FIBA World Cup All-Time Leading Scorers From Every Country

• Oscar Schmidt is the all-time leading scorer in FIBA World Cup history with 843 points

• There are only three players in FIBA World Cup history with over 500 total points scored

• There are eight current or former NBA players who lead their respective countries in scoring at the FIBA World Cup

We are just days away from the 2023 FIBA World Cup getting underway. Players from 32 countries worldwide will battle for international supremacy in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. This will be the first time in its history that the FIBA World Cup will take place on three different countries’ soil. While Spain is set to defend their 2019 World Cup victory, teams like France, the United States, and Canada will look to improve their standing on an international level in 2023 as well. 

Today is about something other than just the 2023 World Cup. This will be a celebration of all 32 countries that are a part of this year’s festivities and their leading scorers in FIBA action all-time. Some of the greatest players in international history, as well as NBA history, have made FIBA competition their own personal stage, electrifying audiences from all over the world. These players may be well-known to some of you while others you will meet for the first time. Either way, it doesn’t change their standing as their country’s greatest scorers in international competition.

Using the 32 countries that will descend upon this year’s competition, we have busted open the record books and uncovered every one of their all-time leading scorers solely in the FIBA World Cup competition. The players below represented their countries proudly and led them to some of the most incredible moments they have ever experienced internationally. 

These are the leading scorers in every country’s history as it pertains to FIBA competition.

Angola – Joaquim Gomes – 239 Points

Joaquim Gomes is one of the greatest players in Angolan basketball history. The power forward would appear in four World Cup competitions in the 2000s and 2010s after leading his country to four straight AfroBasket gold medals. Gomes participated in the FIBA World Cup for Angola in 2002, 2006, 2010, and finally in 2014.

In 2002, Gomes would average 11.2 points per game for the tournament as Angola finished 11th with a 2-6 record. Angola would finish tied for ninth in 2006, led by Gomes’ 15.2 points per game this time. The 2010 rendition of the tournament would feature Gomes’ last notable appearance for Angola as he finished with 13.2 points per game and included an inspiring 21 points against the United States in Angola’s finale.

Australia – Andrew Gaze – 594 Points

Andrew Gaze is not only one of the greatest Australian players in FIBA World Cup history, but he is one of the greatest players in the tournament’s history, period. Gaze recorded a total of 594 points in FIBA competitions over the years, which ranks third for any player from any country in the tournament’s history.

Gaze participated in four different World Cups for Australia in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. In his debut in 1986 at just 20 years old, Gaze averaged 14.8 points per game, but it was far from the best he would perform internationally. In 1994, Gaze would lead the entire tournament in scoring with 23.9 points per game which included three different 30-point games for the Boomers’ shooting guard.

In three of his four World Cup appearances, Gaze finished top five in scoring. Even in his final World Cup, at 33 years old, Gaze still managed to average 16.9 points per game. While with Australia, Gaze was never able to lead his team to a medal despite his incredible offensive output.

Brazil – Oscar Schmidt – 843 Points

Oscar Schmidt has an argument to be labeled the greatest offensive player in FIBA history. His 843 points in four World Cup appearances is the most points by any player in the competition’s history by 127 points over the next closest player. Schmidt’s scoring led to one Bronze medal in 1978, which happened thanks to Schmidt’s 18 points in the bronze medal game over Italy.

In 1982, Schmidt would lead Brazil in scoring with 21.0 points per game. In 1986, he would finish second in scoring at the World Cup by averaging 28.1 points per game, highlighted by 40-point games against the United States and Cuba. In 1990, Schmidt exploded for 34.6 points per game to lead the entire tournament in scoring. This included a career-high 52 points against Australia and a 44-point game against Greece. Schmidt’s scoring record could end up being unbreakable in our lifetime.

Canada – Jay Triano – 363 Points

Jay Triano’s 363 points in the FIBA World Cup competition rank first in Canada’s history and 22nd in the tournament’s history. Triano participated in three different World Cups in 1978, 1982, and 1986. He made his World Cup debut at just 20 years old in 1978, averaging only 5.2 points per game in that competition.

