The 2023 FIBA World Cup kicks off on the twenty fifth of August. With 22 rosters locked and loaded and a few 70 NBA players becoming a member of the motion, right here’s a have a look at the 20 most fun, dominant gamers it is best to spend a while watching all through August and September.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP and seven-time NBA All-Star and is arguably the no.1 participant on the World Cup. The 28-year-old, who additionally grew to become an NBA Champion in 2021, is Greece’s trump card. Anticipate Antetokounmpo to manage the offense, assault the rim, hit mid-range leap pictures, and fireplace pictures from outdoors the arc.
Can anybody cease him? Can’t see it. Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 factors and 11.8 rebounds with the Milwaukee Bucks final season but it surely wasn’t sufficient to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy. The Bucks flatlined within the NBA Playoffs, shedding to Miami 4-1. Antetokounmpo likes to win. This World Cup offers him one other shot at profitable.
Anthony Edwards, USA
Anthony Edwards is already establishing himself as one of many faces of the NBA’s subsequent technology of expertise together with Ja Morant. He’s not fairly there but, however he’ll be the very best, most entertaining participant to observe on Crew USA.
He averaged 24.6 final season, touchdown 213 three-pointers, and like Morant, assaults the rim from all elements of the court docket with uncooked intuition. He’s fearless and may lead the US assault together with Tyrese Haliburton (averaging 20 factors, 10 rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (averaging 24 factors). The one query is will his NBA recreation translate properly in opposition to worldwide competitors?
Luka Doncic, Slovenia
Luka Doncic averaged 32.4 final yr and led the NBA in scoring. It’s arduous to consider he’s solely 24 years outdated.
Doncic no stranger to European ball. In 2018 he was topped EuroLeague Champion and MVP. He additionally gained Slovenia’s Sportsperson of the 12 months. Doncic was the youngest participant to signify Actual Madrid at 16. He’ll feast at this World Cup. Doncic simply dropped a triple-double in opposition to Greece in a warm-up recreation with 21 factors, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists.
Of the final three World Cups Slovenia has certified for, they completed ninth, eighth, and seventh. Nevertheless, the staff’s fortunes land and Doncic is a must-watch megastar.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, Canada
Excessive expectations shall be positioned on this Canadian duo to carry out properly on the World Cup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a stellar season within the NBA and developed right into a top-five scorer averaging 31.4 per recreation. Whereas Jamal Murray, who recovered from an ACL harm to win his first NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets, averaged 20. Can they gel collectively? It’s thrilling to consider.
The remainder of the Canadian staff is stacked with NBA gamers together with RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, and Lu Dort. However they’ll want their two-pronged celebrity guard assault to go massive in the event that they go deep into the event.
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Lauri Markkanen, Finland
One thing occurred at EuroBasket final summer season that kick-started the newest model of Lauri Markkanen we’re more likely to see once more later this month. In seven video games he averaged 27.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and a pair of.4 three-pointers. That led to an unbelievable profession yr with Utah averaging 25.6.
The 25-year-old stayed wholesome final yr. One thing that he couldn’t do when he was on the Chicago Bulls. The man they name “the Finnisher” will spearhead the nationwide staff after he completes military service which is obligatory earlier than 30 in Finland. That’s some type of preparation.
Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
After a stable yr with the Wizards averaging 23.2 factors, Kristaps Porzingis made the choice to maneuver to Boston in a bumper commerce and can now be trying to push Latvia into uncharted territory.
In two qualifying matches, Porzingis averaged 25.5 factors, 14 rebounds, and three blocks. He helped Latvia clinch their first-ever World Cup debut. Porzingis has a beard now and Latvia could possibly be legit: they gained 11 straight video games within the qualifiers and made 134 triples at 37.5 %, making them second-best amongst all European qualifiers.
Jordan Clarkson, Philippines
It’s nonetheless confirmed that Jordan Clarkson is lacing up for the host nation, the Philippines, on their house deck. He gained citizenship by his grandmother after the age of 16. The Philippines will play Italy, Angola, and the Dominican Republic within the group stage.
Something is feasible from one of many host nations. In the course of the Asian Qualifiers, Clarkson averaged 25 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He’s coming off a stable yr with Utah capturing 20.8 with 4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 61 video games.
Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro
At 32 years outdated, the veteran Bulls middle remains to be a high-level performer. Nikola Vucevic averaged 17.7 factors and 11 rebounds this previous season. He brings management and a aggressive mentality to his recreation that Montenegro might want to lean on.
Vucevic is again for his second straight FIBA World Cup. He desires to be there and brings a protracted checklist of Euro Ball expertise, that includes in three EuroBaskets (2011, 2013, 2017), and the 2019 World Cup.
Josh Giddey, Australia
Josh Giddey is without doubt one of the youngest gamers on the World Cup at 20 years outdated. He’s establishing himself within the NBA as a triple-double risk in the identical mildew as LaMelo Ball, averaging 16.6 factors 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per recreation final season.
