The Power Ranking Of The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

• The FIBA World Cup is right around the corner with days left until it starts

• USA is missing a host of elite stars, including Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James

• Considering many countries have major players not competing, is Team USA still the favorite?

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will begin on the 25th of August in three separate locations: Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This will be the 19th competition where Team USA and Yugoslavia lead with five gold medals both, and where Spain defend the championship they won in 2019.

From perennial favorites that have dominated past tournaments to emerging challengers eager to upset the status quo, the field is as diverse as it is competitive. However, there will be key stars missing from many countries’ rosters. Obviously, the United States of America are not fielding the very best of their players including veterans (Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James) and talented stars in their primes (Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard). 

Meanwhile, reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is absent from Serbia due to his focus on defending his NBA title with the Denver Nuggets. The same goes for Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray, who is out for Canada. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Greece due to rest following knee surgery, Kristaps Porzingis is absent from Latvia’s squad, and even French rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama has been pulled by the San Antonio Spurs.

With so many players not representing their countries, how do the FIBA World Cup rankings stand so far? Key players are not representing their countries and we are wondering which side has a chance to challenge the mighty Team USA on the court. Without further ado, here are the power rankings of the 2023 FIBA World Cup heading into the tournament in a few days. 

32. Ivory Coast

Star Player: Mo Bamba

The Ivory Coast achieved a historic feat as the inaugural African team to secure a berth in the global competition. Emerging from the continental qualifiers with a commendable record of 8-2, the 42nd-ranked national team solidified their presence in the world meet. However, not much is expected out of the Ivory Coast, although they do have Mo Bamba, who will be the main attraction for them. Bamba last played for the Los Angeles Lakers before getting cut and is a solid defensive big man with outside shooting ability.

31. Cape Verde

Star Player: Edy Tavares

Cape Verde, ranked 64th in the world, will be playing on the big stage thanks to their 6-3 campaign in the African qualifiers. Cape Verde does not have any active NBA players on the roster but Edy Tavares is the star man, a 7’3” big man who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in the 2016-17 season. Tavares was a former No. 43 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

30. Iran

Star Player: Hamed Haddadi

Believe it or not, Iran is no pushover in the basketball world. Ranked No. 22 in the world, Iran continues to make a name for themselves as they went 6-6 in the Asian qualifiers. The star of the team is none other than Hamed Haddadi, a former NBA player who played five seasons in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. A 7’2” center, Haddadi, will be critical to try to get Iran past some tough opponents in the opening games.

 29. Lebanon

Star Player: Wael Arakji

After 13 years without an appearance, Lebanon is back. They were quite strong in the Asia qualifiers, winning seven out of their 10 games thanks to solid teamwork and the exceptional leadership of Wael Arakji. Arakji is nicknamed “The Fearsome” because even as a point guard, he tends to will his teammates to be better on the court. Hopefully, Arakji can inspire Lebanon to some exciting performances. 

28. Angola

Star Player: Gerson Goncalves

Angola was more than solid in the African qualifiers, winning eight out of their 10 games. While there are a host of international players who play well together, the core of the team lies mainly with Gerson Goncalves. Goncalves is a two-time MVP of the Angolan league and should be the best player for the otherwise decent but unspectacular side heading to the FIBA tournament.

 27. Jordan

Star Player: Zaid Abbas

Jordan is a country that wants to succeed in everything they do, and basketball is one area they have high expectations for in the FIBA tournament. Obviously, it won’t be easy for them as they are just outside the top-25 ranked teams, but anything can happen. Zaid Abbas is 39 years old and is almost retired, but he is the main player for Jordan because his experience will be pivotal to an otherwise underdog side.

 26. Egypt

Star Player: Amr Abdelhalim

Egypt didn’t make the tournament in the last world meet but has managed to make it in 2023 with a very solid 8-4 standing in the African qualifiers. The number 55-ranked Egyptians hope to start a new streak of appearances this time around because they have some solid players including Amr Abdelhalim, the 6’4” shooting guard who is hoping to have a massive influence.

 25. South Sudan

Star Player: Nuni Omot

South Sudan is a team filled with youngsters and will have the disadvantage of experience, but they have size and plenty of athleticism. Nuni Omot is clearly the player all eyes will be on for the Sudanese because, at 6’9”, he has the experience (28 years old) and size to be an impact player.

 24. Venezuela

Star Player: Michael Carrera

Venezuela makes the cut for the 2023 FIBA World Cup because of their more than solid 8-4 run in the Americas qualifiers. While many won’t be clamoring that Venezuela is the favorite to make the Semifinals at least, they won’t be an easy team with Michael Carrera headlining the roster.

 23. Georgia

Star Player: Goga Bitadze

Georgia is a relatively unknown team, but they have been a stalwart in the EuroBasket tournaments, as they have reached the last 16 twice in five years. Tornike Shengelia, Giorgi Shermadini, and Thaddus McFadden are the core of the team, but the presence of NBA big man Goga Bitadze makes them even better. At 6’11”, Bitadze is a massive figure, and weighing 250 lbs, he will be a problem to control inside.

