Victory, it seems, is passed down from generation to generation.

Based on Greece’s roster at EuroBasket 2025, it is no exaggeration to say that the stars have aligned for the “blue-whites” to return to the top of Europe again – 20 years after their last triumph.

With their qualification to the quarter-finals, Greece is just three wins away from securing its third European title, having won in 1987 and 2005, as led from the front by NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“This is the spirit that always follows the Greek team – to never give up and to give 100 per cent,” said Vassilis Toliopoulos.

The parallels with 2005

Today’s team has many similarities to the one that climbed to the highest step of the podium on 25 September, 2005 in Belgrade.

The golden generation of that era included names such as: Nikos Zisis, Thodoris Papaloukas, Dimitris Diamantidis, Vassilis Spanoulis, Michalis Kakiouzis, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Antonis Fotsis, Dimos Dikoudis and Ioannis Bourousis.

Leading them from the bench was Panagiotis Giannakis, who had also been a key player in the 1987 winning team and is behind only the legendary Nikos Galis in scoring. The succession of generations was decisive. As Zisis says:

“I started playing basketball because when I was four years old, I saw Greece win the EuroBasket. To experience it as a player at 18 was the greatest success of my career.”

“No one expected it then. We went to Belgrade and achieved something unique, because everyone had faith and made sacrifices. We were a generation with great players and characters,” Spanoulis said, adding with a smile: “I remember I had hair back then…”

Semi-final: Greece – France 67-66

The 2005 gold medal was nearly lost in the semi-final against France in one of the most dramatic matches in the tournament’s history.

France, with young players Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, found themselves ahead by seven points with 43 seconds left.

But Greece did not give up. Nikos Zisis led the final attack and assisted Diamantidis, who hit the decisive three-pointer with three seconds left, making the final score 67-66.

“I’ve probably seen this match over 50 times,” said Panagiotis Kalaitzakis.

“This is the Greek character – we never give up,” Toliopoulos added.

Kostas Papanikolaou remembers the game from a different perspective. He was at a family gathering and was watching the match on television at home:

“I turned on the TV and caught the exact moment Zisis passed to Diamantidis. This is the only image I have – but it’s the best possible.”

The sequel: Final and conquest

On the heels of their victory over France, Greece crushed Dirk Nowitzki’s Germany 78-62 in the final, reaching their second European trophy.

The transition from the 1987 generation to the 2005 generation was smooth, but equally important is the continuity in today’s era.

Tradition, experience and renewal

The Greek federation has given key roles to the protagonists of 2005: Nikos Zisis has been General Manager of the National Team since 2021, Dimos Dikoudis has taken on administrative duties, while since October 2023, Vassilis Spanoulis has been the coach.

“They have the experience and character we need to achieve something unique,” said Dinos Mitoglou.

“Younger people have the opportunity to learn from people who have experienced it. That is invaluable,” Papanikolaou noted.

The present and the future

Greece faces Lithuania in the quarterfinals. A win would take them to the semifinals, where they will face Turkey or Poland. The people’s thirst for success is immense – the last time the National Team was on the podium was in 2009, when they won bronze.

In addition to Giannis Antetekounmpo, the 2025 roster includes his brothers Thanasis and Kostas, Tyler Dorsey, Mitoglou, Kalaitzakis, Toliopoulos and the rising star Alexander Samodurov (20 years old).

“If it weren’t for Zisis, Diamantidis, Spanoulis, Papaloukas, I wouldn’t be here. They started because they saw Galis and Giannakis. And we hope to inspire the children who are now five, six, or seven years old to catch the orange ball,” says Kalaitzakis, excited.

Greece is writing history again. Perhaps 2025 will be the new golden page in the book of Greek basketball.