Sixteen national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body.

Hosts Germany won their first FIBA European title by defeating Russia with a 71–70 score in the final.

The reason for this were politic changes in Eastern Europe caused by breaks of two big countries, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, which dominated in European basketball in recent decades.

Russia was announced as successor of the Soviet Union and the first time competed as independent country at major tournament.

Since other new countries, including silver medalist Croatia and bronze medalist Lithuania from the Olympic tournament at Barcelona 1992, did not compete at the Qualifying Round, FIBA Europe organized additional qualifying tournament in order to enable them participation at championship.