FIBA World Cup 2023 (FIRST thread)

[Sakkreth]

Well, Lithuania still seem ok to me. I mean they keep failing, but they lost Eurobasket 1/8 final by one point at last second, in the OT, To Spain, who then went and won the whole thing. What I mean, one possession goes different, and the results could have been drastically different, nature of the game. I think having Brazil, Dominica and FInland over them seems like a reach.

Brazil for sure isn't behind Lithuania. For this years World Cup, any Power Rankings which place Lithuania above Brazil have to be written with green font

Brazil has 1 nba scrub and no euroleague players. In what way is it even close to Lithuanian roster?

[Nuntius]

The whole national thing has become a joke in basketball and most sports in general, aside from Lithuania/Serbia (mens)/maybe some African teams no other countries use only people of their own in basketball. Why even have a countries competition if your not using the people of your own country.

It's basically a crap verision of Euroleague with a good/elite at times USA teams in general.

Finland?

Federiko Federiko, if he is chosen to play for Team Finland, was born in Kairo Egypt (EDIT: even though ESPN claims he was born in Helsinki he wasn't; though he moved to Finland with his family when he was a baby), although he spent most of childhood in Finland. Other than that, all the players assumed to be on Team Finland have been Finnish citizens from birth.

The Murphy brothers weren't born in Finland either. Alex Murphy was born in Rhode Island and Erik Murphy was born in France. They do have a Finnish mother, though. It's a similar case to Shawn Huff and Gerald Lee but Huff and Lee were also born in Finland.

Jamar Wilson was born in the Bronx and unlike the other players I mentioned didn't really have Finnish ancestry. He did play one year in Finland, though, back in 10-11 and returned for two more years between 20 and 22.

In any case, I'm not really someone who believes that they can judge whether someone should compete for X country or not.

[LuDux1]

"Wilson and his wife, former Finland national team player Laura Wilson (née Sario) have a daughter named Fiona.[31][32] Six months after passing the language test, Wilson received his Finnish passport in June 2015, about five years after his first public intentions to gain Finnish citizenship.[33][34]"

I'll allow it

[The Number 9]

Yes, Jamar Wilson arrived in Finland as a young player at the start of his European career. He met is wife there. It probably means something to have a Finnish passport other than playing some international competitions.
Definitely not like Lorenzo Brown (for example).

[Swuul]

The Murphy brothers weren't born in Finland either. Alex Murphy was born in Rhode Island and Erik Murphy was born in France. They do have a Finnish mother, though. It's a similar case to Shawn Huff and Gerald Lee but Huff and Lee were also born in Finland.

Jamar Wilson was born in the Bronx and unlike the other players I mentioned didn't really have Finnish ancestry. He did play one year in Finland, though, back in 10-11 and returned for two more years between 20 and 22.

The Murphy brothers have been citizens of Finland from their birth. It doesn't matter where they were born.

Jamar Wilson hasn't played for Team Finland for few years now so not sure how that applies here to this discussion. Anyway, he got his citizenship because he had been married to a finn and the family had lived in Finland (outside basketball season) for five years, and he then did pass the language test (ie same reasons others, including me, can get finnish citizenship (I got mine years and years ago with the slight difference I have never represented Finland in any sport :p )).

[The Number 9]

Τhe purpose of FIBA, literally their mission statement, is to promote the sport around the world. Thats the goal.
Having a better tournament with better players and as many stars as possible, and get as many eyeballs as possible, that is what serves the purpose. Being too anal with the eiligibility rules probably doesn't.
Get Embiid in there, give that man a passport ASAP. Joker, Luka, Giannis, get as many of them as you can, add some mercenaries, play some hoops and get people excited. If some teams want to make it all about their nationality, then sure, they can do that too. But the main goal is basketball.

FIBA must also help all the organizations (academies, clubs, ...) that develop young players. If there is no possibility to play at the highest level because all the spots are for foreigners, the kids will left or play other sports.
We see that with clubs in France. Some young players leave after doing all the youth competition there because there is no place for them. Wemby just said this after the draft (or just before) if he didn't have his chance with Nanterre, where would he be ? (For him, it's okay because he is a phenomenon but it was a problem for others).

You must maintain a balance between lots of things. It's not just, if we allow all the best players regardless of their nationalities, it will be the best promotion for basketball.

[lambchop]

Well, Lithuania still seem ok to me. I mean they keep failing, but they lost Eurobasket 1/8 final by one point at last second, in the OT, To Spain, who then went and won the whole thing. What I mean, one possession goes different, and the results could have been drastically different, nature of the game. I think having Brazil, Dominica and FInland over them seems like a reach.

