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Mods, excuse me if this should be posted on the international forum. I was going to post it there, but then I figured this seems like it's significant enough for a general basket discussion here.



Mali was 2nd in 2019. They beat Canada and France, and lost to USA in the final.

Now they beat Serbia in the first game in 2025.

Mirotic12 wrote:Mods, excuse me if this should be posted on the international forum. I was going to post it there, but then I figured this seems like it's significant enough for a general basket discussion here.

Watch on YouTube

Mali was 2nd in 2019. They beat Canada and France, and lost to USA in the final.

Now they beat Serbia in the first game in 2025.

Where did their 2019 players end up? Euro league?

Masai must be proud seeing this result. These are the fruits of his labour.

NCHeels2008 wrote:Where did their 2019 players end up? Euro league?

I think one of them plays in a 2nd/3rd European league. I don't think any of them played in EuroLeague. Just one name from the roster looks familiar for a guy playing in Europe, but not in EuroLeague.

NCHeels2008 wrote:
Where did their 2019 players end up? Euro league?

Mali was very strong back in 2019, because Oumar Ballo was international youth superstar. I don't know where most of their other guys now play, but I do not recognize their names. Thing with FIBA youth tournmanets, very few of their participants actually turn into something.

UcanUwill wrote:

NCHeels2008 wrote:
Where did their 2019 players end up? Euro league?

Mali was very strong back in 2019, because Oumar Ballo was international youth superstar. I don't know where most of their other guys now play, but I do not recognize their names. Thing with FIBA youth tournmanets, very few of their participants actually turn into something.

Ballo and the other main guy just finished their NCAA run.

sisibilio wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:

NCHeels2008 wrote:
Where did their 2019 players end up? Euro league?

Mali was very strong back in 2019, because Oumar Ballo was international youth superstar. I don't know where most of their other guys now play, but I do not recognize their names. Thing with FIBA youth tournmanets, very few of their participants actually turn into something.

Ballo and the other main guy just finished their NCAA run.

Ballo was a huge college disappointment, at least to me, I barely heard about him in all these years, i thought he would be top 5 pick lock.

Ballo is too slow and unathletic for the NBA, he should be useful in Europe.

USA and AJ Dybantsa vs. France in 1,5 hours. Free stream on YouTube.

Serbia also just lost against Argentina FWIW. This definitely seems like a weaker Serbian generation. Drezgic looked terrible in the NCAA and even with MEGA afterwards. Kostic could certainly become a solid pro.

Props to Mali. These victories mean a lot for African basketball.

As for Argentina, they've looked solid again in recent years, but still household names are coming out of there, despite the upwards trend.

Cameroon could have put Australia away but their center dunked on the wrong basket after an inbounds play with less than minute to play in regulation. Now the game is in OT.

sisibilio wrote:Ballo is too slow and unathletic for the NBA, he should be useful in Europe.

Europe or EuroLeague? As in useful somewhere in some European league, or in the actual EuroLeague?

Because centers that are both slow and unathletic tend to struggle in the EuroLeague.

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knicksfan974 wrote:Cameroon could have put Australia away but their center dunked on the wrong basket after an inbounds play with less than minute to play in regulation. Now the game is in OT.

And they ended up losing the game. Definitely the highlight of the tournament so far.

sisibilio wrote:

Read on Twitter

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This is brilliant

More i watch it, i'm more amazed. So guy spent 20 min attacking or watching from bench his team attack other side on the floor. Goes in, "screens offensive player" rolls and dunks

why is Malik Beasley playing for Mali U19 team?

Meanwhile at Women Eurobasket finals Spain led Belgium 65:53 with 3 minutes to go
9:40

Slovenia reaching the semifinal for the first time in history, after destroying Israel. I anyone has time watch a game, they play a beautyfull brand of team basketball. Time for a cold one!

Nice little upset.

Nice to see an African nation becoming a contender.