silver medal after also finishing as runners-up in 2001.

Individual honors and standout performances

While the championship trophy went to Germany, Turkish players and staff received significant individual recognition. Alperen Şengün, the rising star from the Houston Rockets, was named to the All-Tournament First Team for his outstanding performance throughout the competition, averaging an impressive 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.

Head coach Ergin Ataman, a celebrated figure in Turkish basketball, was voted the "Most Valuable Coach" by accredited media. Captain Cedi Osman was also recognized for his contributions, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Second Team.

For Germany, Dennis Schröder was the clear star, taking home the "Most Valuable Player" (MVP) award. He added the EuroBasket MVP to his collection after also winning the award at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He was joined on the All-Tournament First Team by teammate Franz Wagner, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Luka Dončić (Slovenia).

The final was played in front of a sold-out crowd of approximately 11,000, with many Turkish fans traveling to Riga to support their team. While the team couldn't lift the trophy, the silver medal marks a significant achievement and a strong statement for the future of Turkish basketball.