Triano would return as Canada’s captain in 1982 and lead the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game which resulted in a sixth-place finish for Canada. The 1986 World Cup would come with a lower finish for Canada in eighth, but once again, their captain led the way. Triano would finish with 16.8 points per game which included a tournament-high 32 points against Italy in the group stage.

Cape Verde – N/A

The Cape Verde Men’s National Team will make their FIBA World Cup debut in the 2023 tournament. Being one of five African countries to qualify for the World Cup this year, Cape Verde has achieved its biggest accomplishment since winning the bronze medal at the 2007 AfroBasket competition. Cape Verde will be led into the World Cup by Walter “Edy” Tavares, a 7’3’’ center who averaged 14.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in the qualifiers.

China – Yao Ming – 320 Points

Yao Ming is the greatest basketball player in Chinese history. Yao dominated the international ranks before heading to the NBA in 2002-03. He made his FIBA World Cup debut in 2002, where he was the third-highest scorer of the entire tournament with 21.0 points per game. Yao was just 21 years old at the time of this display in international competition.

Due to the rigorous NBA schedule and injuries piling up for him, Yao would play in just one more World Cup in 2006. This time, he would lead the entire tournament with 25.6 points per game with multiple 30-point games against the likes of Italy and Slovenia. Watching Yao accumulate 320 points in just two World Cup appearances is another piece of evidence supporting claims of his greatness had his NBA career not been cut short due to injury.

Dominican Republic – Ivan Mieses – 127 Points

In its history as a member of FIBA, the Dominican Republic has made three appearances in the World Cup, with 2023 set to be its fourth. The country has qualified for the last three World Cup tournaments in a row in 2014, 10291, and now 2023, but has yet to finish above 12th place in the standings in any of those tournaments.

The Dominican Republic’s leading scorer has to be traced back to their first appearance in 1978. Ivan Mieses led the Dominican Republic in scoring for that tournament with 127 points on 18.1 points per game in seven contests. Mieses, now 63, was just 18 years old when he made his debut for his country in FIBA action, with the 1978 tournament being the only one he would ever play in.

Egypt – Emad Mahmond – 154 Points

The Egyptian Men’s national basketball team has qualified for six total World Cups in its history. Their last appearance would come in 2014, but their highest finish ever would come in 1949 when they finished fifth overall, qualifying for the final round. The leading scorer from the country would be produced much later on in its history during the 1990s when Egypt qualified for back-to-back tournaments in 1990 and 1994.

Emad Mahmond made his FIBA debut during the 1990 World Cup where he was a leader for Egypt the whole way through. During this 1990 edition of the tournament, Mahmond would total 121 points without leading his country to a single victory. In the 1994 rendition of the World Cup, where he accumulated just 33 points and averaged 5.5 points per game, Mahmond had clearly seen better days. It would be 20 years until Egypt was back in the tournament, and they have now qualified for two of the last three overall.

Finland – Petteri Koponen – 79 Points

Prior to 2023, the country of Finland had only qualified for one FIBA World Cup in the history of its team. That World Cup debut came with a wild card qualifier and a 22nd-place finish when things were all said and done. The team would garner a 1-4 record, with their only win coming at the expense of Ukraine while losing close games to both New Zealand and Turkey.

During this tournament, Finland was led by point guard Petteri Koponen for the duration of their competition. Koponen proved to be a deadly three-point shooter, going 11-24 in five games with the team. Koponen accumulated 79 points during the 2014 World Cup, averaging 15.3 points per game. While leading his team in scoring, Koponen would also lead his team in assists with 5.8 dimes per game, but again, it only amounted to one win in five games.

France – Nic Batum – 257 Points

Current Los Angeles Clippers forward Nic Batum has been one of the leaders for the French National Team since his debut back in 2010. Batum has led France to two bronze medals during the 2014 and 2019 tournaments in his FIBA career while being the backbone of their offense for most of his time with the team.

