The 2019 World Cup is just hours away now. 32 top national teams are set to determine the best basketball nation in the world. The spectacle starts on August 31st with only two teams staying alive to battle for the title on September 15th.
Every contender should go through two group stages. A team should end up at first or second place to advance to the next round in each group stage. Single-elimination tournament starts at quarterfinals phase. Seven best teams from respected continents (One from Africa, Asia, and Oceania, two from Americas and Europe) will earn a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
With the format set, let’s unveil each team that will battle for the gold in China.
*All rosters being updated in accordance with the official FIBA website
GROUP C
IRAN
Appearance: 3rd
Best result: 19 (2010)
Star Player: Hamed Haddadi
Some things never change. Hamed Haddadi is as symbolic for Iranian basketball as the hammer and sickle for the USSR. At 34-years-old he’s still going strong recording respectable numbers between Chinese and Iranian leagues. He’s obviously way past his Memphis Grizzlies peak but exhibitions showed that a lot of teams have trouble stopping the 7-foot-2 280-pound monster in the paint. If Iranians want something on the offensive end, they will definitely go through Haddadi. Yes, he still a decent passer for a center.
Supporting Cast
Iranians prefer to play in their domestic league, which is pretty respectable by Asian standards. Haddadi may be the most well-known name of the group but he won’t lead the team singlehandedly. Sajjad Mashayekhi, Behnam Yakchali, Mohammad Jamshidi, and Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami are the guys to watch out for. All four of them were averaging double-digits during the qualifiers.
Overview
Group C is the wide-open world. With the exception of Spain, obviously. Spaniards have much bigger goals in their minds while the Persians will concentrate on defeating Tunisia and Puerto Rico. A ticket to the second group stage will be a great result for the team. Serbia and Italy probably won’t give any second chances going further.
Roster
1 – Rasoul Mozafarivanani – G
4 – Meisam Mirzaeitalarposhti – C
5 – Sajjad Mashayekhi – G
6 – Hamed Hosseinzadeh – G
7 – Mohammad Hassanzadeh – F
8 – Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi – G
12 – Arman Zangeneh – F
13 – Mohammad Jamshidijafarabadi – G
14 – Mohammad Nik Khahbahrami – F
15 – Hamed Haddadi – C
20 – Michael Rostampour – F
23 – Aaron Geramipoor – C
PUERTO RICO
Appearance: 14th
Best result: 4 (1990)
Star Player: Renaldo Balkman
Renaldo Balkman is the man with a pedigree here. His path to this summer’s campaign with Puerto Rico looks a bit surreal though. The former Knicks and Nuggets forward was kicked out from the national team after 2016 Pre-Olympics by coach Eddie Casiano due to disciplinary reasons. But with many absences in the frontcourt, Casiano put the beef aside and called back the 35-year-old a couple of weeks before the start of the World Cup. Balkman is surely a troublesome guy, but probably the shiniest Puerto Rican talent nonetheless.
Supporting Cast
Puerto Rico faced a turbulent summer, with the withdrawal of almost all the most talented players: Moe Harkless, John Holland (suspended indefinitely from the national team due to skipping the first practice without reasoning), Shabazz Napier, Tremont Waters, and Tyler Davis. But the team still has some good elements. Many eyes will be on Isaiah Pineiro, the rookie from San Diego drafted by the Sacramento Kings. As always, you should pay attention to overseas veterans also. Estudiantes guard Gian Clavell, 2006 NCAA champion David Huertas, former Oregon Duck Devon Collier and the experienced Ramon Clemente are you guys to follow.
Overview
Despite all the difficulties, Puerto Rico is probably the favorite of the group behind Spain. La Roja is clearly the best team, but the Caribbean team has all to overcome both Iran and Tunisia. But the realistic goal for Casiano’s squad is to finish in the first 23 teams and qualify for the Pre Olympics tournament.
