The semifinal in Riga was supposed to be another stage for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance. He had been torching opponents all tournament, averaging close to 30 points while carrying Greece into the final four. Instead, Turkey flipped the script. A 94–68 blowout not only sent them into their first EuroBasket final since 2001, but also handed Giannis his worst outing of the event. The Milwaukee Bucks star looked visibly limited against a defense built to suffocate him.

Ercan Osmani, the night’s breakout name, scored big points on 11-of-15 shooting, drilling four triples in the first quarter alone. His two-way effort defined Turkey’s tone early, but the scheme wasn’t just about his hot hand. Turkey’s rotations collapsed on Giannis every time he attacked the paint, denying him the freedom he usually thrives on. By halftime, Greece trailed 49–31, and their leader had just four points. It was the first time in this tournament that Giannis Antetokounmpo looked human.

The approach wasn’t a secret after the game. Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun broke it down while crediting his teammate’s performance. “I mean, we just put Ercan on him, you know, and we help as much as we can. And, you know, Ercan did a great job today. Of course, Giannis is one of the best players in the world. We just try to help Ercan and I think we did a good job. He’s not a great passer, he’s an amazing player, you know, but he’s not a great passer. So, we’re just trying to help and jump close to the paint”.

Numbers from the semifinal back up what the players said on camera because Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 12 points 12 rebounds and five assists while Turkey converted turnovers into easy points. Ercan Osmani exploded for 28 points on efficient shooting including multiple threes and Alperen Şengün posted 15 points 12 rebounds and six assists, the kind of all around line that frustrates opponents. Turkey forced Greece into a first half full of giveaways which turned into a 21 point cushion by the third quarter, and the defensive rotations that trapped and closed passing lanes clearly limited Giannis’ options.

That postgame quote and the semifinal result are already rippling through NBA front offices as teams revisit matchup plans and trade evaluations for the Bucks superstar. Analysts and executives will examine whether help and recover schemes like Turkey’s can be replicated at the NBA level and whether Giannis’ passing limitations change how teams build around him.

The conversation is shifting from pure scoring and rim attack to how to deny kick outs and funnel drives into crowded paint areas, and that pivot in thinking is why Sengun’s comment could influence roster moves and trade chatter across the league.

Turkey’s Coach names one Turkish player who should play in the NBA

Turkey head coach Ergin Ataman publicly praised Ercan Osmani after the semifinal and suggested NBA teams will now take a harder look at him as a matchup piece against superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ataman highlighted Osmani’s influence on the court and joked about the prospect of NBA interest saying “I think Osmani made a great difference against Giannis. I don’t know if my friend from Efes will have trouble with this, as many NBA teams will try to sign Osmani to stop Giannis, but I think he is very happy at Efes.” That endorsement from his coach underlines how quickly Osmani’s stock rose after one dominant night.

Ataman also explained the defensive approach that neutralized Giannis Antetokounmpo and framed it as a European-style strategy tuned to FIBA rules where paint defense and aggressive closeouts are central. He described a game plan that forced Giannis into tough dribble decisions and used double teams from Şengün and Osmani to collapse passing lanes, saying “We talked before the game, also in the press conference, that for Giannis, what I saw was that we should regularly play aggressive defense. Everyone stepped back from Giannis to force him into taking jumpshots.” The coach’s tactical clarity gives scouts a blueprint for how Osmani fits into a team concept.

Osmani’s club situation also matters because he is under contract with Anadolu Efes through 2027 and has been developing in the EuroLeague where he averaged respectable minutes and showed flashes of scoring and shooting range. Efes extended his deal after he appeared in every EuroLeague game last season and produced a career high in key outings, which means any NBA path would likely involve negotiation or buyout discussions. Ataman’s public praise makes that conversation louder for teams seeking a switching big who can stretch the floor.

Whether NBA teams act fast or merely file the scouting report away will depend on evaluation timelines and cap room but the message from Riga is clear. A coach at an elite international level has named a player who not only devastated a top opponent but also fits a modern profile for switching defending and floor spacing. If NBA front offices value that blend as much as Turkey’s coach does, Ercan Osmani’s name could move from EuroLeague scouting boards to genuine transfer plans in the months ahead.