With EuroBasket 2025 just days away, Italy’s men’s national basketball team finds itself at a crossroads—brimming with youthful promise but shadowed by back-to-back defeats in their final warm-up games. The Azzurri, led by Simone Fontecchio, are gearing up to make waves in a tournament renowned for its unpredictability, fierce competition, and the sheer intensity required to survive each round. While they may not be among the bookmakers’ top picks for gold, their recent performances have shown both flashes of brilliance and areas of concern, setting the stage for a dramatic campaign in Cyprus, Poland, Finland, and Latvia.
Italy’s preparations reached a fever pitch in Athens on August 22, 2025, as they faced Greece in the storied Acropolis Tournament. The stakes were more psychological than material—this was the last test before the real battle begins at EuroBasket. The Azzurri, under the guidance of coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, started the contest with a surge of energy and confidence. Simone Fontecchio, Italy’s undisputed leader, set the tone early, racking up eight points in the opening seven minutes and finishing the night with a team-high 18 points. Saliou Niang, a rising star in the Italian ranks, added 14 points of his own, earning plaudits for his relentless hustle and composure under pressure.
"EuroBasket is always different in a lot of ways. There are a lot of teams that are super competitive. Everybody can lose against anybody. It’s super hard to win games, and you gotta increase the intensity and focus every game," Fontecchio emphasized in a recent interview with Eurohoops. His words echo the sentiment of a squad that knows the margin for error is razor-thin at this level.
The Azzurri’s first-half display against Greece was a showcase of their potential. They shot a blistering 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and improved to 7-of-12 by halftime, heading to the break with a 40-30 lead. The defense, anchored by the likes of Niang and Momo Diouf—who contributed three blocks in the opening half—stifled a Greek side missing stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sloukas, and Mitoglou. Italy’s energy was palpable, their rotations crisp, and their confidence high. Players like Akele, Pajola, and Fontecchio himself kept the offense humming and the defense tight, forcing Greece into eight turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
But basketball is a game of runs, and the third quarter proved fatal for Pozzecco’s squad. Greece, led by Tyler Dorsey’s 14 points and a revitalized supporting cast, erupted with a 27-12 surge that erased Italy’s advantage and swung the momentum irrevocably. The Greeks capitalized on Italian turnovers and lapses in concentration, turning a double-digit deficit into a seven-point lead by the end of the third. Despite a late rally—Niang’s dunk and Spissu’s three-pointers nearly brought Italy back from the brink—the Azzurri fell just short, 76-74, after a tense final minute that saw Spissu’s potential game-tying triple rim out and a technical foul on Pozzecco seal their fate.
This narrow loss was Italy’s second consecutive defeat in as many days, following a tough outing against Latvia. The back-to-back setbacks have sparked questions about the team’s readiness and resilience, but also highlighted the depth and versatility of the roster. Fontecchio remains a beacon of consistency, while Niang’s emergence has injected fresh optimism into the rotation. Coach Pozzecco faces tough decisions as he finalizes the 12-man squad for EuroBasket, with newcomers like Diouf, Gabriele Procida, Matteo Spagnolo, and Niang all in contention for significant roles.
"I think this is probably the first year that we have a lot of energy, especially coming from the second unit. A lot of young guys, newcomers that come in with the right energy, with a lot of pace, and that can be a strength for us. We have three or four young guys who are really stepping ahead this summer: Momo Diouf, Gabriele Procida, Matteo Spagnolo, Saliou Niang… they’re gonna be very nice to watch," Fontecchio observed, underscoring the generational shift underway in Italian basketball.
Beyond the national team, Fontecchio’s own future has been a topic of intrigue. Fresh off a season with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, his 18-point performance against Greece has reignited discussions about his potential value on the Miami Heat roster for 2025-26. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the Heat face a waiver deadline on August 29, with the option to use the waive-and-stretch provision on Fontecchio. While he’ll turn 30 in December and may be seen as a short-term asset, his shooting and leadership could still find a place in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation—especially if he continues to deliver on the international stage.
As Italy prepares for EuroBasket 2025, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The tournament, set to tip off on August 27 and culminating with the final in Riga, Latvia, on September 14, promises a gauntlet of elite competition. Italy’s group-stage path begins in Cyprus, where they’ll once again face Greece—a chance for redemption and a true measure of their progress since Athens. The format is unforgiving: only 12 players will make the final roster, and every possession will matter in a field stacked with talent from across Europe.
Italy’s blend of seasoned veterans and dynamic newcomers gives them a unique edge. Fontecchio’s experience, combined with the youthful exuberance of Diouf, Procida, Spagnolo, and especially Niang, could prove decisive in navigating the tournament’s pitfalls. Yet, as the recent friendlies have shown, consistency and mental toughness will be paramount if the Azzurri hope to advance deep into the knockout rounds.
Fans and pundits alike will watch closely as Pozzecco’s boys take the floor in Cyprus, eager to see whether the lessons of Athens translate into EuroBasket success. Will Italy’s new generation rise to the occasion, or will the weight of expectation prove too much? One thing’s certain: with Fontecchio at the helm and a hungry roster behind him, this Italian team is poised to make every game a must-watch event.
With the countdown to EuroBasket 2025 nearly over, Italy stands ready—tested, battle-hardened, and determined to prove that their blend of experience and youth can overcome recent stumbles and challenge Europe’s best on the biggest stage. The journey begins anew, and all eyes will be on the Azzurri as the tournament tips off.