Roster
0 – Isaiah Pineiro – F
1 – Ramon Clemente – F
7 – Devon Collier – F
9 – Gary Browne – G
12 – Jorge Diaz – C
13 – Angel Rodriguez – G
24 – Gian Clavell – G
33 – David Huertas – G
34 – Renaldo Balkman – F
42 – Alexander Franklin – F
43 – Chris Brady –
44 – Javier Mojica – G
SPAIN
Appearance: 12th
Best result: Gold (2006)
Star Player: Marc Gasol
The 2006 World Cup final in Saitama revealed Marc Gasol to the world as not only Pau’s young brother. With Pau out with a foot injury, Marc’s presence in the paint was crucial in the win over Greece that gave Spain the only World Cup gold medal in its history. Nowadays, Marc is still one of the best true centers in the world. His presence in the paint on both sides is the key for Spain’s ambition to be in the mix for a medal. Once again.
Supporting Cast
Despite Pau, Mirotic, Ibaka and Sergio Rodriguez’s absences, Spain’s roster is loaded with NBA and Euroleague-level talent. One above the others is Ricky Rubio. Coach Sergio Scariolo needs him to be more efficient in terms of scoring instead of only dishing assists and guarding the best opponent’s guard. Some help will arrive from Sergio Llull, even if Rockets’ dream draftee lost a bit of his quickness after the devastating knee injury before Eurobasket 2017. Gasols’ successors in the paint are also here. We are talking about Willy and Juancho Hernangomez, of course. Victor Claver has an important role in the two forward spots, and the super veteran Rudy Fernandez brings the team energy and experience as always.
Overview
Spanish Olympic teams battled Team USA on even terms. It wouldn’t be the case with this squad. However, this is still one of the deepest and most talented teams of the competition. A place on the podium and a ticket for the 2020 Olympics is a major goal for La Roja. Spain’s main power is the cohesion of a group in which everyone knows each other very well. “It was like watching a movie. We would know that in the end, the USA will win. Lately, it seems that the movie has changed in the ending. Now we have a deeper show. Anything can happen”. Ricky Rubio still believes.
Roster
1 – Quino Colom – G
5 – Rudy Fernandez – F
6 – Pau Ribas – G
9 – Ricky Rubio – G
10 – Victor Claver – F
13 – Marc Gasol – C
14 – Willy Hernangomez – C
18 – Pierre Oriola – F
22 – Xavier Rabaseda – F
23 – Sergio Llull – G
33 – Javier Beiran – F
41 – Juancho Hernangomez – F
TUNISIA
Appearance: 2nd
Best result: 24 (2010)
Star Player: Salah Mejri
Mejri’s NBA run may probably come to an end in 2019. As much as Mark Cuban love players from European leagues, he now has bigger plans. And you really can’t blame him considering he found the new and even taller Euro-styled giant in Boban Marjanovic. At this point in his career, Mejri will probably need to return to Europe and Chinese tournament will be one big advertising campaign for him. Pretty much every Euroleague contender has completed their signing campaigns but his leading role with Tunisian NT may serve him well.
Supporting Cast
Michael Roll is another notable imported American that decided to roll the dice with African team. Roll is everything you can ask for a team without a talented pool of performers. The UCLA product will do it all for Tunisia from facilitating to draining threes and helping Mejri dominate in pick-and-roll sets. Outside of Roll and Mejri, there are really no big names on the current roster. The rest of the group represents local Tunisian league.
Overview
If Roll and Mejri shine, there might be hope for Tunisia. If not, Iran and Puerto Rico might be unavoidable obstacles.
