The Slovenia men's national basketball team () represents Slovenia in international basketball competitions, and is managed by the Basketball Federation of Slovenia. Since the independence of Slovenia in 1991, the national team has competed at every EuroBasket, and reached the knockout stage at every championship since 2005. Their greatest achievement overall at the tournament came at EuroBasket 2017, where they won all nine games and became European champions.
As of September 2026, Slovenia is ranked 14th in the FIBA World Ranking.
History Before Slovenia's independence in 1991, Slovenian players represented Yugoslavia. Slovenia joined the International Basketball Federation in 1992 and played its first official game on 22 June 1992 against Bulgaria in the qualification rounds for the 1992 Summer Olympics.
FIBA World Cup Slovenia debuted at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2006 after qualifying as the sixth-placed team of the EuroBasket 2005. In the 2010, 2014 and 2023 editions, Slovenia reached the quarter-finals; their highest overall finish is seventh place, achieved in 2014 and 2023.
EuroBasket Between May and June 1993, Slovenia competed in the qualifiers for the EuroBasket 1993, where the team won all seven games and therefore qualified for its first EuroBasket. At the main tournament, held in Germany, Slovenia finished in 14th place out of 16 teams with one win and two defeats.
Slovenia did not reach the knockout stages of the competition until the 2005 edition, where the team, coached by Aleš Pipan, reached the quarter-finals for the first time. In 2009, Slovenia reached the semi-finals for the first time after eliminating Croatia in the quarter-finals with a 67–65 victory. In the semi-finals, Slovenia lost to Serbia after overtime, and later to Greece in the third place game, finishing the competition in fourth place. In the next two tournaments, in 2011 and 2013, Slovenia was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain and France, respectively. In 2015, Slovenia failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2003 edition after losing to Latvia in the round of 16.
At EuroBasket 2017, Slovenia, captained by Goran Dragić and managed by Igor Kokoškov, won the championship after winning nine consecutive games, including victories against the 2013 winners France and the 2015 winners Spain. Dragić, who scored 35 points in the final against Serbia, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
2020 Summer Olympics
Slovenia qualified for the men's basketball tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics after competing in the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, winning the tournament in Kaunas. They won all games in the Group B, defeating Poland and Angola. In the Final round, they defeated Venezuela 98–70, and qualified for the final against Lithuania. Slovenia defeated Lithuania 96–85 in Kaunas, led by Luka Dončić (31 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists), who with his triple-double sent Slovenia to their first Olympic appearance. Dončić was also proclaimed as the MVP of the tournament.
At the Olympics, Slovenia was drawn in the group with the host Japan, Argentina, and reigning world champion Spain. In the opening game, they beat Argentina 118–100. With his 48 points in this game, Dončić tied with Eddie Palubinskas for the second highest points scored in a match in the history of the Olympics. In the next game Slovenia defeated host Japan 116–81. In the final match of the group stage, Slovenia faced Spain, the reigning world champions, and beat them 95–87. Mike Tobey, who was named player of the day by FIBA, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Klemen Prepelič scored the crucial three-pointer that put Slovenia ahead 86–85 two and a half minutes before the end.
The win gave them the group's top seed, and they were set to face Germany in the quarter-finals. Slovenia won their quarter-final, defeating Germany 94–70. Slovenia then lost the dramatic semi-final against France by one point, 90–89. In the last seconds of the game, Nicolas Batum blocked Prepelič's layup attempt, thus preventing Slovenia from reaching the final. In the bronze medal game, Slovenia played against Australia, and lost 107–93. Thus, the team finished its inaugural Olympic tournament in fourth place, and Dončić was selected in the All-Star Team of the tournament.
