MIES (Switzerland) - We have passed the 100-day mark in the countdown for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. To commemorate the occasion, there's no better time to remember the top 100 scorers in competition history.

Divided into four segments of 25 players each, the series starts on Tuesday, May 16 with exactly 100 days to go until the 19th edition of the flagship event. 

Ranks 100-76
Ranks 75-51

The players ranked 100-76 and 75-51 have already been  announced and we continue our countdown as we look at the next 25 players:

50. Jiri ZIDEK 

CENTER

Birth date: 08/02/1944
Died: 21/05/2022

Points: 293
Games played: 16
Participations: 2 (1970, 1974)
Medals: 0

Zidek played at two World Cups for Czechoslovakia - in 1970 and 1974 - leading the team in scoring in both tournaments. In 1970, the center averaged 18.6 points per game, including scoring 30 points in the last two games against Brazil and Uruguay. Four years later, the FIBA Hall of Famer tallied 18.0 points per game, topped by 28 points against Mexico. His son Jiri Zidek Jr. also played for many years internationally.

49. Rogerio KLAFKE  

FORWARD

Birth date: 26/03/71

Points: 296
Games played: 25
Participations: 3 (1994, 1998, 2002)
Medals: 0

Klafke - or just 'Rogerio' as he was known - appeared in three World Cups - in 1994, 1998, and 2002. In 1994, the forward averaged 9.2 points per game, including a 30-point outburst to finish the tournament. He led the team in scoring four years later with 13.6 points per game before ranking second in scoring for Brazil in 2002 with 12.6 points per contest. He tallied 22 points against Lebanon and twice picked up 19 points.

48. Zdenek KOS  

CENTER

Birth date: 23/06/1951

Points: 296
Games played: 21
Participations: 3 (1974, 1978, 1982)
Medals: 0

Kos starred for Czechoslovakia at three World Cups - in 1974, 1978, and 1982 - and averaged in double-figure points in all three tournaments. In 1974, the center tallied 14.6 points per game, topped by 28 points against Australia. Kos, who was voted to the Czechoslovakia 20th Century Team in 2001, averaged 15.1 points in 1978. Four years later, Kos contributed 12.6 points per game.

47. Phil SMYTH 

GUARD

Birth date: 11/05/1958

Points: 301
Games played: 39
Participations: 4 (1978, 1982, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Smyth appeared in four World Cups for Australia between 1978 and 1994, and his 39 games played ranks fourth most in World Cup history. Just 20 years old in 1978, Smyth picked up 8.9 points per game, including scoring 16 points against USA in the opener. The point guard tallied 9.9 points per game in 1982 and after missing the 1986 World Cup, Smyth had 7.5 points per game in 1990 - topped by a 17-point showing versus USA. Four years later, Smyth, at 36 years old, contributed a combined 15 points over 8 games.

46. Gerald KAZANOWSKI  

CENTER

Birth date: 12/10/1960

Points: 304
Games played: 26
Participations: 3 (1982, 1986, 1990)
Medals: 0

Kazanowksi represented Canada at three World Cups - in 1982, 1986, and 1990. The center averaged 9.9 points per game at his first World Cup and then pushed the production to 12.1 points per game in 1986. Despite being just shy of his 30th birthday, Kazanowksi led Canada in scoring in 1990 with 13.0 points per game, topped by 25 points against Italy after picking up 21 points versus Angola.

45. Arturo GUERRERO  

FORWARD

Birth date: 30/08/1948

Points: 304
Games played: 15
Participations: 2 (1967, 1974)
Medals: 0

Guerrero starred at two World Cups for Mexico - in 1967 and then in 1974. With Mexico, he only lost two games in 1967 but finished eighth. The forward poured in 14.4 points per game, including 25 points against Paraguay and Italy. Seven years later, Guerrero and Mexico again only lost twice but ended up ninth. He finished as the leading scorer of the tournament with 27.0 points per game. That year, Guerrero dropped 42 points against Central African Republic and 38 points versus Czechoslovakia.

