Tag: FIBA Basketball World Cup

Photos: Paolo Banchero leads USA Basketball to win over New Zealand in FIBA World Cup opener

Team USA opened the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Saturday with a win over New Zealand.

Paolo Banchero produced 21 points to lead Team USA to a 99-72 win over New Zealand on Saturday to open the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, Philippines.

The reigning Rookie of the Year with the Orlando Magic played a pivotal role for the Americans throughout the contest. He helped the group overcome an early 10-point deficit in the first quarter with five points and some swarming defense. He later added 12 points in the third quarter as Team USA outscored New Zealand, 31-22, in the period.

With Banchero leading the way, the Americans also received another strong outing from Anthony Edwards. The leading scorer in exhibition play added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Austin Reaves each chipped in 12 points apiece to help USA Basketball start 1-0 in the group phase.

The U.S. enters the FIBA Basketball World Cup as the front-runner to win with a roster featuring a tournament-high 12 players in the NBA. The Americans have taken home the gold medal five times, which is tied for the most by a country.

After defeating New Zealand, the Americans return to action on Monday against Greece and wrap up the group phase of the tournament on Wednesday versus Jordan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.

Here are some of the best pictures from the win over New Zealand.

South Sudan to make history with third-youngest player ever in FIBA World Cup

South Sudan is set to make history by having one of the youngest players ever in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

When South Sudan takes the court in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the men’s national team will make history with one of the youngest players ever to compete.

Khaman Maluach, 16, was named to South Sudan’s 12-man roster for the World Cup on Thursday. He will be the third-youngest player to suit up in the tournament, which started in 1950, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

The 7-foot-2 Maluach started playing basketball roughly four years ago in Uganda. He then joined the NBA Africa Academy in Senegal and is one of four players from the academy competing in the World Cup, joining Cui Yongxi, Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.

Maluach is on pace to graduate high school in the summer of 2025. He has received college offers from Duke and UCLA and will be eligible to enter the draft immediately because he is an international prospect born in 2006.

South Sudan became a sovereign state from Sudan in July 2011 and joined FIBA two years later. The team, whose president is Luol Deng, will be competing in its first international event outside of Africa at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The group will open its tournament on Saturday against Puerto Rico in Group B in Manila, Philippines (4 a.m. EDT, ESPN+). The team will also face China on Monday (4 a.m.) and Serbia on Wednesday (4 a.m.) to round out the group phase.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.

South Sudan is headlined by free agent Wenyen Gabriel, Chicago Bulls guard Carlik Jones, Maine Celtics guard Marial Shayok and Peter Jok, who attended Iowa. The group went 3-2 in its exhibition schedule ahead of the event.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from both the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Canada to blowout win over France in FIBA Basketball World Cup

Gilgeous-Alexander had a historic outing on Friday to lead Canada to a dominating win over France in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a double-double Friday to lead Canada to a dominant 95-65 win over France in Group H of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 27 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals to open the group phase of the tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia. He became the first Canadian to record a 20-point double-double in a debut game in the World Cup at the senior level, according to Keerthika Uthayakumar of TSN Sports.

Canada trailed 7-0 to start the contest but settled in to take a 43-40 lead at halftime. The group outscored France, 52-25, in the second half. Captain Kelly Olynyk produced 18 points and four rebounds while Dillion Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 12 points apiece.

It was the first 30-point loss for France in the World Cup since 1963.

Evan Fournier led France with 21 points. Nando De Colo and Mathias Lessort added 12 points apiece. Rudy Gobert finished with eight points and nine rebounds. France was outscored, 20-4, in points off turnovers and 12-2 in fast-break points.

Nine players scored for Canada. The dominant performance ensured every Canadian saw the court, including Zach Edey, the lone collegiate player on the roster. Edey and Phil Scrubb were the last two players to enter the game late in the fourth quarter.

Canada will return to action on Sunday against Lebanon (0-1) as it looks to start 2-0 in the group phase (5:30 a.m. EDT, ESPN+). The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.

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2023 World Cup: Top 23 players in the tournament

HoopsHype ranks the Top 23 players in the upcoming 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is here, with Team USA gunning for gold after falling short in the 2019 World Cup in China.

Stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will miss the tournament, but 57 NBA players will compete in the tournament.

We decided to project the Top 23 players for the World Cup (featuring many of said NBA players). This was voted upon by a panel of our writers and editors, so without further ado, let’s get right into the action.

Zach Edey named to Canada’s final roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup

Canada will open the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Group H on Friday against France in Indonesia.

Purdue center Zach Edey on Thursday was named to Canada’s 12-man roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup set to begin on Friday across Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

Edey, who was born in Toronto, was among the 15 players who participated with Canada in training camp ahead of the tournament. He made three appearances with the team during its exhibition schedule and is the lone collegiate player on the roster.

The 7-foot-4 center debuted with the senior team last year in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier. He helped Canada to a first-place finish in Group E after averaging 7.7 points, four rebounds and one block in three games.

Edey was the Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American last season as a junior after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. He became the first player in history to record 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a season.