Competitive record
Key Champions As host
FIBA World Cup World CupQualificationYearPosition1994Did not qualifyEuroBasket servedas qualifiers1998200220069th62420108th95420147th7522019Did not qualify123920237th85312752027To be determinedTo be determinedTotal301713241014
Olympic Games Olympic GamesQualifyingYearPosition1992Did not qualify11741996Qualifiers not held2000200420083212012Did not qualify201620204th6424402024Did not qualify312Total64221147
EuroBasket EuroBasketQualificationYearPosition199314th312770199512th624651199714th5141073199910th6241091200115th3121091200310th422107320056th64265120077th963Directly qualified20094th96320117th116520135th1174Qualified as host201512th633Directly qualified20171st990 66020226th75264220257th7436422029QualifiedTotal102 59 43 77 63 14
Record against other teams at World Cup CountryW–L Australia 3–0 Angola 1–0 Brazil 1–0 Cape Verde 1–0 Croatia 1–0 Dominican Republic 1–0 Georgia 1–0 Iran 1–0 Mexico 1–0 Puerto Rico 1–0 Senegal 1–0 South Korea 1–0 Tunisia 1–0 Venezuela 1–0 Italy 1–1 Canada 0–1 China 0–1 Germany 0–1 Russia 0–1 Spain 0–1 Lithuania 0–2 Turkey 0–2 United States 0–3Total17–13 Last updated: 9 September 2023
Record against other teams at EuroBasket CountryW–L Italy 4–0 Turkey 4–0 Georgia 3–0 Serbia 4–2 Belgium 3–1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3–1 Finland 3–1 Ukraine 3–1 Hungary 2–0 Iceland 2–0 Bulgaria 1–0 Czech Republic 1–0 Estonia 1–0 Great Britain 1–0 Netherlands 1–0 Poland 3–3 North Macedonia 1–1 France 5–6 Greece 3–4 Spain 3–4 Croatia 2–3 Latvia 1–2 Germany 2–4 Lithuania 2–4 Israel 1–3 Russia 0–3Total59–43 Last updated: 10 September 2025
Team EuroBasket 2025 roster The following 12 players were selected for EuroBasket 2025.
Head coaches Since 1992, the Slovenia national team has been managed by a total of twelve head coaches. Zmago Sagadin and Jure Zdovc are the only coaches with more than one spell.
1990s and 2000s Years Name Achievements 1992 Zmago Sagadin — 1993 Janez Drvarič 1993 EuroBasket (14th place) 1994–1995 Zmago Sagadin 1995 EuroBasket (12th place) 1996–1998 Andrej Urlep 1997 EuroBasket (14th place) 1998–2001 Boris Zrinski 1999 EuroBasket (10th place) 2001 EuroBasket (15th place) 2002–2003 Slobodan Subotić 2003 EuroBasket (10th place) 2004–2008 Aleš Pipan 2005 EuroBasket (6th place) 2006 World Cup (9th place)2007 EuroBasket (7th place) 2009 Jure Zdovc 2009 EuroBasket (4th place)
2010s and 2020s Years Name Achievements 2010 Memi Bečirovič 2010 World Cup (8th place) 2011–2013 Božidar Maljković 2011 EuroBasket (7th place) 2013 EuroBasket (5th place) 2014–2015 Jure Zdovc 2014 World Cup (7th place) 2015 EuroBasket (12th place) 2016–2017 Igor Kokoškov 2017 EuroBasket (Champions) 2017–2020 Rado Trifunović — 2020–present Aleksander Sekulić 2020 Summer Olympics (4th place) 2022 EuroBasket (6th place) 2023 World Cup (7th place) 2025 EuroBasket (7th place)
Statistics
Players in bold are still active with Slovenia.
Most appearances No.NameYearsCaps1Edo Murić2011–1022Goran Dragić2006–2022903Jaka Lakovič2001–2013864Klemen Prepelič2014–835Jaka Blažič2013–2024826Zoran Dragić2011–2024777Uroš Slokar2005–2015768Goran Jagodnik1997–2011759Marijan Kraljević1992–20037310Jaka Daneu1992–199967Boris Gorenc1992–200367 As of 31 August 2026. Statistics include official competitive matches only.
