EuroBasket 2022 is still in its preliminary stage, yet is already turning out to be one of the most memorable editions of the tournament.

Three of the best players in the world today in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic are all participating in this year’s festivities which further highlights how global the game of basketball has become. Antetokounmpo and Jokic are the owners of the last four NBA Most Valuable Player awards while Doncic is more likely than not to win one of his own in the coming years.

Antetokounmpo put on a show in Greece’s 99-79 win over Ukraine where he scored 41 points in only 27 minutes of action–the most in a EuroBasket game since future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki dropped 43 for Germany. He also added nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal to complete his impressive performance.

The six-time NBA All-Star has been in midseason form throughout these past few weeks and continues to improve even after winning the NBA title in 2021. He has made tremendous progress with his footwork and is scoring with even more ease despite what his critics perceive as a lack of skill.

The 27-year-old forward is currently the leading EuroBasket scorer with an average of 31 points per game on 52.6% field goal shooting. He has been so dominant that Doncic even picked him as the player who is likely to score the most points in a game during this three-week competition.

However, Doncic’s statements were hardly a day old when he decided to up the ante for Antetokounmpo. If the Greek superstar is to record the highest amount of points in a single match during this year’s EuroBasket, his 41-point outing will not be enough.

Doncic erupted for 47 points on 15-of-23 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal the following day to cap Slovenia’s opening round with a hard-fought 88-82 win over France that was a rematch of last year’s Olympic semifinal. His masterpiece was even more praiseworthy when considering that the French defense was anchored by three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert whom he relentlessly attacked and scored over.

The 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year was hitting tough shots from all over the court even after a second quarter incident where he received an elbow to the head that drew blood. His 47-point showing also came less than a day after he had 36 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists versus Germany.

The 23-year-old Doncic’s point total against France was the second highest in any EuroBasket game since Nick Galis of Greece had 46 in 1983. The record is held by Belgium’s Eddy Terrace who scored 63 points over 60 years ago in 1957.

Given how Doncic, Antetokounmpo, and even Jokic–who had 29 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks in Serbia’s most recent win–have been playing in this tournament, there is a strong chance that this record will be threatened by one, if not all three, of these players over the next few days.

This year’s EuroBasket is further proof that basketball has truly become a global game and while its heart and soul remains in North America, its best players now reside across the Atlantic Ocean.