BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Having adept playmakers is always crucial to make a team successful, and that takes on a deeper importance as the second round of the Asian Qualifiers is set to begin in a few weeks.

Here are the top five players of the Asian Qualifiers heading into the fourth window.

Samad Nikkhah Bahrami (Iran) - 6.8 assists per game, 2.7 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

It's pretty amazing that 35-year-old Bahrami is Iran's #1 playmaker. He is still a prime scoring threat, but Iranian fans are elated he has found a new way to help Team Melli succeed - by making plays for his teammates. He has recorded no less than 6 assists in every Asian Qualifiers match he's played, and there are no signs he will going away from what has made him so effective.

Wael Arakji (Lebanon) - 6.3 assists per game, 2.8 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

Yes, Arakji is known more for his scoring ability, but don't sleep on his fine playmaking skills. When the 23-year-old floor general isn't hitting lay-ups or sinking jumpers, he's finding his teammates in easy spots to score, and that's what really makes him such a dangerous offensive force for the Lebanese. That's also why they cannot wait till he returns from injury as Lebanon fights for a spot in next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Tai Webster (New Zealand) - 5.5 assists per game, 3.1 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

New Zealand's hallmark in the Asian Qualifiers has been terrific ball distribution, and Webster's smart play has been a big reason they have been so effective. The Tall Blacks actually lead the entire field in assists with 23.3 dimes per game, and Webster is their best playmaker, handing out 5.5 assists per contest. The 23-year-old is making his mark for the Kiwis, and if he continues his strong play, then they should be shoo-ins for a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Shea Ili (New Zealand) - 5.2 assists per game, 2.6 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

Seeing as New Zealand top the leaderboard in assists, it should not be much of a shocker that they have another guy on this list. Ili is not as high profile as most of the other guys here, but he has certainly made his mark, amassing a total of 31 assists in six games -- the most in the Asian Qualifiers. His best playmaking work? A 10-assist masterpiece as New Zealand won easily over Hong Kong in the third window.

Jason Cadee (Australia) - 4.8 assists per game, 14.5 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

Cadee was among Australia's top scoring threats in the first window of the Asian Qualifiers, but he has since accepted his role as primary playmaker for the Boomers, who are among the top teams in the entire field with 5 wins in 6 games. The 27-year-old point guard's abilities to see the floor well and effectively time his passes surely make him one of the toughest matchups at his position, and it's also not too shabby that he has an eye-popping 14.5 assist-to-turnover ratio!

Honorable Mention:

Ricardo Ratliffe (Korea) - 3.0 assists per game, 2.4 asst.-to-turnover ratio.

I wanted to reserve some space for this Korean big man, who has been a superb playmaker considering his role as main inside operator and scorer for his squad. The 29-year-old Ratliffe padded his numbers with a 5-assist effort in Korea's last first round game against Hong Kong, and look at his assist-to-turnover ration - 2.4! That's the highest among all Asian Qualifiers big men!

FIBA