 22. Japan

Star Player: Rui Hachimura

Japan has a chance to surprise a lot of people. They get to host the first part of the World Cup and try to channel the energy of the crowd to win as many games as possible. Japan is expecting to have Yuta Watanabe, and a five-game winning streak to end the Asian Qualifiers must feel good for coach Tom Hovasse. The presence of Rui Hachimura will also be pivotal because the forward can score, defend, and rebound at a high level.

 21. Montenegro

Star Player: Nikola Vucevic

Montenegro is a decent side with a chance to surprise a lot of people. Most importantly, their best player is back. Nikola Vucevic is not only an elite rebounder at 6’10” and 260 lbs, but he can score the ball consistently and will be their go-to player throughout the tournament. They might not be the smallest nation in the competition anymore, as that title belongs to Cape Verde, but they will still embrace the underdog role.

 20. Philippines

Star Player: Jordan Clarkson

Anybody who follows international basketball knows that the Philippines love the game more than you can imagine. They are quick, well-coached, and passionate about competition. Playing in their hometown will also be critical to their underdog status, and Jordan Clarkson is always a few shots away from completely going off on any opponent. As long as they play together and Clarkson gets his shots up, the Philippines won’t be an easy team to play against.

 19. China

Star Player: Kyle Anderson

Believe it or not, China is a very tough competitor despite not making the final 16 of the tournament four years ago. China were the hosts last time and failed under the pressure, but they won’t have to worry about that now. Kyle Anderson is officially a player for them, and as a forward with plenty of NBA skill and experience, he could be a massive difference-maker.

 18. Puerto Rico

Star Player: Jose Alvarado

Fan-favorite Jose Alvarado and the Puerto Rican team are coming to do what they do best: exceed expectations and punish opponents who underestimate them. Puerto Rico has historically been an underdog team because they move the ball well and always find a way to come up big in critical moments. Watch out for them because don’t be surprised if they sneak important wins against big teams. 

17. New Zealand

Star Player: Flynn Cameron

New Zealand aren’t ranked very highly but they have a more than solid squad behind them. Their history in international competition is more than impressive, as they’ve been flirting with a last-16 spot in World Cup ever since their fourth-place finish in 2002. They went 8-2 during the Asian Qualifiers, winning their group easily before advancing to another competition. They have a few good players, but Flynn Cameron is receiving praise for being a capable scorer and rebounder for his size. 

16. Latvia

Star Player: Davis Bertans

Latvia will sorely miss Kristaps Porzingis, one of the most unique players in international competition. Without Porzingis, Latvia’s ranking drops lower as they will have to rely more on sharpshooter Davis Bertans as much as possible. They have the talent to actually compete as a top-10 team, but lack of experience and the important injury pushes them out of the top-15. 

15. Mexico

Star Player: Francisco Cruz

Mexico know how to play basketball and they will be a major threat to make the final 16. They made it in 2014, so clearly, they have the knowledge and experience under head coach Francisco Cruz. The key for Mexico is taking care of business against the weaker opponents and holding onto their wins. If they can beat the teams they should, they will be difficult to handle once the momentum is going.

 14. Lithuania

Star Player: Jonas Valanciunas

For whatever reason, Lithuania is not performing on the big stages despite having some quality players, including double-double machine Jonas Valanciunas. They had a 15th-place finish at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, missed out on the 2020 Olympics, missed out on the Quarter-Finals in 2019 (World Cup), and another one in 2017 (EuroBasket). That is a ton of disappointment but their relatively high ranking is due to the sheer talent of Valanciunas and the supporting cast.

13. Greece

Star Player: Georgios Papagiannis

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not playing due to surgery he had this summer, and that is a major blow. In fact, it is great news for the top-contending countries who won’t have to deal with building a wall to slow down the NBA’s former two-time MVP and NBA champion. Even without Giannis, the Greeks are a tough team to handle due to their skill and size led by Georgios Papagiannis, who will have to step in and take over from The Greek Freak. Greece can compete with the top teams even without Giannis, and that is a scary thought to consider.

 12. Finland

Star Player: Lauri Markkanen

The first European country to claim their tickets for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, this version of the Finland basketball squad might be in their finest years. Lauri Markkanen is a global star now, the culture of Finnish fans flying from all over the world is inspiring, and the fact that they reached the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Quarter-Finals and host the next FIBA EuroBasket makes them a nation to respect. Keep an eye out on Finland because they are a legitimate contender this year.

 11. Brazil

Star Player: Raul Neto

Brazil are always a tough team to handle in international competition and they might even be better this year than in recent competitions. Marcelinho Huertas, Vitor Benite, and Rafael Hettsheimer are experienced members of the team, while the likes of Raul Neto and Bruno Caboclo will provide solid offensive ability throughout the tournament. Whenever Brazil gets to mix veterans with youngsters, they will be in a more than solid position to challenge the top teams in the tournament.