44. Hyun-Jun KIM 

GUARD

Birth date: 03/06/1960
Died: 02/10/1999

Points: 305
Games played: 20
Participations: 3 (1978, 1986, 1990)
Medals: 0

Kim played in three World Cups for Korea - in 1978, 1986, and 1990. The guard averaged 4.4 points in 1978 as an 18-year-old, topped by 11 points against China. Eight years later Kim averaged 19.4 points, scoring at least 22 points in four of the five games. Kim led the Koreans in scoring in 1990 with 22.1 points per game, including 35 points against Angola.

43. Hector CAMPANA  

GUARD

Birth date: 10/11/1964

Points: 307
Games played: 36
Participations: 3 (1986, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Campana participated in three World Cups for Argentina - in 1986, 1990, and 1994. 'Pichi' scored 12.3 points per game in 1986, highlighted by him netting 22 points versus Italy. Four years later, Campana led Argentina in scoring with 13.4 points per game, including 33 points against USA. In 1994, Campana contributed 9.6 points per game, topped by a 22-point outing against Korea.

42. Manu GINOBILI  

 

GUARD

Birth date: 28/07/1977

Points: 310
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Medals: 🥈(2002)

Ginobili was one of the leaders of Argentina's "Golden Generation" and he played in three World Cups - 1998, 2002 and 2006. The guard played a minor role in his debut, excelling predominantly in the placement games and averaging 7.8 points. In 2002, Ginobili led the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game as Argentina reached the Final, where he was limited to being scoreless in 12 minutes because of an injury suffered in the Semi-Finals. Ginobili was the top scorer again in 2006 with 15.1 points as Argentina lost to Spain in the Semi-Finals and finished fourth.

41. Kamil BRABENEC

FORWARD

Birth date: 04/02/1951

Points: 312
Games played: 14
Participations: 2 (1974, 1978)
Medals: 0

Brabenec appeared at two World Cups for Czechoslovakia - in 1974 and 1978 - and led the 1978 event in scoring. The forward ranked second on the team in scoring in 1974 at 17.7 points per game. He really took off in the second part of the competition, scoring 28, 29, and 41 points in his final three games of the event. In 1978, he averaged 26.9 points per game to lead all scorers, topped off by 44 points against Puerto Rico followed by 41 points versus China.

40. Marcelinho MACHADO

GUARD / FORWARD

Birth date: 12/04/1975

Points: 316
Games played: 25
Participations: 5 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Medals: 0

Machado was a long-lasting member of the Brazilian national team, playing in all five World Cups from 1998 to 2014. The wing played just two games in 1998 but then broke out in 2002 as the competition's fourth-leading scorer with 20.9 points per game, topped by a 30-point outburst against Turkey. Machado averaged 12.4 points per game four years later, including 25 points against Greece. He still averaged 12.7 points per game in 2006, featuring 20 points against Slovenia. And in 2014, as a 39-year-old, Machdo appeared in five games and averaged 6.0 points, carried mainly by his 16 points against Egypt.

39. Ratko RADOVANOVIC

CENTER

Birth date: 16/10/1956

Points: 317
Games played: 27
Participations: 3 (1978, 1982, 1986)
Medals: 🥇(1978), 🥉(1982, 1986)

Radovanovic helped Yugoslavia to podium finishes in all three of his World Cup appearances, taking the title in 1978 and then finishing third in 1982 and 1986. The Bosnia and Herzegovina native finished third on the team in scoring with 12.3 points in his first World Cup, including 10 points in the victory over the Soviet Union in the Final. Radovanovic finished third in scoring on the Yugoslavia side in the other two competitions as well. He averaged 10.9 points per contest in 1982, highlighted by his 26 points against Spain. And in 1986, Radovanovic picked up 12.0 points per game, including 22 points versus Brazil in the game for third place.