Top scorers No.NameYearsPointsCapsPoints per game1Luka Dončić2017–1,181482Goran Dragić2006–20221,095903Klemen Prepelič2014–1,051834Teoman Alibegović1992–2000990525Jaka Lakovič2001–2013880866Jure Zdovc1992–2000755 537Zoran Dragić2011–2024750778Jaka Blažič2013–2024728829Boštjan Nachbar1999–20136275810Boris Gorenc1992–200362067 As of 31 August 2026. Statistics include official competitive matches only.
Retired numbers The Basketball Federation of Slovenia retired Goran Dragić' jersey number 3 ahead of his farewell game on 23 August 2024. Slovenia national team retired numbersNumberPlayerPositionTenureDate3Goran DragićGuard2006–202223 August 2024
Past rosters 1993 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 16 teams
4 Roman Horvat, 5 Marko Tušek, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Darko Mirt, 8 Primoz Bačar, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Boštjan Leban, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Boris Gorenc, 13 Marijan Kraljević, 14 Slavko Kotnik, 15 Žarko Durisić (Coach: Janez Drvarič)
1995 EuroBasket: finished 12th among 14 teams
4 Roman Horvat, 5 Matjaž Tovornik, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Walter Jeklin, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Boris Gorenc, 14 Slavko Kotnik, 15 Aleš Kunc (Coach: Zmago Sagadin)
1997 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 16 teams
4 Walter Jeklin, 5 Goran Jagodnik, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Radoslav Nesterović, 8 Aleš Kunc, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Boris Gorenc, 14 Ivica Jurković, 15 Radovan Trifunović (Coach: Andrej Urlep)
1999 EuroBasket: finished 10th among 16 teams
4 Jure Zdovc, 5 Walter Jeklin, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Matjaž Tovornik, 10 Matjaž Smodiš, 11 Goran Jagodnik, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Radoslav Nesterović, 15 Ervin Dragsič (Coach: Boris Zrinski)
2001 EuroBasket: finished 15th among 16 teams
4 Beno Udrih, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Boris Gorenc, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Matjaž Smodiš, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Goran Jagodnik, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Ariel McDonald, 15 Radoslav Nesterović (Coach: Boris Zrinski)
2003 EuroBasket: finished 10th among 16 teams
4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Boris Gorenc, 7 Simon Petrov, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Boštjan Nachbar, 10 Slavko Duščak, 11 Marko Tušek, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Jurica Golemac, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Slobodan Subotić)
2005 EuroBasket: finished 6th among 16 teams
4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Aleksandar Ćapin, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Nebojša Joksimović, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Erazem Lorbek, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Marko Maravič, 14 Uroš Slokar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Aleš Pipan)
2006 FIBA World Cup: finished 9th among 24 teams
4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Sašo Ožbolt, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Beno Udrih, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Željko Zagorac, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Goran Dragić, 14 Uroš Slokar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Aleš Pipan)
2007 EuroBasket: finished 7th among 16 teams
4 Sandi Čebular, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Aleksandar Ćapin, 7 Goran Dragić, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Matjaž Smodiš, 10 Uroš Slokar, 11 Jaka Klobučar, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Aleš Pipan)
2009 EuroBasket: finished 4th among 16 teams
4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Samo Udrih, 7 Primož Brezec, 8 Matjaž Smodiš (C), 9 Jaka Klobučar, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Jurica Golemac, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Jure Zdovc)
2010 FIBA World Cup: finished 8th among 24 teams
4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Hasan Rizvić, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Jaka Klobučar, 9 Samo Udrih, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Miha Zupan, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Memi Bečirović)
2011 EuroBasket: finished 7th among 24 teams
4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Luka Rupnik, 7 Sašo Ožbolt, 8 Matjaž Smodiš, 9 Samo Udrih, 10 Edo Murić, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Zoran Dragić, 14 Mirza Begić, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Božidar Maljković)
2013 EuroBasket: finished 5th among 24 teams
4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Jure Balažič, 7 Nebojša Joksimović, 8 Edo Murić, 9 Jaka Blažič, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Zoran Dragić, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Mirza Begić (Coach: Božidar Maljković)