Once just "the random guy in a suit" behind Kawhi Leonard's iconic shot, Jordan Loyd has transformed into Poland's unlikely hero—dropping record numbers, carrying a nation, and rewriting what's possible for naturalized players in Europe.
At EuroBasket 2025, the list of top scorers is filled with Europe's biggest basketball stars who also shine in the NBA.
Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lauri Markkanen, Deni Avdija, Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, Nikola Vucevic, Franz Wagner, and Dennis Schroder are all there, players already known around the world.
But wedged among those household names is someone who doesn't quite fit the mold.
He isn't a two-time MVP or a perennial All-Star. He represents Poland, though his name doesn't sound Polish at all.
Jordan Loyd—or, as fans in Poland now call him, "Jordan Loydziński"—has muscled his way into the record books as the highest-scoring naturalized player in EuroBasket history, posting 23 points per game.
Two years ago, few could have predicted this.
A dinner in Kaunas, meant to simply welcome Loyd into the fold, has since become a pivotal moment for the Polish national team.
EuroLeague Stars On Poland's Shortlist
The list was long at first, packed with recognizable names.
At one point, it included EuroLeague stars like
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Donatas Urbonas
Donatas Urbonas is an award-winning Lithuanian basketball journalist, recognized as the best sports journalist in Lithuania in 2016 and the top basketball journalist in 2018. A Vilnius University journalism graduate, Urbonas has reported on major global sports events, including the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympics, FIBA World Cups, EuroBaskets, NBA Summer League, and NBA Draft.
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