Spain to host USA, Slovenia in glitzy World Cup warm-up tournament

MALAGA (Spain) - One of the hottest warmup tournaments for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be in Malaga this summer with hosts Spain joined by a star-studded USA and a Luka Doncic-led Slovenia.

The event, to be held August 11, 12 and 13 at the Palacio de Deportes Maria Martin Carpena, will mark the 100-year anniversary of the Spanish Basketball Federation.

Slovenia's Doncic will return to Spain, where he played professionally before leaving for the NBA

Both Spain and Slovenia have clinched their places in the World Cup, which is to be staged in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, tipping off on August 25.

The USA, who are 8-2 in the Americas Qualifiers and in first place in Group F, can seal their place at the 32-team World Cup in the sixth and final international window next month.

Their last two Americas Qualifiers games are against Uruguay on February 23 and Brazil on February 26.

Spain coach Sergio Scariolo won his fourth EuroBasket title last year in Berlin

Doncic led Slovenia to victory at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas in 2021 and then to fourth place at the Tokyo Games, while last summer he was one of the top players at the FIBA EuroBasket. In a Group B victory over France, he scored 47 points, the most at a EuroBasket in 65 years.

Spain, who captured their fourth EuroBasket crown since 2009 after beating hosts Germany in the Semi-Finals and France in the Final, will be the main attraction. Two of Spain's key players at the EuroBasket were Unicaja Malaga standouts Alberto Diaz and Dario Brizuela.

Another tournament will be held August 17, 18 and 19 in Granada, with the host national team, Argentina and Canada.

FIBA