Brazil for sure isn't behind Lithuania. For this years World Cup, any Power Rankings which place Lithuania above Brazil have to be written with green font

Brazil has 1 nba scrub and no euroleague players. In what way is it even close to Lithuanian roster?

Still have to look at overall impact of the players in FIBA play. Sabonis is an NBA all star but his impact hasn't been huge in FIBA games cause simply running dribble handoffs while not being willing to shoot from three or from the mid range area doesn't really work in Europe, just like it didn't work in the NBA playoffs). Valanciunas is a stud in FIBA ball.
Brazil has Caboclo and Yago who looked excellent in the qualifiers and just helped Ulm obliterate two weak Euroleague teams in Berlin and Munich in the German playoffs. Huertas is always good in FIBA play and Neto will surely help, although he isn't really used to being a leader so I don't see his impact being that big. Felicio just finished a decent season in Spain.

But, yea, Lithuania is definitely better on paper, though I'm not high on guys like Jokubaitis. I've said before that I'd prefer to see him on a different Euroleague team or maybe even a Eurocup team where he can have a bigger role on offense. Dude is a cerebral player and is a big PG, but in Barcelona his role is really fixed, never plays at the end of games, hardly ever takes more than 5 shots etc.

[UcanUwill]

This is OT, because this was from U19 playoffs, I bet everyone already saw this, but look at this box score :

Lebanon 20-102 Spain

https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2023/game/2806/Spain-Lebanon#tab=overview

[thejigglyroom]

This is OT, because this was from U19 playoffs, I bet everyone already saw this, but look at this box score :

Lebanon 20-102 Spain

https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2023/game/2806/Spain-Lebanon#tab=overview

I saw that when I woke up this morning and thought it was a typo. Especially after they scored 70 against USA the day before. I guess they just figured there was nothing to play for?

[Sakkreth]

Brazil for sure isn't behind Lithuania. For this years World Cup, any Power Rankings which place Lithuania above Brazil have to be written with green font

Brazil has 1 nba scrub and no euroleague players. In what way is it even close to Lithuanian roster?

Still have to look at overall impact of the players in FIBA play. Sabonis is an NBA all star but his impact hasn't been huge in FIBA games cause simply running dribble handoffs while not being willing to shoot from three or from the mid range area doesn't really work in Europe, just like it didn't work in the NBA playoffs). Valanciunas is a stud in FIBA ball.
Brazil has Caboclo and Yago who looked excellent in the qualifiers and just helped Ulm obliterate two weak Euroleague teams in Berlin and Munich in the German playoffs. Huertas is always good in FIBA play and Neto will surely help, although he isn't really used to being a leader so I don't see his impact being that big. Felicio just finished a decent season in Spain.

But, yea, Lithuania is definitely better on paper, though I'm not high on guys like Jokubaitis. I've said before that I'd prefer to see him on a different Euroleague team or maybe even a Eurocup team where he can have a bigger role on offense. Dude is a cerebral player and is a big PG, but in Barcelona his role is really fixed, never plays at the end of games, hardly ever takes more than 5 shots etc.

Yeah impact in FIBA play. What has those Brazilian players did exactly? Huertas is decent, but he's a vet now who plays in BCL and that's where it ends. Neto can help, probably. You are naming guys like Felicio who "had decent season in Acb". For Lithuania Birutis who was MVP in the same Acb few seasons back and has been decent in EuroLeague this past season won't sniff Lithuanian roster barring multiple injuries. Lithuania has just more quality and depth besides the easily best player between the two teams.

[UcanUwill]

France announces their Final 12

PG. Nando DeColo / Frank Ntilikina / Sylvain Francisco
SG. Evan Fournier / Elie Okobo / Yakuba Ouattara
SF. Nicolas Batum / Terry Tarpey
PF. Guerschon Yabusele
C. Rudy Gobert / Mathias Lessort / Moustapha Fall

[Mickey8]

They will play crap basketball as usual and end up in the final 4 of the tournament.

[Nuntius]

The Murphy brothers weren't born in Finland either. Alex Murphy was born in Rhode Island and Erik Murphy was born in France. They do have a Finnish mother, though. It's a similar case to Shawn Huff and Gerald Lee but Huff and Lee were also born in Finland.

Jamar Wilson was born in the Bronx and unlike the other players I mentioned didn't really have Finnish ancestry. He did play one year in Finland, though, back in 10-11 and returned for two more years between 20 and 22.

The Murphy brothers have been citizens of Finland from their birth. It doesn't matter where they were born.