Canada’s 12-man roster for the tournament features seven NBA players, including RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kelly Olynyk. The group will be coached for the first time by Sacramento assistant Jordi Fernandez.

They open play in Group H on Friday against France in Indonesia (9:30 a.m. EDT, ESPN+). The team will face Lebanon on Aug. 27 and wrap up the group phase on Aug. 29 with Latvia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from both the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Canada has the third-highest odds of winning the tournament.

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Sixers’ Filip Petrusev named to Serbia’s final roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup

Petrusev averaged 10.5 points in four exhibition appearances with Serbia ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Filip Petrusev was named to Serbia’s final 12-man roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is set to begin on Friday across Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

Serbia went 4-1 over its five-game exhibition schedule and finished with three straight wins. Petrusev averaged 10.5 points in four appearances, including a 17-point effort on Monday in an 89-85 win against Brazil in China.

The 50th pick in 2021 signed a two-year contract with the 76ers last month after playing the past two seasons overseas. He helped lead Crvena zvezda to the Serbian League title last season by averaging 11 points and 4.9 rebounds on 57.3% shooting from the field.

Petrusev, who was born in Belgrade, has appeared with the senior team three times after debuting in 2021. He most recently played in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup European qualifiers, averaging 7.8 points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists in four games.

Serbia will open the FIBA Basketball World Cup against China in Group B on Saturday and then face Puerto Rico on Monday and South Sudan on Aug. 30 in the group phase. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

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Canada, Zach Edey fall to Dominican Republic in FIBA exhibition finale

Canada dropped its last exhibition game ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday to the Dominican Republic.

The Canadian men’s national team dropped its last exhibition game ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday to the Dominican Republic in Granada, Spain.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Dominican Republic to the 94-88 win with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists. It marked his first appearance with the national team since 2013 when he represented the country in the FIBA Americas Championship.

The Canadians were paced by Luguentz Dort, who had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Trae Bell-Haynes scored 12 points and RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks each added 10 points as Canada finished 3-2 during its exhibition schedule.

Purdue center Zach Edey, the lone college player on the team, produced six points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. His 13 minutes of action were his most with Canada ahead of the tournament.

Canada turns its attention to the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Aug. 25 against France. The team needs to finalize its 12-man roster ahead of the tournament; it carried 15 players through the majority of training camp.

After facing France, they will continue in Group H with Lebanon on Aug. 27 and wrap up the group phase on Aug. 29 with Latvia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout round of the tournament beginning on Sept. 1

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Canada last qualified for the Olympics in 2000.

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Twitter reacts to Team USA blowing out Greece: ‘Austin Reaves haters have to be sick’

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Team USA blowing out Greece in a prep game for the FIBA World Cup.

Team USA cruised past Greece 108-86 in another prep game for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, improving to a 4-0 record. Greece was without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will miss the upcoming World Cup due to recovery from his injury.

Anthony Edwards led the way for the Americans with 21 points.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game.

Zach Edey helps Canada to win over Spain in FIBA exhibition game

Canada posted an overtime win over top-ranked Spain on Thursday in a tune-up game ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Canadian men’s national team posted an overtime win over top-ranked Spain on Thursday in a tune-up game ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists and RJ Barrett added 18 points in the 85-80 victory in Granada. Dwight Powell chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds and Kelly Olynyk had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Juan Hernangomez led Spain with 12 points and five rebounds.

Purdue center Zach Edey, the lone college player on the team, totaled five points, three rebounds and one steal in nine minutes of action. The outing was his most significant run in two appearances with Canada ahead of the tournament.

The Canadians improved to 3-1 during their exhibition schedule, which will wrap up on Friday against the Dominican Republic. The team has been led by mostly NBA players with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort also contributing at a high level.

The team will open the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Group H on Aug. 25 against France in Indonesia. It will face Lebanon on Aug. 27 and wrap up the group phase on Aug. 29 with Latvia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Canada last qualified for the Olympics in 2000.

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USA Basketball: How to watch FIBA showcase game vs. Spain on Sunday

After defeating Slovenia on Saturday, the Americans are back in action on Sunday against Spain.

USA Basketball continues its five-game exhibition schedule ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday with a friendly against Spain in Malaga.

The Americans improved to 2-0 during their run on Saturday after defeating a Slovenia team playing without Luka Doncic. Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards led the way with 15 points while New York guard Jalen Brunson had 11 points and eight assists in the 92-62 win.

Other notable performances by Team USA:

They will face a Spain team with plenty of current and former NBA players.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama led the Spaniards to a win over Slovenia on Friday with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Juan Hernangomez and Willy Hernangomez each had 17 points, and Alex Abrines added 13 points.

After facing Spain, USA Basketball will travel to Abu Dhabi for two final tuneup games beginning on Friday against Greece. They will face Germany on Aug. 20 prior to their first game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Aug. 26 in the Philippines.

With the Americans set to play their second game in Malaga on Sunday, here is all of the information you need to catch the action live and follow along on TV.