Roster
4 – Omar Abada – G
5 – Ziyed Chennoufi – G
7 – Mourad El Mabrouk – G
8 – Omar Mouhli – G
9 – Mohamed Hadidane – F
11 – Mokhtar Ghyaza – C
12 – Makram Ben Romdhane – F
19 – Mohamed Abbassi – C
20 – Michael Roll – G
45 – Radhouane Slimane – F
50 – Salah Mejri – C
66 – Nizar Knioua – G
GROUP D
ANGOLA
Appearance: 8th
Best result: 9 (2006)
Star Player: Yanick Moreira
It’s time for Yanick Moreira to be the man of the new Angola. The SMU product and the D-League champion with the Raptors 905 in 2017 comes out of a Basketball Champions League championship campaign (alongside Mario Chalmers) with Virtus Bologna. He has a perfect balance of experience and physical skills to be the defensive wall of the red and black team.
Supporting Cast
If we talk about experience, no one has more in this World Cup than Eduardo Mingas. The 40-year-old forward is set to become only the second player in the history of the game to take part in five World Cups. Carlos Morais and Olimpio Cipriano form a duo with good scoring abilities, while Moreira will have help under the basket thanks to Joaquim “Vander” Valdelicio. The former Hawaii center (3rd all-time rebounder in the school history) finished the season in the second French league, but has skills and physicality to be a surprise of this tournament.
Overview
Angola is the number one powerhouse in Africa (11 gold medals in the last 14 Afrobaskets), but now it’s in the midst of generational change. The American coach Will Voigt bet on a team that mixed up veterans and rookies (four players are World Cup debutants) with a clear goal: qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And beating the Philippines in the group stage will probably not be enough.
Roster
1 – Gerson Domingos – G
2 – Yanick Moreira – C
3 – Jerson Goncalves – G
4 – Olimpio Cipriano – G
6 – Carlos Morais – G
9 – Leonel Paulo – F
10 – Jose Antonio – F
15 – Eduardo Mingas – F
16 – Hermenegildo Mbunga – C
23 – Reggie Moore – F
32 – Valdelicio Joaquim – C
37 – Jaques Conceicao – G
ITALY
Appearance: 9th
Best result: 4 (1970, 1978)
Star Player: Danilo Gallinari
This is still Danilo Gallinari’s team. Appendicitis forced him to stay away from exhibitions prior to the World Cup, but the new Oklahoma City Thunder forward is still too important for Italy’s ambitions. He came to China after (one of) his best NBA seasons, being one of the main contributors to the successful Los Angeles Clippers season. He has everything to be an All-Star, but injuries and other troubles curbed his rise. At 31-years-old, it is now or never for him to leave his mark with the Italian NT.
Supporting Cast
Italy suffered a terrible loss of Nicolò Melli. The New Orleans Pelicans forward is recovering from a knee injury and his absence weakens Azzurri’s frontcourt badly. Jeff Brooks’ impact in the paint will be crucial. The naturalized Milano’s player is a perfect all-around guy but he lacks the size to battle with the best centers of the competition.
Italy’s strength is its backcourt. Spurs’ sharpshooter Marco Belinelli will be the Robin for Batman Gallinari. The UCLA product and reigning Euroleague champion witch CSKA, Daniel Hackett, is the floor general. With former Pistons and Celtics forward Gigi Datome also out, many responsibilities will fall on shoulders of Rockets draftee Alessandro Gentile. Also, pay attention to former Ohio State Buckeye Amedeo Della Valle. He was Eurocup’s second-best scorer just a year ago.
Overview
Italy is back to the World Cup after 13 years. Their last success dates back to 2004 when the Italians won silver medals in the 2004 Olympics. The Azzurri is a very talented team in the backcourt but lacks size and strength in the frontcourt. Coach Sacchetti can use only undersized Brooks and Biligha at five. Advancing to the second phase is the minimum. A run to the quarterfinals is the dream. But this means beating either Serbia or Spain…
Roster
00 – Amedeo Della Valle – G
3 – Marco Belinelli – G
5 – Alessandro Gentile – G
6 – Paul Bilgha – C
7 – Luca Vitali – G
8 – Danilo Gallinari – F
10 – Daniel Hackett – G
12 – Ariel Filloy – G
15 – Jeff Brooks – F
16 – Amedeo Tessitori – F
23 – Awudu Abass – F
70 – Luigi Datome – F
PHILIPPINES
Appearance: 6th
Best result: Bronze (1954)
Star Player: Andray Blatche
The guy that you probably expected here is Jordan Clarkson. With FIBA ruling Clarkson out, Blatche is easily the most recognizable name of all. Part of the most fun NBA team in the 2000’s, Blatche is now limited to basketball activities almost exclusively. Unlike Gilbert Arenas and Nick Young, he was pretty consistent throughout the years thanks to his steady play in China. He has been a major force in the league and even won a chip in 2017. His presence is felt even more with the national team.
