The players going from the World Cup to FIBA Europe Cup
MUNICH (Germany) - The 2023-24 FIBA Europe Cup season is nearing its tip-off and a handful of players can look back on a big off-season in which they played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
MUNICH (Germany) - The 2023-24 FIBA Europe Cup season is nearing its tip-off and a handful of players can look back on a big off-season in which they played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Two returned with a medal in their luggage and will be looking to follow up their World Cup exploits in Japan, Indonesia and Philippines when the Regular Season gets underway.
Here's the list of those who are going from the World Cup to the FIBA Europe Cup.
Pako CRUZ (MEX) - Manisa BBSK
Cruz helped Mexico to two wins and 25th place in the final standings. The 33-year-old led the team in scoring (18.1 PPG) while also tallying 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in his second World Cup following 2014. Cruz is spending his fourth season in Turkey and second straight with Manisa, who earned promotion to Turkey’s top flight in 2022. Cruz is playing in the FIBA Europe Cup for the first time after helping the team through the Qualifiers.
Vafessa FOFANA (CIV) - BCM Gravelines Dunkerque
Fofana could help Cote d'Ivoire to just one victory at the World Cup as the African side finished 27th overall. The 31-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 assists while shooting 41 percent from long range in his second World Cup. Fofana has played in France his entire career including now a third season with Gravelines. He will be playing in the FIBA Europe Cup for the first time after having appeared in the Basketball Champions League in 2020-21 with Cholet.
Trae BELL-HAYNES (CAN) - Casademont Zaragoza
Bell-Haynes did not play a major role but left his first World Cup with a bronze medal as Canada downed USA in the Third Place Game. The 28-year-old guard Bell-Haynes, who will be making his FIBA Europe Cup debut, played in 5 games, accumulating 15 points and 10 assists in 33 minutes - most of that production being a 15-point, 8-assist showing against Lebanon. He is currently recovering from an injury ahead of a first appearance with Spanish qualifiers Casademont Zaragoza.
Phil SCRUBB (CAN) - Bahcesehir College
Scrubb was Trae Bell-Haynes' teammate on the Canada bronze medal winners, scoring 2.3 points per game with 1.3 assists in his second World Cup. The 30-year-old joins Bahcesehir College for his first stint in Turkiye. But Scrubb knows the FIBA Europe Cup, having won the competition in 2016 with Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt. He also played in the tournament in the 2021-22 season with Avtodor Saratov.
Who else competed at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023?
Georgia's trio of George Tsintszade, Kakhaber Jintcharadze and Giorgi Turdziladze will all be teaming up together again for FIBA Europe Cup debutants BC TSU Tbilisi. Henri Kantonen is more familiar with the competition as he returns with Karhu Basket having made his World Cup debut with Finland - scoring first points against Australia.
Cape Verde will also be represented in FIBA Europe Cup action this season with Keven Gomes playing for FC Porto after they qualified for the Regular Season. The big man posted 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds on the big stage earlier this summer.
Gordie Herbert 🤝 Johannes Voigtmann
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 14, 2023
2016 @fibaeuropecup 🏆 2023 #FIBAWC 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/Lo2ScKbnUj
And, the long road to World Cup glory can often start with FIBA Europe Cup success. Johannes Voigtmann and head coach Gordon Herbert were both crowned World Cup champions with Germany last month - seven years on from winning the FIBA Europe Cup title together with Fraport Skyliners.
Editor's note: Henri Kantonen has departed Karhu and will play in Lithuania this season.
FIBA