In his 2010 debut, Batum would average 12.5 points per game which would lead his team with 75 points overall. In their 2014 bronze medal run, Batum would lead his team in scoring once again with 14.6 points per game. This included 35 points in a semifinal loss and another 27 points in the third-place game. In 2019, Batum took a step back to help them secure a second straight bronze medal with just 7.3 points per game.

Georgia – N/A

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will mark the first time that the country of Georgia has qualified for a FIBA World Cup. Although they have appeared in five different EuroBasket tournaments, the World Cup has always excluded them until now. Former NBA players of note that have participated for Georgia internationally include Zaza Pachulia, Goga Bitadze, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

Germany – Dirk Nowitzki – 425 Points

It comes as no surprise that the greatest German player to ever step foot in the NBA is also the country’s best offensive player on the international stage. NBA players had a tough enough time stopping Nowitzki over the course of his 20-year Hall of Fame career, so I can only imagine the level of difficulty it took to stop him on an international level.

Nowitzki would make his World Cup debut for his country in 2002, and what a debut it was. Nowitzki would go on to lead the entire tournament in scoring with 24.0 points per game and a total of 216 points. Nowitzki would earn MVP honors for that tournament, leading Germany to a bronze medal with 29 points in the bronze medal game victory over New Zealand.

In 2006, Nowitzki would again be among the leaders in scoring for the tournament, with 209 total points and 23.2 points per game. Unfortunately for Germany, it didn’t help much when it came to their standings in the tournament, as they fell to eighth place with a 5-4 overall record. Nowitzki would never compete in the World Cup again after the 2006 tournament, but he would go on to win one of the toughest NBA championships in 2011.

Greece – Panagiotis Giannakis – – 469 Points

Panagiotis Giannakis still holds the Greek scoring record during the FIBA World Cup competition despite not having been in competition since 1994. Giannakis played in three World Cups from 1986 through 1994, participating in 26 total games with no medals to show for it. In his 1986 debut, Giannakis would average 17.3 points per game, but he was just getting warmed up.

In 1990, Giannakis would finish the tournament in third place for scoring overall in the tournament averaging 26.0 points per game for a total of 208 points as Greece finished sixth overall. In his final competition, Giannakis was 35 years old but was still able to give his country 11.0 points per game as they finished fourth overall in the standings.

In 1998, Giannakis debuted as the head coach for Greece during the World Cup and led them to a fourth-place finish once again. In 2006, he would lead them back to the World Cup and finish with a silver medal.

Iran – Hamed Haddadi – 267 Points

Hamed Haddadi is a more recent player than the ones who lead their respective countries in scoring. Haddadi is Iran’s all-time leader in scoring during the World Cup after participating in the event three times in 2010, 2014, and 2019. Haddadi has led Iran to two top-20 finishes in 2010 and 2014, along with a 23rd-place finish in 2019.

Haddadi led his team in scoring all three times they have gone to the FIBA World Cup, staking his claim as Iran’s greatest basketball player on an international level. In 2010, Haddadi averaged 20.0 points per game to help them to their best finish ever at the tournament in 19th place. He would follow that up with 18.8 points per game in 2014 and 14.6 points per game in 2019 at 34 years old.

Italy – Antonello Riva – 434 Points

Antonello Riva is not only the greatest scorer in Italian history, but he is one of the greatest scorers in the history of the World Cup. His 434 points rank 14th in the event’s history, ranking ahead of some of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball. Riva participated in just two World Cups, in 1986 and 1990 but failed to medal both times. He did, however, lead Italy to the 1983 EuroBasket title.

In 1986, Riva made his FIBA World Cup debut with 19.2 points per game which included back-to-back 30-point games against Canada and Israel. In 1990 is when Riva would really show off his skills. He would finish second in the tournament in scoring with a whopping 30.3 points power game, and despite a 7-1 record, Italy would finish ninth in the standings. Riva’s 1990 performance saw him pour in 262 of his 434 total points in his tournament career, making him the greatest scorer in Italy’s history by far.

Ivory Coast – Die Drisa – 151 Points

The country of Ivory Coast, aka Côte d’Ivoire, has appeared in a total of four FIBA World Cups in its history. In those four appearances, the country has never finished above 13th in the standings and has won a total of one game. That one win would come in 2010 at the expense of Puerto Rico.

