FIBA Basketball World Cup Top 100 scorers: 75-51

MIES (Switzerland) - We have reached the 100-day mark in the countdown for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. To commemorate the occasion, there's no better time to remember the top 100 scorers in competition history.

Divided into four segments of 25 players each, the series starts on Tuesday, May 16 with exactly 100 days to go until the 19th edition of the flagship event. 

Ranks 100-76

The players ranked 100-76 were announced earlier this week and we continue our countdown as we look at the next 25 players:

75. Jorge GARBAJOSA

FORWARD

Birth date: 19/12/1977

Points: 261
Games played: 27
Participations: 3 (2002, 2006, 2010)
Medals: 🥇(2006)

Garbajosa was a rock of consistency for the Spanish national team for three World Cups - including helping the country win their first title in 2006. In his first appearance in 2002, Garbajosa averaged 8.0 points per game. He increased that to 12.7 points in 2006, including 20 points in the Final in beating Greece. That performance earned Garbajosa a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He scored 8.3 points in 2010.

74. Shin DONG-PA

GUARD

Birth date: 02/09/1944

Points: 261
Games played: 8
Participations: 1 (1970)
Medals: 0

Dong-Pa played at just one World Cup  - in 1970 - but he left his mark on the tournament history. The Korean led the tournament in scoring with 32.6 points per game - the highest career scoring average and the third-most for a single competition behind Oscar Schmidt's 34.6 points in 1990 and Nikos Gails' 33.7 in 1986. Dong-Pa opened the 1970 World Cup with 40 points against Brazil and added 39 points versus Canada. He also poured in 41 points against Cuba - which was the second-best single-scoring game in World Cup history until then.

73. Phill JONES

GUARD

Birth date: 02/09/1985

Points: 262
Games played: 21
Participations: 3 (2002, 2006, 2010)
Medals: 0

Jones featured in three World Cups - in 2002, 2006, and 2010. The guard led New Zealand in scoring in 2002 with 18.2 points per game - good for ninth overall - in helping the Tall Blacks make history by reaching the Semi-Finals. Jones poured in 33 points against China in the final Second Round game and then hit 21 points in the Quarter-Finals win over Puerto Rico. He averaged 6.8 points in 2006 and 9.5 points per game in 2010.

72. Fei WANG

FORWARD

Birth date: 25/03/1963

Points: 262
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (1986, 1990)
Medals: 0

Wang played at two World Cups - 1986 and 1990 - and he was a leader for China in both of them. He scored 10.7 points per game in his World Cup debut, ranking third on the team. Wang was the top scorer in 1990 with 19.4 points per game. He tallied 28 points against Australia in the opening game and had 32 points against Venezuela.

71. Candido SIBILIO

FORWARD

Birth date: 03/10/1958
Died: 10/08/2019

Points: 263
Games played: 17
Participations: 2 (1982, 1986)
Medals: 0

Sibilio featured for Spain in two World Cups - 1982 and 1986. The forward finished second in scoring for Spain in 1982 at 17.1 points per game with the team taking fourth place. His best game was 27 points against Australia. Four years later, Sibilio tallied 14.0 points per game, topped by 24 points against Korea. 

70. Alejandro URGELLES

FORWARD

Birth date: 02/07/1951
Died: 06/10/1984

Points: 263
Games played: 15
Participations: 2 (1970, 1974)
Medals: 0

Urgelles was one of Cuba's all-time greats, helping the island nation to two World Cups as well as the bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics. Urgelles averaged 15.0 points at the 1970 World Cup, topping 20 points three times. Urgelles led Cuba in scoring in 1974 with 20.4 points per game as the country grabbed a best-ever fourth place. He netted 27 points against Puerto Rico. 

69. Patty MILLS

GUARD

Birth date: 11/08/1988

Points: 265
Games played: 14
Participations: 2 (2010, 2019)
Medals: 0

Mills played at two World Cups - in 2010 and 2019 - and led the Boomers in scoring in both tournaments. The guard had 13.8 points in 2010, including scoring 21 points against Argentina. After missing the 2014 World Cup due to injury, Mills dominated at the 2019 edition with 22.8 points per game - ranking fourth overall. He scored 34 points in a Semi-Finals loss to Spain and had 30 points versus France in the group phase.

68. Carlos DELFINO

GUARD / FORWARD

Birth date: 29/08/1982

Points: 266
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (2006, 2010)
Medals: 0

Delfino played a major role in two Argentina teams at the World Cup - in 2006 and 2010. In Japan 2006, Delfino tallied 9.0 points per game, including 14 points in a Quarter-Finals win over Turkey. But Argentina just missed a spot on the podium, losing to USA in the Third Place Game. Delfino, who won Olympic gold in 2004, scored 20.6 points per game in 2010, including 27 points in the first game against Germany and the last game versus Spain.

