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2023 FIBA World Cup: Best NBA players participating, ranked from 30-1 – For The Win
The 2023 FIBA World Cup begins and although several big names are not able to participate, fans can still expect some global star power.
As noted by HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa, there are 56 NBA players who are currently scheduled to participate in the international competition. Team USA has 12 NBA players while Australia has nine and Canada has seven.
Per Marc Stein’s Substack: The Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz will each have a league-high five players take the floor during the World Cup.
RELATED: 10 U.S.-born NBA players (Karl-Anthony Towns!) who are on non-American FIBA World Cup rosters
While this list includes many of the NBA players who are competing in the tournament, not all are coming in with tremendous momentum.
Some of the NBA players who have looked underwhelming during pre-tournament exhibitions include Patty Mills (Australia), Simone Fontecchio (Italy), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Canada) and Davis Bertans (Latvia).
A few former NBA players have looked solid heading into the competition, including Juancho Hernangomez (Spain) and Guerschon Yabusele (France). They are among 45 former World Cup participants who have previous NBA experience.
But the best players you can expect to see on the court do, of course, play in the Association. Once the tournament begins on Aug. 25, these are the top NBA players you can expect to watch until the World Cup concludes on Sep. 10.
RELATED: 10 international stars (including Jamal Murray) no longer participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
All stats via proballers.com or fiba.basketball unless noted otherwise.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Serbia
NBA TEAM: Miami Heat
While his name is one of the hottest in trade rumors surrounding Damian Lillard, Serbia’s Nikola Jovic is emerging on the international circuit. He averaged 13.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per 36 minutes while looking tough to guard in transition during pre-World Cup preparation play. Jovic, who is 6-foot-10 and 20 years old, also hit multiple jumpers off the dribble.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: New Orleans Pelicans
Although he has an All-Star pedigree in the NBA, Brandon Ingram has not played overwhelmingly well for Team USA. While the forward still brings explosive potential on the court, he averaged just 14.8 points per 36 minutes while shooting only 42.4 percent from the field. Perhaps it is just a bit of a cold streak as he finds his footing, though, and he can turn it back on when the tournament begins.
(Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: France
NBA TEAM: L.A. Clippers
Nic Batum has played for France’s senior national team since 2009. He has already won two bronze medals at previous FIBA World Cup tournaments and he helped lead France to win a silver medal during the Tokyo Olympics. Batum is still one of the most versatile players in the world. The 34-year-old, 6-foot-8 wing recorded 7 assists during a recent exhibition victory against Lithuania.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Australia
NBA TEAM: Atlanta Hawks
Patty Mills didn’t play well during preparation play for Australia, struggling with his efficiency. Mills, however, has represented his national team on the senior stage since 2007. The veteran guard helped Australia secure bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and he is a four-time gold medalist at the FIBA Oceania Championship.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Brooklyn Nets
He isn’t getting consistent minutes but Cameron Johnson is the perfect spot-up shooter for Team USA. When he is left open to take his catch-and-shoot opportunities, he is going to knock them down. He averaged 21.3 points with 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per 36 minutes during five exhibition games, but he didn’t see the court very often.
(Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: France
NBA TEAM: New York Knicks
Evan Fournier is currently the go-to scoring option for France. He averaged 22.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists with 3.2 steals per game during six pre-World Cup exhibitions. He has scored well used off-ball screens and he has had the chance to play on the ball a bit in pick-and-roll sets, too.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Spain
NBA TEAM: Memphis Grizzlies
Santi Aldama was named MVP at the FIBA U18 European Championship in 2019. Now on the senior national team, he has emerged as a very important player in the frontcourt. He averaged an impressive 24.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists with 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes during five pre-World Cup exhibitions. He also shot 38.5 percent on 3-pointers as a threat in the pick-and-pop and as a spot-up shooter.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Germany
NBA TEAM: Indiana Pacers
Daniel Theis is an ideal stretch big who scores well on pick-and-pop opportunities for Germany. He averaged 21.3 points and 10.8 rebounds with 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes during his four pre-World Cup exhibition games.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Canada
NBA TEAM: Utah Jazz
Kelly Olynyk has played for Canada’s senior national team since 2010 and will represent his country as captain during the FIBA World Cup. The big man averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists during the Americas Qualifiers for the World Cup. He averaged 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per 36 minutes in preparation play.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Montenegro
NBA TEAM: Chicago Bulls
Nikola Vucevic is another FIBA veteran who has represented Montenegro on the international circuit since 2011. Vucevic showcased more playmaking in the pre-World Cup exhibitions, leading his team in assists while recording 6 against Slovenia and 5 against France.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Lithuania
NBA TEAM: New Orleans Pelicans
Jonas Valanciunas has represented the senior team for Lithuania for more than a decade, first suiting up for the squad in 2011. He is a double-double machine who averaged 24.1 points and 16.1 rebounds per 36 minutes during four preparation matches.
(Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: Australia
NBA TEAM: Portland Trail Blazers
Mattise Thybulle is perhaps the best defensive playmaker in the FIBA World Cup tournament. He averaged 5.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes during his four exhibition games for the Boomers. Thybulle also shot 7-of-14 on his 3-pointers during the four contests, which is exactly what is needed from him as a catch-and-shoot threat.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Philippines
NBA TEAM: Utah Jazz
Although we have only seen a small sample size from Jordan Clarkson during his time playing for the Philippines, he looks like a star for the Gilas. Clarkson averaged 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 41.2 percent on 3-pointers during his two matches on record.