38. Yao MING  

CENTER

Birth date: 12/09/1980

Points: 320
Games played: 14
Participations: 2 (2002, 2006)
Medals: 0

Yao is arguably the greatest player in Chinese basketball history and he dominated at the two World Cups in which he appeared, 2002 and 2006. The literal big man was the third-leading scorer in 2002 with 21.0 points per game just shy of his 22nd birthday. He torched Algeria for 38 points and scored 27 points against New Zealand and Angola. Yao led all scorers in 2006 with 25.3 points per game, hitting 36 points versus Slovenia and 30 points against Italy.  

37. Luiz Claudio MENON 

POWER FORWARD

Birth date: 07/02/1944

Points: 321
Games played: 21
Participations: 3 (1963, 1967, 1970)
Medals: 🥇(1963), 🥈(1970), 🥉(1967)

Menon appeared in three World Cups for Brazil and took home a medal all three times - winning the title in 1963, finishing third in 1967 and taking second in 1970. The big man appeared in just three games in 1963, totaling 2 points as a 19-year-old. Four years later, Menon ranked third in scoring with 18.6 points, including 29 points against Argentina and then 22 points against USA to clinch third place for Brazil. In 1970, he led the team in scoring with 16.9 points per game, topped by 29 points against Korea. 

36. Ernesto GEHRMANN

CENTER

Birth date: 07/05/1945

Points: 321
Games played: 16
Participations: 2 (1967, 1974)
Medals: 0

Gehrmann was a true star for Argentina in his two World Cup appearances, twice finishing in the top five in scoring in 1967 and 1974. 'Finito' poured in 18.3 points per game in 1967 - good for fourth overall - with his top game being 25 points against Uruguay. The center ranked fifth in the 1974 World Cup with 22.3 points per game as he netted 28 points against Central African Republic and 27 points versus the Philippines. 

35. Leandro BARBOSA

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: 28/11/1982

Points: 323
Games played: 27
Participations: 5 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 0

Barbosa was a long-time leader on Brazil's national team, playing in all five World Cups between 2002 and 2019. The small forward debuted in 2002 as a 19-year-old and totaled 9 points in 4 games. Four years later, Barbosa had already grown to average 13.2 points per game, including 26 points against Turkey. In 2010, he had 16.2 points per game to lead the team in scoring, which he did again in 2014 with 11.9 points per game, topped by 22 points against Egypt. Despite being 36-years-old at China 2019, Barbosa still showed he could be very productive with 13.6 points per game, including netting 22 points versus New Zealand.

34. Leo RAUTINS

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: 20/03/1960

Points: 325
Games played: 18
Participations: 2 (1978, 1982)
Medals: 0

Rautins was a major leader of the Canada national team for two World Cups, in 1978 and 1982. In his first global event, Rautins topped the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game - good for fifth overall. He showed he could play against the best teams, netting 32 points against USA and 31 versus Yugoslavia. Four years later, Rautins was second with Canada in scoring with 16.0 points per game. His top performance was 28 points against Spain. Rautins' son Andy Rautins also represented Canada at the 2010 World Cup. 

33.  Modestas PAULAUSKAS

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: 19/03/1945

Points: 328
Games played: 27
Participations: 3 (1967, 1970, 1974)
Medals: 🥇(1967, 1974), 🥉(1970)

Paulauskas was a leading force for the Soviet Union at three World Cups - winning the trophy in 1967 and 1974 and finishing third in 1970. The Lithuanian led the team in scoring in the first two competitions and was third in 1974. The small forward averaged 13.8 points in 1967, including 20 points against Japan and twice hitting for 18 points. Paulauskas talled 11.4 points per game in 1970, highlighted by 22 points against USA. In 1974, the FIBA Hall of Famer averaged 11.2 points per game, including 11 points against USA in the decisive game to win the title.

32. Andres JIMENEZ

POWER FORWARD

Birth date: 06/06/1962

Points: 330
Games played: 32
Participations: 4 (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Jimenez appeared in four World Cups for Spain from 1982 to 1994. In his first World Cup, the power forward scored 8.4 points per game as a 20-year-old, topped by 21 points against China as Spain finished fourth. Four years later, Jimenez had 8.8 points per game, highlighted by 19 points against France in the opening game. He broke out in the 1990 World Cup and averaged 17.3 points, including 27 points versus Venezuela. In his final World Cup in 1994, Jimenez chipped in 6.6 points per game, featuring his 14 points in a win over Korea. 

