August 29 Top Performers: Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey, Amin, Hawkinson and Cooks

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) - Record-setters, Top Performers returnees and a pair of Joshua's were among the most efficient players on August 29 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have been kind of enough to the Latvians hang around until he took the game in his own hands for a Canada 101-75 victory. SGA scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter when Canadians made a run that Latvia couldn't recover from. The All-Star point guard collected 27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 32 efficiency. Whatever he did in the fourth quarter was just for kicks.

Josh Giddey had been running the show for Australia all summer long, but his play in the 109-89 win over Japan might have signified him as the offensive fulcrum for the Boomers like never before. The 20-year-old left the court with a stats line of 26 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds, dishing dimes left and right all game long and also showcasing his smooth touch in the paint.

Ehab Amin has been getting better with every game in this FIBA World Cup. Mexico's very glad about that as the athletic guard put on a show in their 100-72 win over Mexico. Amin racked up an impressive double-double of 22 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, which gave him an efficiency rating of 28. What matters even more to him, of course, is Egypt recording their first World Cup win since 1994.

 
It was another awesome effort by Japan big man Josh Hawkinson, who followed up his great game against Finland with 33 points, 7 rebounds and an unbelievable 11-of-12 shooting from 2-point range versus Australia. It must be said that Hawkinson is both second in the World Cup with 12.0 rebounds per game, as well as his average efficiency of 32.3 that ranks him only behind Luka Doncic.

However, Xavier Cooks was the frontcourt player in Okinawa to not only achieve an efficiency rating of 36, but also get the win and tie a FIBA World Cup record in offensive rebounds (10). The monster effort from Cooks consisted of 24 points, 16 rebounds and 2 blocks. Some of the plays could belong on impressive highlight reels, while his willingness to crash the glass can be shown to young players around the world.

What do you, guys, think?