Belgium’s EuroBasket 2025 campaign took a major hit as NBA players Ajay Mitchell and Toumani Camara withdrew, citing rest and career priorities. Veteran Pierre-Antoine Gillet also retired, leaving the team in transition weeks before facing France in the tournament opener.
What was already an uphill climb for the Belgian Lions heading into EuroBasket 2025 has now become a full-blown crisis of continuity and ambition.
Toumani Camara
Toumani Camara
Position: PF
Age: 25
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 100 kg
Birth place: Brussels, Belgium
After weeks of vague updates and lingering optimism, Ajay Mitchell and Toumani Camara — Belgium’s only NBA representatives — have officially withdrawn from the competition. To make matters worse, veteran leader Pierre-Antoine Gillet shocked the federation and fans alike by announcing his international retirement just one month before the tournament.
No Camara, No Mitchell: NBA Priorities Win Out
From the moment Belgium’s preliminary list was announced on July 16 without Camara (Portland Trail Blazers) or Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder), the writing was on the wall. Still, the federation held on to a sliver of hope, stating that “more information regarding their possible participation will be communicated as soon as possible.”
That information came two weeks later — and it wasn’t good.
In a carefully worded but ultimately disappointing statement, the Belgian Basketball Federation confirmed that both Mitchell and Camara would not be participating in EuroBasket. The official reasoning was rooted in recovery, scheduling, and NBA obligations — though both players expressed a general willingness to return to the national team "in the future."
“Ajay has decided to rest and recover for the new NBA season after a long and trying championship and his foot injury,” the statement read.
“He remains motivated to play for Belgium and is looking forward to the opportunities that will arise in the years to come.”
Camara, coming off a solid rookie season with the Blazers, was in a similar situation:
“Toumani Camara is also eager to play for the national team. However, this summer is not the ideal time as he continues his efforts to complete the next important step in his NBA career.”
But with Belgium not expected to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, and no EuroBasket until 2029, their next realistic window with the national team could be four years away — a long time in the life cycle of a basketball program.
Gillet’s Quiet Goodbye
If the loss of two NBA players was a blow, the surprise retirement of Pierre-Antoine Gillet came as a gut punch. A long-serving figure in the national setup and an emotional leader on and off the court, Gillet had not hinted publicly at any plans to step away. His decision left head coach Dario Gjergja scrambling to stabilize a roster already lacking star power.
To patch the holes, Gjergja recalled four players to the squad:
Elias Lasisi (Antwerp)
Alexander Raedschelders (Okapi Aalst)
Niels Van Den Eynde (Okapi Aalst)
Michael Gilmore (UC Piacenza)
While talented, these replacements represent a step down in experience and impact — a stark reality as Belgium prepares to face France on opening night of the competition, August 28.
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