By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga, Latvia – With Andrejs Grazulis ruled out for the remainder of EuroBasket 2025 due to a foot injury, more similar issues surfaced for Latvia on Monday. Arturs Zagars and Kristers Zoriks were hurt during the Gameday 4 contest opposite Portugal in Xiaomi Arena.
Head coach Luca Banchi fell shy of sharing potential medical updates on the latest setbacks, but reaffirmed his view on expanding the rosters beyond 12 players for international tournaments.
“When you select your 12 players, you select your best 12 players. I don’t want to say the absolutely best, but the most functional. You also go through the versatility of the players, those who can play in multiple positions. Because you have to keep in mind that shit can happen. And unfortunately for us, the shit is happening. Even too much, and too frequently,” noted the 60-year-old Italian expert.
“But why not give a chance to three more players to participate in EuroBasket or World Cup?” he went on to propose a potential solution, “This is an amazing experience. You can have three team followers than just in case injuries happen, that are ready to help.”
“We are in 2025. Sometimes, we play back-to-back in this tournament. You see the level of physicality,” added Banchi, “In this group, a qualification group, we have Porzingis, Queta, Sengun, Jokic. The level of the contact is unbelievable. And injuries can happen.”
“I would play every day”
During the postgame press conference, Kristaps Porzingis was asked about the EuroBasket schedule featuring a back-to-back in the preliminary round.
“I don’t mind it, honestly, especially when you don’t have to travel. In the NBA, a lot of times you have to play one game here and then three hours to Miami and change some time zone and play again,” said the 30-year-old forward/center, “I enjoy playing more than practicing, ten times more, so I would play every day.”
Following 21 points in Gameday 4, the Atlanta Hawks player in the NBA is up to 17.8 points per game over four appearances, alongside 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.5 steals per contest.
At 2-2, Latvia currently ranks third in Group A, heading to final pool play action against Czechia on Wednesday, before EuroBasket switches to a single-elimination format between September 6 and 14.
Photo Credit: FIBA