Welcome back: These stars are returning to the national teams

    4 min to read
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    Giannis Antetokounmpo

    The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will see some big names returning to their national team. Here are some of the biggest stars.

    MIES (Switzerland) - Players always enjoy coming back to the national team and playing for their country. Injuries or other issues sometimes cause players to miss a big tournament. That makes it all the more fun when they return. A number of big stars will be making their way back to the national team for the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

    Here is a look at some of the biggest names who will be welcomed back with open arms.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo - Greece

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    Antetokounmpo missed the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with a minor left knee procedure during the off-season. He last played for Hellas at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and will play a huge factor in Greece's chances at the OQT at home in Piraeus.

    Antetokounmpo isn't the only returnee for Greece as Nick Calathes will also be back after missing the FIBA World Cup.

    Lorenzo Brown - Spain

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    Brown had a huge debut with the Spanish national team in helping them to the title at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, earning a spot on the All-Star Five. But the naturalized point guard did not play at the FIBA World Cup last summer.

    Head coach Sergio Scariolo will definitely be happy to have Brown back running the show.

    Vlatko Cancar - Slovenia

    Vlatko Cancar

    Cancar was ready to help Slovenia finally get past the Quarter-Finals in their return to the FIBA World Cup last summer after having missed the 2019 edition. But the NBA star, who had just helped Denver win the NBA title, suffered an injury before the tournament.

    The 27-year-old did not play the entire 2023-24 season and hopes to lead Slovenia back to the Olympics. Joining Cancar in returning to the national team after missing last summer's big show in Asia is Edo Muric.

    Gian Clavell - Puerto Rico

    Gian Clavell

    Clavell has been a big part of Puerto Rico's national team for many years and he played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers but missed the FIBA World Cup last summer.

    The 30-year-old guard, who played at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 OQT, will now be back with the Americas side for the home OQT.

    Chris Duarte - Dominican Republic

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    Duarte had a major impact on the Dominican Republic national team in his debut at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers. The team was hoping he would play in Asia but the 27-year-old did not play at the FIBA World Cup.

    Expect the NBA wing to really give the Dominicans a major scoring boost.

    Danilo Gallinari - Italy

    Danilo Gallinari

    Gallinari actually missed two major tournaments as he was injured just before the start of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, an injury that cost him a chance to play at last summer's FIBA World Cup as well.

    The veteran forward's most recent event was the 2020 Olympics.

    Domantas Sabonis - Lithuania

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    Sabonis last summer underwent surgery on his broken right thumb and he missed the FIBA World Cup.

    Lithuania will definitely be happy to have the big man back as Jonas Valanciunas will miss the tournament. Sabonis played at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and the 2020 OQT.

    Jeremy Sochan - Poland

    Jeremy Sochan

    Sochan might not exactly count as a returnee as this will be the first major event for the Polish youngster. Sochan appeared in one game in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers in February 2021.

    But he will be a major weapon for Poland in the OQT in Spain.

    Janis Strelnieks - Latvia

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    Strelnieks has been with the Latvian senior national team since 2011 and his last major event dates back to the FIBA EuroBasket 2017. The 34-year-old played in the European Qualifiers for the 2019 and 2023 FIBA World Cups and even in a game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Pre-Qualifiers.

    But he did not play with Latvia last summer. This could be his swansong with the national team.

    Corey Webster - New Zealand

    Corey Webster

    Webster is still going strong at 35 years old and he will be returning after not playing a major event for the Tall Blacks since the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

    Webster did however play one game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.

    You may also want to read this:

    Roster Tracker: Who will be playing in the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments?

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