2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Jorge Hugo Canavesi

MIES (2016 FIBA Hall of Fame) - Former Argentina national team head coach Jorge Hugo Canavesi is being honoured as an inductee of the 2016 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame on 27 August at the House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland.

Canavesi wrote himself not only into Argentinian basketball folklore, but also global basketball history when he became the first play-caller to mastermind a FIBA Basketball World Cup success at the inaugural event in 1950.

It was an achievement made even more special by the fact that Canavesi led his nation to the maiden title on home soil in Buenos Aires and some 66 years later, it remains the only time that Argentina have finished on the top step of podium at the tournament.

That world title success came off the back of Canavesi having led Argentina into their first-ever Olympic Games appearance in London in 1948 and four years later in Helsinki, he guided his nation to a top four finish.

It was an accomplishment that had been preceded by a silver medal at the 1951 Pan-American Games and the legendary coach from the Barracas neighbourhood of the Argentinian capital would go on to rack up more impressive results.

He took Argentina to another global title in 1954 when they finished as the champions of the University Games, while a year later he was at the helm of the team that secured the Junior South American Championship.

Also a National Professor of Physical Education, as well as undertaking work with the Argentinian Basketball Federation, Canavesi was one of the true pioneers of the sport in his homeland and did so much to put Argentinian basketball on the world map.

Now his multitude of accomplishments will be highlighted via an induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

FIBA