31. Nikos GALIS

GUARD

Birth date: 23/07/1957

Points: 337
Games played: 10
Participations: 1 (1986)
Medals: 0

Galis appeared in just one World Cup for Greece, but the 1986 edition was a tournament to remember. Galis led the World Cup in scoring with 33.7 points per game, starting the event with 53 points against Panama. He also scored 43 points in a win over Korea, had 40 points against Argentina, and finished the event with 49 points against China.

30. Rudy FERNANDEZ

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: 04/04/1985

Points: 344
Games played: 33
Participations: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 🥇(2006, 2019)

Fernandez was a key to Spain's only two World Cup titles in 2006 and 2019 and he also appeared in the flagship event in 2010 and 2014. The small forward collected 9.1 points per game in 2006, including 18 points versus Serbia & Montenegro. Fernandez netted 15.6 points in 2010, topped by 31 points against Argentina. Fernandez averaged 8.6 points per game in 2014 as a role player. Then, in 2019 at age 34, Fernandez contributed 7.8 points per game including 16 points in the Quarter-Finals and then 11 points in the win over Argentina in the Final.

29. Theofanis CHRISTODOULOU

FORWARD

Birth date: 22/05/1965

Points: 344
Games played: 26
Participations: 3 (1986, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Christodoulou appeared in three World Cups for Greece, in 1986, 1990 and 1994 - finishing in the top three in scoring for his country in all three editions. In 1986, the forward averaged 12.1 points, including 21 points against Korea. He picked up 16.1 points per game in 1990, topped by 32 points in a win over Spain. Christodoulou collected 11.8 points per game in 1994, led by his 26 points against Canada. Christodoulou also helped Greece win the FIBA EuroBasket 1987.

28. Marc GASOL

CENTER

Birth date: 29/01/1985

Points: 345
Games played: 32
Participations: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 🥇(2006, 2019)

Gasol helped carry Spain to their two World Cup crowns in 2006 and 2019 and also played in the event in 2010 and 2014. Gasol contributed 5.5 points per game in 2006 as a 21-year-old, topped by his 12 points against Japan. In 2010, the center tallied 12.8 points per game, including 25 points versus Lebanon. Gasol netted 10.1 points per game in 2014, highlighted by his 17 points against France. The two-time European champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist played a major role in Spain winning the World Cup title in 2019 as he scored 14.4 points per game. He torched Australia for 33 points in the Semi-Finals and added 14 points in the Final against Argentina. 

27. Jae HUR

GUARD

Birth date: 28/09/1965

Points: 349
Games played: 21
Participations: 3 (1986, 1990, 1994)
Medals: 0

Hur played for Korea at the three World Cups from 1986 to 1994 - and holds the record for the most points in a single game in World Cup history. Hur averaged 10.2 points per game in 1986, topped by 22 points against Panama. He was second on the Korean team in scoring in 1990 with 17.9 points which included pouring in a FIBA Basketball World Cup record of 54 points against Egypt. Hur finished tied as the third leading scorer of the 1994 World Cup with 19.4 points per game. His best output was 33 points against Argentina. 

26. Albertos HERREROS

SMALL FORWARD

Birth date: 20/04/1969

Points: 351
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (1990, 1994, 1998)
Medals: 0

Herreros competed for Spain at three World Cups - in 1990, 1994, and 1998 - and he was the leading scorer of the event in 1998. In his debut in 1990, the small forward averaged 9.3 points per game, topped by 19 points in a win over China. Herreros led Spain in scoring in 1994 with 15.6 points per game, including hitting 21 points against Brazil. Herreros took the scoring crown in 1998 with 17.9 points per game. His biggest game came against USA and Lithuania with 27 points in each contest.

Next time, we will take a look at positions 25-1 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Top 100 scorers list.

FIBA