Jamar Wilson hasn't played for Team Finland for few years now so not sure how that applies here to this discussion. Anyway, he got his citizenship because he had been married to a finn and the family had lived in Finland (outside basketball season) for five years, and he then did pass the language test (ie same reasons others, including me, can get finnish citizenship (I got mine years and years ago with the slight difference I have never represented Finland in any sport :p )).

I know. There were valid reasons for all of them to have Finnish citizenship. I was just naming a couple of players who represented Finland even if they weren't born there, that's all there is to it.

Again, I have no interest in judging whether anyone can represent X country or not. It's not my place to do so.

[Mirotic12]

Brazil for sure isn't behind Lithuania. For this years World Cup, any Power Rankings which place Lithuania above Brazil have to be written with green font

When was the last time Brazil had a solid team? The last one I can think of was the 2012 Olympics team.

[RPGxGOAT]

I hope Luka will give this up if he can win it all, or win some tournament for country in the next couple years.

I attribute him fading late this season to basically not getting a break from basketball after last season, not the shape he was in. I get that he said country titles are more important than an NBA title to him, fair, I don't get it, but fair. But at some point he will have to realize these summer tournaments are hurting him more than helping him.

[Mickey8]

Why you don't get it???

[Mirotic12]

This is OT, because this was from U19 playoffs, I bet everyone already saw this, but look at this box score :

Lebanon 20-102 Spain

https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2023/game/2806/Spain-Lebanon#tab=overview

Spain clearly needs to keep naturalizing players for every tournament. It's quite clear that they can't manage without doing so.

France announces their Final 12

PG. Nando DeColo / Frank Ntilikina / Sylvain Francisco
SG. Evan Fournier / Elie Okobo / Yakuba Ouattara
SF. Nicolas Batum / Terry Tarpey
PF. Guerschon Yabusele
C. Rudy Gobert / Mathias Lessort / Moustapha Fall

If Collet really makes Francisco the 3rd string point guard / 5th or 6th guard overall, then he's a certified moron. Francisco is a serious baller.

And they only have one PF? Surely Batum will be playing at PF, and Collet isn't planning on having just one?

[LuDux1]

Giannis' chances under 50%

https://basketnews.com/news-191264-giannis-antetokounmpo-doubtful-for-2023-fiba-world-cup.html

[Muizha]

Latvia has announced an extended list of candidates, led by Kristaps Porzingis, Davis Bertans: https://basketnews.com/news-191255-kristaps-porzingis-leads-latvias-extended-list-for-2023-fiba-world-cup.html

The list does include veteran Strelnieks, who ruptured his Achilles in March and Lomazs who tore his ACL in the beginning of this year. There is still a small chance though that Lomazs could recover for the injury in time for the World Cup.

My guess for the final 12:

PG Arturs Zagars (Nevezis Kedainiai)
PG Kristers Zoriks (VEF Riga)
PG Toms Leimanis (Movistar Estudiantes)
PG/SG Arturs Kurucs (Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz)
SG Dairis Bertans (Real Betis Baloncesto)
SF Rodions Kurucs (SIG Strasbourg)
SF Janis Timma (Grises de Humacao)
SF/PF Davis Bertans (Oklahoma City Thunder)
PF Rolands Smits (Zalgiris Kaunas)
PF Mareks Mejeris (Hapoel Jerusalem)
C Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics)
C Anzels Pasecniks (Real Betis Baloncesto)

Although if Rihards Lomazs is healthy, he may take one of the guard spots.

What do you think this team can accomplish? They got drawn in a tough group with France, Canada, Lebanon, but hopefully some upsets can be made to advance to the 2nd stage of the tournament

[jk31]

The whole national thing has become a joke in basketball and most sports in general, aside from Lithuania/Serbia (mens)/maybe some African teams no other countries use only people of their own in basketball. Why even have a countries competition if your not using the people of your own country.

It's basically a crap verision of Euroleague with a good/elite at times USA teams in general.

Τhe purpose of FIBA, literally their mission statement, is to promote the sport around the world. Thats the goal.
Having a better tournament with better players and as many stars as possible, and get as many eyeballs as possible, that is what serves the purpose. Being too anal with the eiligibility rules probably doesn't.
Get Embiid in there, give that man a passport ASAP. Joker, Luka, Giannis, get as many of them as you can, add some mercenaries, play some hoops and get people excited. If some teams want to make it all about their nationality, then sure, they can do that too. But the main goal is basketball.

can of course only speak for me but for me international play would completely loose any interest, if you just open it up. then it is just another "club" league which happens to be played internationally. whats the point vs for example the NBA or the euroleague then?