67. Kresimir COSIC

CENTER

Birth date: 26/11/1948
Died: 25/05/1995

Points: 267
Games played: 22
Participations: 4 (1967, 1970, 1974, 1978)
Medals: 🥇(1970, 1978), 🥈(1967, 1974)

Cosic is one of the greatest and most influential individuals in the basketball world, playing at four World Cups and winning two titles as well as two silvers from 1967 to 1978. Cosic, who earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team in 1970 and 1978, was also an Olympic gold medallist and three-time European champion. And Cosic guided Yugoslavia to a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics as head coach as well as a bronze at the 1986 World Cup. Cosic led Yugoslavia in scoring in 1970 with 17.3 points and his 13.4  points per game ranked second on the team in 1978.

66. Hamed HADDADI

CENTER

Birth date: 19/05/1985

Points: 267
Games played: 15
Participations: 3 (2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 0

Haddadi is one of the greatest players in Iranian basketball history, having played in three consecutive World Cups from 2010 to 2019. The center led the team in scoring all three tournaments. He averaged 20.0 points per game in 2010, including 27 points against Croatia. Four years later, Haddadi poured in 18.8 points per game, topped by 29 points against Serbia. And the veteran netted 14.6 points per game in 2019 as a 34-year-old.

65. Linas KLEIZA

FORWARD

Birth date: 03/01/1985

Points: 268
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (2006, 2010)
Medals: 🥉(2010)

Kleiza was an integral part of the Lithuanian national team for two World Cups - in 2006 and 2010. As a 21-year-old in 2006, Kleiza averaged 10.8 points per game. Four years later, the forward ranked first on the team in scoring with 19.0 points per game helping the country grab third place. Kleiza scored 30 points against China and then after being held to 4 points versus USA in the Semi-Finals, he bounced back for 33 points to beat Serbia for a spot on the podium. Kleiza was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2010.

64. Joaquim GOMES

POWER FORWARD

Birth date: 23/12/1980

Points: 269
Games played: 23
Participations: 4 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Medals: 0

Gomes was one of the greatest players in Angola basketball history, playing in four straight World Cups from 2002 to 2014 and helping the country win four FIBA AfroBasket crowns. 'Kikas' averaged 11.9 points in 2002 and then had 15.2 points per game in 2006, including 24 points against Spain. Gomes netted 13.2 points in 2010, finishing the tournament with 21 points versus USA.

63. Ricardo DUARTE

CENTER

Birth date: 09/02/1940

Points: 269
Games played: 15
Participations: 2 (1963, 1967)
Medals: 0

Duarte featured at two World Cups - 1963 and 1967, the last two times Peru played in the flagship event. Duarte, who was named in 1991 as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players, was the top scorer of the 1963 World Cup. The center tallied 23.1 points per game, including 42 points against Japan - a single-game World Cup scoring record that held until 1970. Duarte was the top scorer of the 1964 Olympics at 23.6 points and then averaged 13.4 points per game at the 1967 World Cup. He once again dominated against Japan with 32 points.

62. Milton SETRINI

GUARD

Birth date: 03/01/1951

Points: 270
Games played: 26
Participations: 2 (1974, 1978)
Medals: 🥉(1978)

Setrini featured for Brazil at two World Cups - 1974 and 1978 - and he helped the country take third place in 1978. 'Carioquinha' averaged 11.2 points per game in 1974. Four years later, the guard tallied 12.6 points per game, including 23 points against China and 22 points against the Philippines.

61. Ray BORNER

CENTER

Birth date: 27/05/1962

Points: 272
Games played: 29
Participations: 4 (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Borner was a part of four straight World Cup squads for the Boomers - from 1982 to 1994. He also played in four Olympics for Australia. Having just turned 20 in 1982, Borner scored 8.8 points per game. He upped that to 16.0 points per game in 1986, leading the team in scoring. Borner netted 11.5 points per game in 1990, including 23 points against Italy. By 1994, he was a role player and contributed 3.8 points per game. 

60. Larry AYUSO

GUARD

Birth date: 27/03/1977

Points: 275
Games played: 14
Participations: 2 (2002, 2006)
Medals: 0

Ayuso starred at two World Cups for Puerto Rico - in 2002 and 2006. In his first major tournament, Ayuso poured in 18.8 points per game to lead the team in scoring in 2002, highlighted by scoring 37 points against Lebanon and 31 points versus Brazil. Ayuso was tied for fourth in scoring at the 2006 World Cup - at 21.2 points per game with teammate Carlos Arroyo. Ayuso's top game was 27 points against China.

59. Vasily KARASEV

GUARD

Birth date: 14/04/1971

Points: 277
Games played: 25
Participations: 3 (1994, 1998, 2002)
Medals: 🥈(1994, 1998)

Karasev was a massive force for the Russian national team from 1993 to 2005, including playing in three consecutive World Cups - 1994 to 2002. Karasev contributed 6.5 points in 1994, when Russia finished second. The guard had a much bigger role four years later and poured in a team-high 16.1 points as Russia claimed a second silver medal. He topped out with 31 points against Lithuania in the Quarter-Finals. Karasev had less responsibility in 2002 and averaged 10.0 points per game.

