0_Wizard
I have to admit, I've never heard of EuroBasket before, but it's obviously a European basketball thing just from the name. Familiar with it?
EuroBasket, also commonly referred to as the "European Basketball Championship", is the main international basketball competition contested biannually by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation.
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EuroBasket
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Lithuania men's national basketball team
The Lithuania men's national basketball team (Lithuanian: "Lietuvos nacionalinė vyrų krepšinio rinktinė") participates in FIBA's competitions. Despite Lithuania's small size, with a population of just almost 2.9 million, the country's devotion to basketball has made them a traditional force of the sport in Europe. The Lithuanian team won the last EuroBasket tournaments prior to World War II, in 1937 and 1939. The 1939 team was led by Frank Lubin, who helped popularize basketball in the country and was called the "grandfather of Lithuanian basketball". Following the country's annexation by the Soviet Union during the war, Lithuanian players frequently formed the core of the Soviet national team.
Basketball in Greece
The sport of basketball in Greece erupted with the senior men's Greek national basketball team's win at the FIBA EuroBasket 1987 in Piraeus, which caused a general basketball euphoria in the country. Since then, men's Greek national teams have reached constant international success, leading Greece to join Russia, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Spain, France, and Lithuania in the circle of European basketball powers. In addition to the national team's triumph in 1987, Greece won a gold medal at the FIBA EuroBasket 2005, silver medals at the FIBA EuroBasket 1989 and the 2006 FIBA World Championship, as well as the bronze medal at the FIBA EuroBasket 2009.
Vassilis Spanoulis
Vassilis Spanoulis (; born August 7, 1982) is a Greek professional basketball player for Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. A tall combo guard, he is nicknamed Kill Bill, V-Span, and MVP ("Most Vassilis Player"). Spanoulis was named the Balkan Athlete of the Year in 2009, the in 2012 and 2013, the Vatican's World Athlete of the Year (Giuseppe Sciacca Award) in 2013 and the EuroLeague MVP the same year. He has earned a record seven All-EuroLeague Team selections. Spanoulis first played for Gymnastikos S. Larissas, and enjoyed a highly successful career start. His skill-set earned him a transfer to Athens and Maroussi, where he won the Greek Basket League's Best Young Player award in 2003.
Latvia national basketball team
The Latvian national basketball team () had a remarkable success during the inter-war period, being the smallest in population nation to win the EuroBasket. Latvians, like their Balts neighbors Lithuanians, also began playing basketball in 1920s. Though, they were much more advanced back then than their frequent rivals Lithuanians. On 13 December 1925 in Riga, Lithuanians played their first international game. Latvians easily swept them with result 41–20. Later on, Latvians were crushing the future three-times European champions Lithuanians as well (41–29 or even 123–10). In fact, Latvia had one of the world's strongest national basketball teams.
Greece national basketball team
The Greece national basketball team (Greek: Eθνική Oμάδα Καλαθοσφαίρισης Ελλάδος) is organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. They were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, after beating the United States 101–95 in the tournament's semifinal. They have won the FIBA EuroBasket twice; in 1987, after beating the Soviet Union 103–101 in the final in Athens and in 2005, after beating Germany with a convincing 78–62 in the final in Belgrade. Greece is currently placed eleventh in the FIBA World Rankings (down from fourth a few years ago, due to relatively poor results in recent years).
Olympiacos B.C.
Olympiacos B.C. (), also known simply as Olympiacos or Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of the major multi-sport club Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful clubs in European basketball, having won three EuroLeague Championships, one Triple Crown, one Intercontinental Cup, twelve Greek Championships and nine Greek Cups. They play their home matches at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Olympiacos is a traditional powerhouse of the EuroLeague and besides their three European Championship titles (1997, 2012, 2013), they have also been five times EuroLeague runners-up (1994, 1995, 2010, 2015, 2017) and have participated, altogether, in ten EuroLeague Final Fours (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017).
Italy national basketball team
The Italian national basketball team () is administered by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro ("Italian Basketball Federation"). Italy has won 2 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 4 bronze medals at the FIBA EuroBasket, and 2 silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games. Italy has participated at 34 EuroBaskets, 8 World Cups, and 11 Summer Olympic Games. Italy is one of the founding members of the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA), and has one of the world's longest basketball traditions. The first match of the Italian national basketball team was played on 4 April 1926 in Milan, and it ended with a victory over France by 23–17.