To identify the country’s most prolific scorer in tournament history, you would have to go back to their first appearance during the 1982 competition. Die Drisa led the team 40 years ago with 21.6 points per game and 151 points in total. The team would go 0-7 that year in the tournament, nearly pulling out a win over Czechoslovakia in its second to final game. Driesa would score 20 or more points in six out of seven games while shooting just 60.8% from the foul line.

Japan – Kaoru Wakabayashi – 146 Points

Japan has qualified for a total of five FIBA World Cup tournaments in its history, with zero medals to its name as of yet. In order to find their all-time leading scorer, we have to travel all the way back to their first appearances in the tournament in 1963 and 1967. Kaoru Wakabayashi takes the honors as Japan’s greatest scorer strictly as it pertains to the World Cup.

In 1963, Wakabayashi was second on the team with 100 total points and 12.5 points per game as Japan finished toward the bottom of the standings. He would follow that up with just 46 total points on 5.8 points per game as Japan won just two games and finished 11th out of 13 teams. In 2023, Japan qualified as a host country with hopes of working toward its highest finish yet in the tournament.

Jordan – Zaid Abbas – 107 Points

The team from the country of Jordan has qualified for its third FIBA World Cup in 2023. Jordan previously participated in the 2010 and 2019 competitions, finishing 23rd in 2010 and 33rd in 2019. The race for its greatest scorer in FIBA World Cup history came down to two players. Dar Tucker put on a show in 2019 with 105 points in his World Cup Debut, but he falls just two points shy of Zaid Abbas’ 107 total points in two competitions.

Abbas made his debut for Jordan in 2010, leading their team with 76 total points in that competition as the country finished 0-5 overall and finished 23rd of 24 teams. He shot 64.3% from the field overall in those five games to lead the team as well. Abbas was a shell of himself in 2019 at 35 years old. He accumulated just 31 points and averaged 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the tournament. Tucker should be able to pass Abbas in scoring at this year’s tournament, needing just three points to do so as long as Abbas is held to minimal production on that end of the ball as they both join the roster this upcoming tournament.

Latvia – N/A

The Latvian National Team is another country set to make its FIBA World Cup debut in 2023. They start off the tournament with the news that they will be without star big man Kristaps Porzingis who is attempting to recover from plantar fasciitis before the NBA season starts in October. The only other NBA player on Latvia’s roster will be Davis Bertans who is also accompanied by his brother Daris on their 16-man roster.

Lebanon – Fadi El Khatib – 259 Points

The country of Lebanon has been sparse in its production of standout basketball talent but not in this case. Fadi El Khatib is Lebanon’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup competition after participating in three tournaments from 2002 through 2010. In all three of his appearances with the team on the World Cup Stage, El Khatib was Lebanon’s leading scorer all three times.

In 2002, El Khatib led his squad with 17.6 points per game as they failed to register one win and finished in 16th. In 2006, El Khatib would lead Lebanon in scoring once more with 18.8 points per game and, this time, led his team to two wins in five games as they finished 17th overall. In 2010, El Khatib averaged 15.4 points per game, with one win during the tournament and a 20th-place finish.

Lithuania – Linas Kleiza – 268 Points

Diehard NBA fans may remember Linas Kleiza for his eight years in the NBA from 2006 through 2013 with the Nuggets and Raptors. Although he had a relatively forgettable NBA career, Kleiza is perhaps the greatest player Lithuania has ever had on the international stage as the country’s all-time leading scorer.

Kleiza made his debut for Lithuania at 21 years old in 2006 when he averaged 10.8 points per game and finished seventh overall at 5-4 in the tournament. In 2010, Kleiza stepped up and led his team to a medal. He would lead Lithuania in scoring with 19.0 points per game and helped them secure a bronze medal. In the decisive game for a spot on the podium, Kleiza dropped 33 points on Serbia to cement the win.