58.  Radivoj KORAC

 

POWER FORWARD

Birth date: 05/11/1938
Died: 02/06/1969

Points: 279
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (1963, 1967)
Medals: 🥈(1963, 1967)

Korac was one of the all-time European greats, playing at the 1963 and 1967 World Cups taking home two silver medals for Yugoslavia and also being named to the All-Tournament Team in 1967. Korac led Yugoslavia in scoring in 1963 with 16.4 points per game, including 31 points in the opening game against Peru. He topped the country in scoring again four years later with 14.6 points per game, featuring 27-point performances against Poland and Argentina. Korac died in a car crash in 1969 and was later enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame and named among FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. 
 

57. Yongjun ZHANG

GUARD

Birth date: 04/01/1963

Points: 281
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (1986, 1990)
Medals: 0

Zhang appeared at two World Cups - in 1986 and 1990 - and was one of China's leading scorers in both tournaments. In 1986, he averaged 14.1 points, including pouring in 28 points against USA and 27 points versus Greece. Four years later, he scored 17.5 points per game with his top output being 30 points in a win over Korea.

56. Juan VICENS

GUARD

Birth date: 07/09/1934
Died: 18/02/2007

Points: 284
Games played: 17
Participations: 2 (1959, 1963)
Medals: 0

Vicens was a basketball legend in Puerto Rico and the guard shined at two World Cups - in 1959 and 1963. Vicens finished second in scoring at the 1959 World Cup with 19.8 points per game and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Four years later he collected 14.0 points per game, including 26 points against the Soviet Union.

55. Wayne BRABENDER

GUARD / FORWARD

Birth date: 16/10/1945

Points: 285
Games played: 16
Participations: 2 (1974, 1982)
Medals: 0

Brabender featured at two World Cups for Spain - in 1974 and 1982. The USA native gave up his American citizenship in 1968 and debuted for the Spanish national team in 1971. At the 1974 World Cup, Brabender averaged a team-high 23.0 points per game with a high of 37 points against the Philippines as well as two 30-point performances. All that earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Spain missed the 1978 World Cup and Brabender was back in 1982 and still averaged 11.1 points per game as a 36-year-old.

54. Sergei BELOV

 

GUARD

Birth date: 23/01/1944
Died: 03/10/2013

Points: 287
Games played: 31
Participations: 4 (1967, 1970, 1974, 1978)
Medals: 🥇(1967, 1974), 🥈(1978) 🥉(1970)

One of the all-time greats on the European continent, Belov appeared at four consecutive World Cups for Soviet Union, taking the podium at each tournament including the titles in 1967 and 1974. He contributed 4.6 points per game in 1967 and then scored 11.3 points per game in 1970 and won the MVP trophy. Belov averaged 10.6 points in 1974 and chipped in 9.9 points in 1982. Belov was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame and also was awarded the FIBA Order of Merit. He later coached Russia to second place at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

53. Andres NOCIONI

FORWARD

Birth date: 30/11/1979

Points: 289
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (2002, 2006, 2014)
Medals: 🥈(2002)

Nocioni played a pivotal role in three World Cups for Argentina - in 2002, 2006, and 2014. The forward scored 12.8 points per game in 2002 and helped Argentina to a second-place finish. Nocioni and Argentina just missed another podium spot in 2006, taking fourth place as Nocioni had 13.4 points per game. Nocioni missed the 2010 World Cup but was back on the global stage in 2014 and chipped in 8.8 points per game as a 34-year-old. He also helped Argentina to win the 2004 Olympics.

52. Bogdan BOGDANOVIC

GUARD

Birth date: 18/08/1992

Points: 291
Games played: 17
Participations: 2 (2014, 2019)
Medals: 🥈(2014)

Bogdanovic has featured at two World Cups for Serbia - in 2014 and 2019. The guard was 22 years old when he scored 12.0 per game at the 2014 World Cup, including scoring 13 points in a Semi-Finals win over France to get the team to the Final, where he had 15 points in a loss to USA. Bogdanovic took over more leadership in 2019 and led the team in scoring with 22.9 points, including twice pouring in 31 points - against Italy and Czech Republic.

51. Alexandar BELOSTENNY

 

CENTER

Birth date: 24/02/1959
Died: 24/05/2010

Points: 293
Games played: 35
Participations: 4 (1978, 1982, 1986, 1990)
Medals:🥇(1982), 🥈(1978, 1986, 1990)

Belostenny owns four World Cup medals from four appearances for the Soviet Union in the flagship event - the title in 1982 and second-placed finishes in 1978, 1986 and 1990. The Ukrainian center averaged 10.0 points in 1978 and then scored 7.2 points per game in 1982. The former captain contributed 8.1 points per game in 1986 and netted 8.4 points a contest in 1990

We move into the top half of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Top 100 scorers list next with a closer look at positions 50-26.

FIBA