 10. Dominican Republic

Star Player: Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to make his name as a top superstar on the international stage. Towns is immensely talented as a big man and can lead the Dominican Republic to a strong showing if he does what he does best: rebound, shoot the ball, and demand double teams. If Towns does not play to expectation as he has been doing in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, keep an eye out for Jean Montero, who could be the next player to shock people.

 9. Italy

Star Player: Simone Fontecchio

Italy has flown under the radar for obvious reasons, including lack of international success, but they are coming to prove why they are a top-10 team in the tournament. Simone Fontecchio has been the driving force for Italy, and he is literally a machine on the offensive side of the floor. Fontecchio is a 6’7” forward for the Utah Jazz in the NBA but has been exceptional for the Italians, and if they can ride him, they will be in a great spot.

8. Serbia

Star Player: Bogdan Bogdanovic

Without Nikola Jokic, Serbia falls out of the top-5 and maybe even the top-3. Jokic is arguably the best player in the world right now, and after winning the NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, it is truly a shame that Serbians won’t get to celebrate a chance to win another championship. Regardless, Serbia is going nowhere because they have sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic and a no-nonsense approach to the game. The problem is Serbia’s inconsistency which won’t be helped without the NBA’s reigning champion.

7. Canada

Star Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Canada are immensely talented this year as they are led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable in the NBA over 82 games where coaches can prepare for him, so what makes anyone think he can’t be the same on the international stage? Sure, not having Jamal Murray takes them out of the top-5, but they have more than enough talent to be a legitimate contender to win the tournament. Hopefully, they can remain consistent and manage to survive a difficult group stage.

 6. Germany

Star Player: Dennis Schroder

Germany is a real problem for opponents in this tournament. Sure, they were knocked out of the first round four years ago, but they are back with a vengeance after finishing third in the 2022 FIFA EuroBasket. Led by speedster and NBA veteran Dennis Schroder, the Germans will fight tooth and nail to finish among the top-3 finalists and want a medal just as much as anyone else in the top-5. The only question is, can they overcome their FIBA demons from the last tournament and show up when it counts?

5. Slovenia

Star Player: Luka Doncic

The Slovenians are a threat to win a medal mainly because of the brilliance of Luka Doncic. The NBA’s premier MVP candidate for the upcoming season can do it all on the international stage when it comes to scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and singlehandedly influencing the outcome of a basketball game. Doncic has been playing on the international stage for a while now and knows what it takes to succeed in Europe and in America. This type of exposure will do him good as Slovenia pushes the elite to the brink.

4. Australia

Star Player: Josh Giddey

No better time to be an Australian fan than now. They made the Semifinals at the Olympics in 2016 and 2021, the Semifinals at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, and won two FIBA Asia Cup titles. Amazingly, they still enter as “only” fourth-best in the tournament as of right now, which shows just how elite the top three are. The Aussies do not care about what anyone thinks about them because experience (international star Patty Mills) and youth (rising star Josh Giddey) will be their calling card, as they truly do not have a weakness this year.

3. Spain

Star Player: Rudy Fernandez

You can place Spain as the number two favorite in the tournament and nobody should have a problem with that. After all, Spain is in the conversation for being the best sports country in the world based on the success they continue to have in international competitions. When it comes to basketball, Spain has mastered maximizing team chemistry and clever offensive plays when it matters, even if they don’t have superstars on the level of Pau Gasol anymore. Rudy Fernandez is back again and while they will miss Ricky Rubio, they are a major threat for a medal. 

2. France

Star Player: Rudy Gobert

France is stacked. Nando De Colo and Nicolas Batum are back in the squad, which means head coach Vincent Collet could have the same core team that had an amazing tournament two summers ago in Tokyo. Not to mention, defensive center Rudy Gobert is having an impressive campaign on the international level as he tries to defend the rim and block shots with reckless abandon. Since France are the major threat to the number one ranked team, everybody is worried about them, and they should be.

1. United States Of America

Star Player: Anthony Edwards

The Americans are the favorite to win the 2023 FIBA tournament, even if the roster was heavily criticized for the lack of NBA “superstar power”. Anthony Edwards is clearly the most talented player on the team in terms of scoring ability and athleticism, and he can take this chance to level up his game with most of the pressure on him. Jalen Brunson is right behind him as well because the point guard has been trusted by Steve Kerr to carry the offense and be the primary facilitator.

Otherwise, the USA does not have a weakness on the roster as shooting (Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves), defense (Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr, Walker Kessler), and athleticism will be what the Americans do best. While it is never a given that a team makes it to the Semifinals, it is almost a foregone conclusion that they will be a shoo-in for that level and the absolute favorites to win it all afterward. 

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