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NATIONAL TEAM: China
NBA TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyle Anderson is one of the top U.S.-born NBA players not playing for Team USA. The first naturalized citizen to play for China, he is getting a chance to play with the ball in his hands in transition as well as pick and roll and one-on-one in isolation. He averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists to go with 4.3 steals per 36 minutes in his two exhibitions for the national team.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Canada
NBA TEAM: New York Knicks
Former No. 2 overall pick RJ Barrett looked good for Canada during four exhibition matches. Gilgeous-Alexander is the leading scorer for the team but Barrett is an excellent second fiddle, averaging 25.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per 36 minutes with stellar efficiency in preparation play. Barrett has looked borderline unstoppable in Canada’s transition offense.
(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: Serbia
NBA TEAM: Atlanta Hawks
Considering that NBA Finals MVP winner Nikola Jokic is not participating in the FIBA World Cup, Bogdan Bogdanovic has emerged as the clear focal point of this offense. Now serving as the captain for Serbia, the 31-year-old wing has played for the senior national team since 2013 and helped his team win a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Brooklyn Nets
While he is mostly playing off the ball, Mikal Bridges has showcased stellar efficiency and versatility during his time with Team USA. He is also adding value on the defensive end of the floor, averaging 2.4 steals per 36 minutes in exhibition play.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson has emerged as a “natural leader” for Team USA, according to head coach Steve Kerr. The guard was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, scoring 21 points in a pre-World Cup exhibition win over Spain earlier this month. If the Knicks star can play like that during the tournament, he has a real chance to win tournament MVP. However, he was less impressive against Germany, shooting just 2-of-6 from the floor.
(Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: Australia
NBA TEAM: Oklahoma City Thunder
Only 20 years old, Australia’s Josh Giddey has become one of the emerging stars in basketball. He averaged a whopping 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.0 assists per 36 minutes across four exhibition games for Australia. While he needs to improve his scoring efficiency and work on turning the ball over less frequently, Giddey is a special player.
(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: Germany
NBA TEAM: Toronto Raptors
Although he isn’t a star in the NBA, Germany’s Dennis Schröder is the captain of his national team and has averaged more than 20.0 points per game since joining the senior squad in 2015. He scores well using ball screens and has shot efficiently both off the catch and off the dribble while on the court.
(Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: France
NBA TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves
France is going to contend in any international competition with Rudy Gobert on the court. The big man averaged 22.9 points and 14.9 rebounds per 36 minutes during seven exhibition matches in his preparation games for the World Cup, losing just one game. He also made his first 3-pointer and he is clearly working on extending his range.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers
Austin Reaves is a swiss-army-knife for Team USA who averaged 24.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per 36 minutes across his five preparation matches. He also shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) on 3-pointers, and even if that is not sustainable, it shows his value as a floor spacer who can play off the ball as a spot-up shooter.
(GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr. was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year last season and his presence is never not felt when he is on the court. Jackson was voted the best player for Team USA during training camp, per The Athletic. He had 6 blocks and 8 rebounds during a recent comeback win over Germany.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Germany
NBA TEAM: Orlando Magic
There were moments during preparation play when Franz Wagner looked like the best player on the court for Deutschland. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists with 3.1 steals per 36 minutes during his four exhibition matches for the German national team. He is poised to have a bigger role on the ball in the pick-and-roll, but he needs to improve his efficiency and consistency.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Finland
NBA TEAM: Utah Jazz
Finland’s Lauri Markkanen took a leap into stardom last season and he doesn’t appear to show any signs of slowing down. He was one of the best players at Eurobasket last year, averaging 27.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Markkanen can shoot well off the dribble and recently recorded 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals during a buzzer-beating win over Lithuania during preparation play.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Dominican Republic
NBA TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns is the top U.S.-born NBA player not playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. He is representing the Dominican Republic for the first time in a decade and he can make a huge impact on their roster. The big man is going to let it fly, too, averaging 9.7 attempts from beyond the arc per 36 minutes during two exhibitions.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Indiana Pacers
Before he was drafted in the NBA, Tyrese Haliburton led Team USA to a gold medal during the U19 World Cup in 2019. The guard could look to do the same as the floor general for the senior squad. He is perhaps the best passer of any player on this list, recording 12.9 assists per 36 minutes in his five exhibition matches.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: USA
NBA TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves
United States men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr recently said that Edwards is “unquestionably the guy” for this team. It became especially clear after the former No. 1 overall pick scored 34 points in a tune-up victory against Germany. Edwards is the American (+550) with the best odds to lead the tournament in total points scored, per FanDuel. But the wing also averaged 3.2 steals per 36 minutes in preparation play, showcasing his elite two-way potential.
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NATIONAL TEAM: Canada
NBA TEAM: Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 26.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the Americas Qualifiers for the World Cup. He averaged 28.7 points with 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists with 2.9 steals per 36 minutes across four games in pre-World Cup preparation play, including an overtime win over Spain. He is currently the outright favorite (+300) to lead the tournament in total points scored, per FanDuel. This is a smart bet, too, considering how well he is playing with the ball in his hands in pick-and-roll, isolation and in transition.
(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
NATIONAL TEAM: Slovenia
NBA TEAM: Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is indisputably one of the best players in the NBA and his game translates well to the international circuit, too. The four-time All-Star averaged a remarkable 26.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game across seven matches during the Eurobasket tournament in 2022. The 24-year-old Slovenian captain currently has the second-best odds (+500) to lead the tournament in total points scored, per FanDuel.
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