With one year to go, the Stars’ preparation for the FIBA World Championship is put to the test. Several renowned artists had canceled their participation in the big event in Asia.
Okinawa – For basketball players, especially those who play in the NBA, the soccer World Cup is as important as any other sport. Some stars have therefore decided not to launch it in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Overview of the endgame and losses:
Who’s in?
Luka Doncic (Slovenia): The Dallas Mavericks star is likely to feature at the World Cup in the absence of several top players. Doncic, 24, is looking to lead Slovenia to their first World Cup medal and pursue their European Championship title in 2017. He will be counting on him in particular for that.
Rudy Goubert (France): Last season in the NBA, Goubert, 31, made headlines after physically attacking a teammate. But the 2.16m colossus is also sportingly valuable and a key part of the France team, which finished second in the European Championships, thanks to its excellent defense.
Shay Gilgos Aleksandar (Canada): Like Slovenian superstar Doncic, Giljos Aleksandar was an All-NBA First Team player – so he’s one of the elite players in the world’s top leagues. The 25-year-old should lead an incredibly talented Canadian team to medals.
Dennis Schroeder (Germany): In the NBA, Schroeder is more than just a role player, and within the German national team he is the undisputed leader. The 29-year-old playmaker is looking to build on his strengths at the European Championships and has been in fine form during pre-season.
Who has left ?
Lots of American stars: You won’t find big names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry at the World Cup. The United States compete against a group of talented youngsters. Minnesota Timberwolves winger Anthony Edwards is definitely the first player on Steve Kerr’s team.
Giannis Antitokoumpo (Greece): The “Greek monster” will not participate in the World Cup after having surgery on his left knee. Antetokounmpo admits that currently he hasn’t managed to reach the level he wants. And without the Milwaukee Bucks star, Greece’s medal chances would be significantly reduced.
Denver Duo of Champions (Serbia and Canada): In June, Serbian Nikola Jokic and Canadian Jamal Murray celebrated their first NBA championship together in Denver. They have both now stopped at the World Cup. The reason is also a long season, with the Nuggets having played 102 competitive games before winning the title – and they will want to be fresh in the 2023/24 season to defend the title.
Super Talent Wimpaanyama (France): Victor Wimpaanyama, measuring 2.18m, is nicknamed “Alien” and is considered the most promising player in the NBA since LeBron James. In order to prepare perfectly for his first season with the San Antonio Spurs, Wimpanyama is not participating in the World Cup – and is looking forward to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. dpa
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