Giddey creates shot alternatives with that rocket move he’s bought in his artillery and is studying to grasp the floater. He joins Josh Inexperienced, 22, and Dyson Daniels, 20, two different younger NBA-Aussies at this World Cup trying to make an impression.
Yuta Watanabe and Rui Hachimura, Japan
Basketball followers are bullish on host nation Japan: They’ve two NBA gamers in Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe. Plus, the sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga, dubbed the “Japanese Steph Curry”.
According to the Japan Times, each gamers are anticipated to play key roles and are “integral to teach Tom Hovasse’s World Cup plans.” That is going to be a enjoyable marketing campaign for them. Each coming off contemporary contracts with the Lakers and Nets, taking part in in entrance of fanatical Japanese crowds, and each shall be relied on closely to attain.
Kyle Anderson, China
In the event you don’t know Kyle Anderson’s story about how he found his Chinese language heritage, it’s fairly cool. In 2014, his mom Suzanne started discovering Kyle’s great-grandfather. She employed a genealogist. Then had a breakthrough on AncestryDNA.
It ended a four-year seek for household. In 2018, the Andersons took a trip to satisfy some 30 kin. All that to say, the Chinese language basketball staff is happy to have him. Anderson shall be trying to deliver his late NBA season type to the World Cup. Anderson scored double-digits in 16 of the final 24 video games, together with two triple-doubles in opposition to the Hawks and Bulls.
Rudy Gobert, France
Timberwolves followers could not like that Rudy Gobert will characteristic for France at this yr’s World Cup after getting banged up at EuroBasket 2022. That led to a subpar first season in Minnesota.
His scoring was down. Rebounds had been down. Blocks had been down. Gobert mentioned on the finish of final season that he’s planning his finest summer season ever and that he desires to have his finest profession yr. If he can get by unscathed and with type with France, who shall be with out phenom Victor Wembanyama, it units him up for a comeback yr with the Wolves.
Jonas Valančiūnas, Lithuania
Jonas Valančiūnas has been taking part in the worldwide circuit since 2007, getting his begin with the U16 squad. He’s proud to signify his nation. And this FIBA recreation fits him: arduous, uncompromising, team-play.
It’s a much less flashy, grittier recreation and Valančiūnas likes to get his palms soiled. The Lithuanians will need a repeat of the 30-year-old’s efficiency at EuroBasket 2022, the place he exploded and averaged a double-double and as Lithuania went on to qualify for the spherical of 16.
Karl-Anthony Cities, Dominican Republic
Karl-Anthony Cities broke down with a calf pressure that compelled him out for many of the NBA season. He solely performed 29 video games for the Wolves. The 27-year-old began to search out type late within the yr and within the final eight video games, he scored 20 or extra in six of them and produced two triple-doubles within the shedding playoff collection in opposition to Denver.
These are good numbers and nice indicators for the Dominican staff. That is Cities’ first time again to a FIBA event since 2013 and there’s probability his nation can declare a Quarterfinal berth with the Philippines, Angola, and Italy–their foremost obstacles within the group part.
Ricky Rubio, Spain
Life in Cleveland has been a battle for Ricky Rubio. He missed the primary 42 video games of the NBA season by harm and managed 33 wholesome ones final yr. He solely performed ten-to-Quarter-hour an evening, averaging 5.2 factors and three.5 assists caught behind a protracted checklist of guards.
However taking part in for Spain is totally different. Rubio is a key cog who helped Spain win FIBA gold in 2019, averaging 16.4 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and 6 assists. He missed Spain’s success of EuroBasket gold in 2022 due to harm, however he’s again so as to add extra {hardware} to his European assortment.
Mo Bamba, Ivory Coast
Mo Bamba is happy with his African heritage. He was born in Harlem, however in 2022 constructed a basketball facility that helps 200 kids per day in SOS Village Abodo-Gare in Abidjan.
Mamba has performed 275 video games within the NBA and is coming into his seventh season. Now he’s on the Lakers roster, his time on the court docket bought shaved right down to 9 minutes towards the tip of the season. Let’s see what Mamba can do on the ground for his nation. He’ll have loads of alternatives.
Simone Fontecchio, Italy
The 6”7 small ahead is the one NBA participant on the Italian roster. Fontecchio has sturdy ties to the nationwide staff. He’s been taking part in for them since he was 16. The 27-year-old’s mom, Mali Pomilio additionally performed for Italy and gained two Euro titles. In the meantime, his father was a hurdler and his grandfather additionally performed basketball.
The Fontecchio household are natural-born athletes. Will probably be thrilling to see what Utah’s Fontecchio can do for the Italian staff.
Nikola Jovic , Serbia
Nikola Jovic sees NBA Champion and fellow Serbian Nikola Jokic as an enormous brother and mentor. They went by the identical pipeline to achieve the NBA. Jovic, 20, is simply beginning his NBA journey and already bought an NBA Finals collection underneath his belt.
That ought to give him the arrogance to compete on the worldwide stage. In 2021 he was a part of the U19 Serbia World Cup staff. With Serbia lacking two-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP Jokic, there shall be a chance to attain and showcase his expertise. Can Jovic get up? Miami followers would like to see it.