Mexico – Manuel Raga – 372 Points

Manuel Raga was a star on both the Mexican and European basketball circuits during his days in the 1960s and 1970s. Raga earned his nickname “The Flying Mexican” due to his speed and athleticism that he displayed on the court regularly for both his country and club teams.

Raga earned his title as Mexico’s all-time leading scorer as he participated in three World Cups in 1963, 1967, and 1974. In 1963, Raga made his debut for Mexico with 11.8 points per game as their second-leading scorer. In 1967, he would lead all scorers for Mexico as he poured in 15.6 points per game. In 1974, he would finish second on the team again with 25.8 points per game in his best World Cup output ever. Raga was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame and is the 20th-leading scorer in FIBA World Cup history.

Montenegro – Nikola Vucevic – 73 Points

In 2019, Montenegro became the smallest country to ever qualify for the FIBA World Cup. While that record will be broken by Cape Verde in 2023, Montenegro has now qualified for the tournament for the second time in a row. The country will be led by its most famous player, Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls.

In 2019, Vucevic would lead Montenegro in scoring with 73 points in five games. Vucevic would shoot 47.6% from the field and 75.0% from the free throw line to lead his team as well. While Vucevic has been a constant for the Bulls over the last several seasons, he has been an even bigger part of Montenegro’s growth on the international level. Can he continue to lead them in the 2023 FIBA World Cup?

New Zealand – Kirk Penney – 447 Points

Kirk Penney has been a part of four different World Cups in his time with the team from New Zealand. Penney was a constant for the team from 2002 through 2014 which included their highest finish ever in 2002. Penney averaged 16.9 points per game in the 2002 tournament, which involved New Zealand making it all the way to the semifinals.

In 2006, Penney would average 13.7 points per game which would lead New Zealand. In 2010, Penney would finish second in the entire tournament in scoring as he averaged 24.7 points per game, and New Zealand would finish 12th with a 3-3 record in the tournament. Penney finished his international career in the 2014 tournament. Penney would average 10.8 points per game at 33 years old as New Zealand finished 15th overall.

Philippines – Carlos Loyzaga – 217 Points

In order to discover the greatest scorer at the FIBA World Cup for the Philippines, we have to go back to their greatest finish as a team during the 1950s. Back in 1954, the Philippines were led to a bronze medal by Carlos Loyzaga, their All-Star guard who scored 148 points during the 1954 World Cup. Loyzaga would accumulate 148 points during that run to the bronze medal on an average of 16.8 points per game.

Loyzaga would appear again for the Philippines in 1959 when they finished eighth overall in the tournament. This time, Loyzaga would pour in 69 points in total as the Philippines went 4-2 overall in the competition. Loyzaga holds a slim lead as the Philippines’ all-time leading scorer over Andray Blatche. In 2023, the Philippines earned the right to qualify by being a host country along with Japan and Indonesia.

Puerto Rico – Jose Ortiz – 511 Points

Jose Ortiz would be a consistent threat at the power forward and center position in every World Cup for Puerto Rico from 1990 through 2002. Ortiz’s 511 total points are not only the most in the history of Puerto Rico during the World Cup, but they also rank sixth all-time overall in the entire history of the tournament.

Ortiz would make his debut in 1990 with 18.4 points per game which was good enough to earn the country a fourth-place finish. Ortiz averaged a career-low 12.8 points per game in 1994, and 16.5 points per game during the 1998 competition. In his final World Cup at age 38 in 2002, Ortiz would have a decent sendoff with 14.4 points per game. Ortiz’s Purto Rican scoring record is not likely to be broken anytime soon.

Serbia – Drazen Dalipagic – 563 Points

Serbia’s history at the FIBA World Cup is one that is long, rich, and illustrious. Formerly known as Yugoslavia, the country of Serbia has won a total of eight medals including three gold, three silver, and two bronze. With their long history of success on the international stage, Serbia produced some of the greatest athletes in the history of the FIBA World Cup including the player who represents their country as the top scorer in FIBA World Cup history.

Drazen Dalipagic participated in four different FIBA World Cups for Yugoslavia from 1974 through 1986. Dalipagic would lead his country to four medals including a gold medal in 1978 and a silver medal in 1974. After debuting in 1974 with just 48 total points, Dalipagic saved his best performance for 1978.

