Top 100 reasons to be hyped up for the World Cup - Part 1

MIES (Switzerland) - In just 100 days, the FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

To celebrate this milestone, here are 100 good reasons to look forward to, with relish, international basketball's biggest and most competitive tournament.

Let's start with the first 25. 

100

Can USA become the national team with the most titles won ever at the World Cup?

Now, USA and Yugoslavia each have five. The mission of head coach Steve Kerr is clear.

99

Can Lauri Markkanen average 30 or more?

He's been one of the hottest players in the World. He poured in 27.9 points per game at FIBA EuroBasket 2022. Oscar Schmidt of Brazil averaged 34.6 per contest in the World Cup 1990. He's the last one to have reached that level of scoring.

 

98

Will France become the fifth team to reach the podium 3 times in a row?

Only Brazil, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, and USA have done so in the history of the World Cup. France got the bronze in 2014 and 2019.

97

You do not want to wait until the end of October to see NBA superstars play again, do you?

Numerous contenders in the 2022-23 NBA MVP Race like Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece and Nikola Jokic of Serbia, as well as future contenders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada, Luka Doncic of Slovenia and Domantas Sabonis of Lithuania are expected to be a at the World Cup.

96

Will this World Cup crown a new Champion?

Only six nations have won the competition: Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Argentina, USA, Brazil and Spain. And only the latter three will participate in the World Cup this summer. This leaves 29 national teams looking for a first coronation.

95

What is the record of viewers for a single World Cup game?

A whopping 70 million viewers (combined TV, streaming, and attendance) watched the China v Poland thriller at the 2019 World Cup in Beijing, making it the most-watched sports event of 2019. Will that number be beaten?

 

94

Discover South Sudan.
This national team is an absolute must-see.

93

Will Ben Simmons play for Australia?

He's not on the 18-man roster officially announced by Basketball Australia, yet Ben Simmons will be having his fitness monitored by head coach Brian Goorjian and could still make his World Cup bow.

92

Watch 92 meaningful games!

92 games overall will be played in this World Cup. In the Road to Paris 2024, the competition schedule, in which teams carry First Round results into the Second Round, ensures that every game counts.

91

Can the Philippines repeat the success of 1954?

They claimed third place at the second World Cup in 1954. Gilas are the only non-European, non-American team to have reached the podium at FIBA's flagship event.

90

Who will score the most points?

In 2019, Bogdan Bogdanovic led the World Cup in total points scored with 183 in 8 games. Patty Mills had 182 and Evan Fournier, third, scored 158. Four years later, a new exciting race is about to start.

 89

Who will be the first player to score?

Willy Hernangomez scored the last basket of the 2019 World Cup with 28 seconds remaining for Spain in their 95-75 Final triumph over Argentina. The first two games of the World Cup that will be played on Friday 25 August at 08:00 GMT are Angola vs Italy and Finland vs Australia.

88

The awesome World Cup jersey designs.

When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you play great!

87

Will Djordjevic shock Serbia?

China coach Aleksander Djordjevic facing Serbia, the team he coached at the previous two World Cups. He talks about this upcoming emotional game here.

86

Will Angola prove them wrong?

Angola will remember that many Filipino fans cheered wildly when their Gilas team was drawn with them in Group A. That cheering will fuel a strong desire to win.

85

Which team is going to exceed expectations?

At every World Cup, you have a team that surprises everyone. Whose turn is it this summer?

84

Will Europe win an 11th World Cup trophy?

In the 18 previous editions, a European team has won 10 World Cups while Americas teams have prevailed in eight. Or will a team from Asia or Africa shock the world for the first time?

83

It is unique.

"The feeling that you get with playing the World Cup is a totally different feeling than you get playing anything else."
Those were the words of USA legend Carmelo Anthony, a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador who'll be present at the event.

82

Meet the World Cup Global Ambassadors.

Oh, if reason No. 83 isn't enough, and if you're eager to see more international basketball legends at the World Cup, Argentina's legend Luis Scola and Spain's icon Pau Gasol will complete the amazing team of World Cup Global Ambassadors.

81

Who will qualify for the Olympics?

The qualification is at stake with seven spots up for grabs. The top two national teams from the Americas at the World Cup, along with the top two sides from Europe, will clinch Olympic spots, as well as with highest-placed countries from Africa, Asia, and Oceania. France are already qualified as the host nation. The last four tickets will be claimed at FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

80

Does Che Garcia have a miracle in his pocket for the Dominican Republic?

Some might describe his team's qualification for the World Cup just that. Or maybe this teenager played a part also:

 

79

Additional rest for players = more excitement for fans?

One more rest day has been added to the schedule after the end of the first round compared to 2019. Teams traveling from Jakarta and Okinawa will have two days off before their next game.

78

First podium for Australia?

Australia's amazing roster gives the Boomers maybe their best chance to reach the podium for the first time at the World Cup.

77

Discover who will play at the World Cup for the first time.

Georgia, Latvia, Cape Verde, and South Sudan. That means excitement, pride, and unbridled emotion will be on full display.

76

This will be the first World Cup to ever be played across three different countries.

This article was done by the Editorial team for promotional purposed and does not reflect in any sense FIBA’s official views on the competition.

FIBA