Supporting Cast
Blatche will most certainly average numbers close to a double-double. Gilas simply has no other options to rely on. Clarkson would have been a massive boost for this Asian team but without him, the Philipinos will be forced to do everything through Blatche. NBA vet will be surrounded by guys from local Philippine Basketball Association.
Overview
It’s hard to look out for any surprises here. Italy and Serbia should manhandle the Philippines, and Angola is consistently one of the best African teams. Andray Blatche can have the tournament of his life and it still may not be enough for them to get a single win.
Roster
1 – Andray Blatche – F
3 – Paul Dalistan – G
4 – Kiefer Ravena – G
5 – Gabe Norwood – F
8 – Robert Bolick – G
14 – Mark Barroca – G
15 – June Fajardo – C
16 – Roger Pogoy – G
17 – Jaymar Perez – G
18 – Troy Rosario – F
20 – Raymond Almazan – C
25 – Japeth Aguilar – F
SERBIA
Appearance: 6th
Best result: Gold (1998, 2002)
Star Player: Nikola Jokic
With so many stars ruling themselves out, Jokic should feel comfortable as the second-best player of the tournament. The multi-talented Serbian center made the All-NBA team for the first time in his career this summer. He’s arguably in the best shape of his life and more than ready to dominate the international competition. Probably for the first time in many years the perception about Serbia’s biggest star has changed. This status has transferred from Milos Teodosic and Bogdan Bogdanovic to Joker.
Supporting Cast
But Bogdan is still there to destroy Serbia’s rivals. If you look closely at pretty much every roster, you will found out that Bogdanovic would’ve been the best secondary option on any given team except for the United States. His role in the Serbian team is much more important than in Sacramento. There is simply no De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield to be found in Serbia which serves Bogdan pretty well. He turns into a prolific scorer for Djordjevic while being his closer at the same time.
With Spanish La Roja suffering from many absentees, it’s safe to say that Serbia is the deepest European team at the tournament. Aside from Jokic and Bogdanovic, there will also be the other three NBAers: Nemanja Bjelica, Boban Marjanovic, and Marko Guduric. Euroleague stars were also available this summer including Sixers draftee Vasilije Micic and Spurs’ draftee Nikola Milutinov. Miroslav Raduljica, who has been destroying bigs in China lately, will be Djordjevic’s insurance at five.
Overview
You didn’t even think about Milos Teodosic up until that point, right? But even if you did, there is still really nothing to talk about. Even without their symbolic player, Serbia is stacked from top to bottom. The dream of a major win at the international stage for this generation is still alive. And it might be the perfect time to get their revenge against Team USA at its weakest point in 13 years. The draw constructed in such a manner that if both teams will be perfect in two group stages and through two elimination rounds, we could see another classic final for ages. And Serbians could really get it this time around.
Roster
5 – Marko Simonovic – F
7 – Bogdan Bogdanovic – G
8 – Nemanja Bjelica – F
11 – Vladimir Lucic – F
13 – Miroslav Raduljica – C
14 – Stefan Bircevic – F
15 – Nikola Jokic – C
21 – Nikola Milutinov – C
22 – Vasilije Micic – G
23 – Marko Guduric – F
24 – Stefan Jovic – G
51 – Boban Marjanovic – C