During the 1978 gold medal run, Dalipagic would lead all scorers in the tournament with 202 total points while leading Yugoslavia to a perfect 10-0 record. He would be named MVP of the 1978 World Cup for his contributions. In 1982 and 1986, Dalipagic would add 151 points and 162 points respectively to lead Yugoslavia to two more bronze medals, giving him a total of four in World Cup play for his career. Dalipagic was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 for his play on an international level as well as the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. Dalipagic is remembered as one of the greatest athletes in Serbian history and one of the greatest scorers ever on the FIBA World Cup stage.

Slovenia – Goran Dragic -226 Points

The country of Slovenia has played in three World Cups in its history, from 2006 through 2014, and has qualified for its fourth in 2023. NBA All-Star Goran Dragic has been a part of the last two teams to make the tournament and has been their leading scorer both times to claim Slovenia’s top spot with 226 total points.

In 2010, Dragic led the team with 114 total points as they finished eighth overall in the competition. Dragic averaged just 12.7 points per game, but it was enough to lead Slovenia by a considerable amount. In 2014, Dragic would lead the team in scoring once more with 16.0 points per game as the squad finished seventh this time.

Of course, a new era of basketball has dawned for Slovenia, led by international superstar Luka Doncic. The torch has officially been passed from Dragic to Doncic, and the country seems primed to make one of its best runs ever with Doncic at the helm. The 2023 competition will be the first time that Doncic has led the team out for the World Cup competition.

South Sudan – N/A

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be the debut of the team from South Sudan, as they qualified with an 11-1 record in the AfroBasket competition. The team from South Sudan claimed qualification with decisive wins over Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo by an average of 21.0 points per game. Majok Deng will be the player to watch for the South Sudanese team as they look to make even more history this week at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Spain – Pau Gasol – 482 Points

Pau and Marc, the Gasol Brothers, are the two most iconic players in Spain’s international history. As a scorer, Pau has taken the upper hand quite clearly in FIBA World Cup action, accumulating over 480 points in three competitions from 2002 through 2010.

Pau Gasol made his debut for Spain in 2002, several seasons before he would become an NBA champion with the Lakers. Gasol would pour in 19.1 points per game for that competition but failed to medal. The 2006 competition would be an entirely different story. Gasol would be third in the World Cup with 21.3 points per game and earn MVP honors as Spain went on to capture the gold medal, a feat they would repeat in 2019, making them defending champions heading into this year’s tournament.

United States – Kevin Durant – 205 Points

With just one FIBA World Cup and a gold medal under his belt, Kevin Durant is the USA’s all-time leading scorer in the FIBA World Cup competition. In 2010, Durant led the United States on a dominant run with one of the greatest single tournaments in its entire history.

Durant would lead all scorers with 205 total points in the 2010 World Cup as the United States steamrolled the competition and finished things off with a win over Turkey in the final game. Durant would finish third overall in scoring for the tournament with 22.8 points per game and earn MVP honors. In the gold medal game, Durant would seal the win for the United States with 28 points on 10-17 shooting in a win over Turkey. 

Venezuela – Victor Diaz – 165 Points

Our final country of the day will be the team from Venezuela. The 2023 World Cup will be the fourth World Cup in the country’s history as they look to finally make a statement on an international stage. Their best finish would come in 1990 when they finished 11th overall in the competition which they followed up with a 14th-place finish in 2002 and 23rd in 2006. In 2019, they would qualify once again after missing out on the World Cup two times in a row in 2010 and 2014.

In the 2002 and 2006 competitions, Victor Diz was the leading scorer for the team, accumulating 165 points over the course of two tournaments. In 2002, Diaz would lead all scorers for Venezuela with 110 total points while no other player registered even 100. In 2006, Diaz would take a small step back but still log 55 points to extend his lead as Venezuela’s all-time leading scorer. The team will be led in 2023 by Michael Carrera, who averaged 11.6 points per game in qualifiers to help Venezuela make its fourth trip in its history to the World Cup stage. 

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