Six must-watch players at the FIBA OQT in Kaunas

KAUNAS (Lithuania) - The stars are gathered at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas as six teams battle it out for the golden ticket to Tokyo.

There will be several international superstars back on the big stage this week, and we've picked out a player from each team that will be essential viewing.

Luka DONCIC - Slovenia

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: February 28, 1999 (22 years old)
Height: 201cm / 6'7"
Club: Dallas Mavericks (USA)

Doncic is back in national team colors for the first time since Slovenia's historic success at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. He'll be without MVP Goran Dragic this time, but comes with four years more experience under his belt having transformed himself into a global phenomenon in the NBA.

Doncic highlighted his return to the international stage with 17 assists in one of the preparation games against Croatia and registered 11 triple-doubles in the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season.

Heissler GUILLENT - Venezuela

POINT GUARD

Birth date: December 17, 1986 (34 years old)
Height: 183cm / 6'0"
Club: Guaiqueríes de Margaritas (VEN)

The experienced presence of Guillent at the point guard position provides a stable foundation for Venezuela. The 34-year-old is one of 10 players part of the current roster that competed at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and is not alone on the experience front.

With the likes of Michael Carrera and the Vargas brothers, Guillent has the tools to be one of the premier playmakers with 6.2 assists per outing in China in 2019 as well as an impressive 28-point haul in a First Round victory against Cote d'Ivoire. 

Yanick MOREIRA - Angola

CENTER

Birth date: July 31, 1991 (29 years old)
Height: 205cm / 6'9"
Club: AEK (GRE)

Moreira will be one of the leading figures amongst a young group for Angola as they look to make some noise in Kaunas. The 29-year-old center averaged 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game with some strong showings at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Averages of 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game followed more recently in the 2020-21 Basketball Champions League season with Moreira topping the efficiency charts for Greek side AEK.

Guna RA - Korea

CENTER

Birth date: February 20, 1989 (32 years old)
Height: 199cm / 6'6"
Club: Jeonju KCC Egis Basketball Club (KOR)

No player averaged more points at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. Similarly, no player averaged more rebounds at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. Ra posted a dominant double-double for Korea with 23.0 points and 12.8 boards per game in China across five games.

The Virginia native made his debut for the national team in 2018 and is a strong focal point to Korea's offensive threat in the paint. Ra also recently posted a double-double in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.

A.J. SLAUGHTER - Poland

POINT GUARD

Birth date: August 3, 1987 (33 years old)
Height: 191cm / 6'3"
Club: Herbalife Gran Canaria (ESP)

Slaughter has become a key figure for Poland. Featuring at two FIBA EuroBasket campaigns as well as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 with averages of 13.3 points and 4.8 assists per game on the global stage will do that.

After helping Poland finish eighth in China in 2019, Slaughter came out firing in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers with 26+ points in each of the first three games including a memorable win over Spain en route to securing a return to next year's major tournament.

Jonas VALANCIUNAS - Lithuania

CENTER

Birth date: May 6, 1992 (29 years old)
Height: 211cm / 6'11"
Club: Memphis Grizzlies (USA)

Leader. Valanciunas is ready to set the tone for Lithuania in their pursuit of continuing a proud record of competing at every Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament since 1992. The 29-year-old has a decade-long history with the Senior side, a time when Valanciunas helped his country to consecutive FIBA EuroBasket silver medals in 2013 and 2015.

Partnering with fellow NBA star Domantas Sabonis, the duo will form one of the toughest frontcourt tandems in the tournament as Sabonis is coming off the back of a season in which he was selected as a NBA All-Star for a second time.

FIBA