Every four years, international basketball’s biggest competition takes place. No, it’s not the Olympics. Per FIBA, the FIBA World Cup is the biggest stage of international play. Of course, this event is currently going on and is nearing its conclusion. A FIBA World Cup record 55 NBA players participated in the competition this year, so here are the 15 biggest standouts (in no order):
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Canada is currently having their best result in FIBA World Cup history, and that can largely be credited to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As of Thursday night (pre-semi finals), SGA is averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. It’s not too hard to argue he has been the best individual player in the tournament. There have been spurts where he has clearly carried Canada. Just look at how he closed this game versus Spain:
https://twitter.com/CharlieSpungin/status/1699197676124881336?s=20
Lauri Markkanen
Despite Finland only finishing at 21st and Lauri Markkanen’s slow start to the tournament, he finished rather strong with back-to-back 30 point performances in two consecutive wins for Finland. As a whole, Markkanen averaged 24.8 points per game in the World Cup, which is 4th among all players. He can get his buckets both with and without the ball, and he’s just such an awesome, efficient offensive player.
https://twitter.com/CharlieSpungin/status/1698812927409635382?s=20
Jonas Valanciunas
The ever so consistent Jonas Valanciunas and the ever so consistent Lithuania once again have guaranteed a high finish at the World Cup, having now finished top 10 in the last 5 World Cups. Valanciunas averaged 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds through the competition, and Lithuania defeated the United States for the first time ever. Lithuania and Valanciunas must be feeling good about another consistent, great result in the World Cup. Next task: Olympics qualification next year.
Anthony Edwards
Team USA is a team that largely delegates responsibilities, but it’s clear that Anthony Edwards is the #1 option when USA needs to get offense going. He’s leading Team USA in points per game with 17.3, as Team USA is in the semifinals (and if they beat Germany earlier, the finals. Remember this is being written on Thursday night). Edwards’ 35 point performance versus Lithuania was the 4th highest scoring Team USA performance in the last 30 years. He’s been quite good.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a force for Serbia for the last few years, as whenever he puts that jersey on, he truly elevates to a new player. This year has been no exception, as he has averaged 18.8 points and 4.8 assists per game (prior to game versus Canada) en route to leading Serbia to the semifinals. He’s incredibly consistent in his ability to put the ball in the basket, and he should continue this next year at the Olympics.
Luka Doncic
Obviously, Luka Doncic would be here. He’s currently the league’s leading scorer with 26.7 points per game, and he’s doing so with 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. He has led Slovenia to a 7th or 8th place finish after the country failed to qualify for the competition in 2019. Truly, there isn’t a ton to say about Luka because of how insanely good he has been in this tournament. He is absolutely one of the best players on the planet.
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Halliburton's per game statistics won’t stand out to you. He’s only averaging 9.3 points per game in the tournament, but he’s still had an incredible impact for Team USA. He’s averaged a team-high 5.0 assists and team-high 1.8 steals per game, and he has been huge for the Americans’ pace, as they get up and down the floor significantly more with Haliburton on the court. He has been an amazing playmaker and distributor that is much-needed for this team.
Carlik Jones
Carlik Jones was one of the lesser known NBA players playing in the FIBA World Cup, but that didn’t stop him from putting on a show for South Sudan. He averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and (a tournament-leading) 10.4 assists per game. He did everything out there for South Sudan, and in one game, he was just one rebound away from the World Cup’s first ever triple double. The Chicago Bull was simply incredible.
https://twitter.com/CharlieSpungin/status/1697284849835319775?s=20
Dennis Schroder
Although he had a 4/26 shooting game in the quarterfinals (yes, you read that correctly), Schroder has been Germany’s leader through and through, and they have solidified a top 4 finish in the World Cup for the first time since 2002 due to Schroder’s play. He’s averaging 18 points and 6.3 assists entering the semifinal matchup versus USA. If they won, it was probably due to a big Schroder game.
Josh Giddey
This tournament felt like Josh Giddey taking the reins of Australian basketball. It didn’t go incredible for the Boomers, but they still were able to finish 10th. Giddey averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, but he couldn’t quite get the Aussies to the quarterfinals, and their group draw didn’t help them much since it was rather difficult. Still, Australia basketball is still here, now led by Giddey.
Jordan Clarkson
In his first FIBA World Cup, Jordan Clarkson showed out for the Philippines. He was an absolute bucket-getter, averaging 26.0 points per game, 2nd in the whole tournament. In the Philippines’ final game versus China, Clarkson had 34 points, 20 of which came in under a 4 minute span. His scoring was dominant, and it is what led to an improved finish as opposed to 2019.
https://twitter.com/CharlieSpungin/status/1697994918185030039?s=20
Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns put on a Dominican Republic jersey for the first time in a decade, and he was immediately dominant for his mother’s homeland. He averaged 24.4 points (5th) and 8.0 rebounds. His 39 point performance versus Puerto Rico was tied for the tournament’s best. He was absolutely incredible, and he could be back in this jersey as soon as next summer with hopes to qualify for the Olympics.
Nikola Vucevic
Montenegro was playing in its second ever World Cup, and after they finished 25th in 2019, they leaped to 11th this year. It couldn’t have been done without Nikola Vucevic, who averaged 19.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. It was an improved individual performance as opposed to 2019, which is likely why Montenegro found such success in this tournament.
Simone Fontecchio
Italy’s lone NBA player en route to their top 8 finish, Simone Fontecchio has averaged 18.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. His best performance came in the form of a 30 point game when Italy upset Serbia. It feels like nobody is discussing how important and consistent Fontecchio was, as he scored over 10 points in each game played.
Patty Mills
The face and staple of Australian basketball for the past decade has been none other than Patty Mills. Whenever that Australia jersey comes on him, he becomes a different player. This World Cup, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. It was actually one of his lower scoring tournaments of the past decade, as I noted earlier, it may just be Josh Giddey time. Regardless, FIBA Patty is still here and will be here for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Charlie Spungin , NBA Analyst