MOSCOW (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Russia center Timofey Mozgov has put the other 23 teams on notice at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 that his side is capable of going all the way in the tournament.

Russia will play in Group D, in Istanbul, against Belgium, Great Britain, Latvia, Serbia and Turkey, with the top four sides advancing to the Round of 16.

"I think our team can win EuroBasket," Mozgov said to rsport. "Everything will depend on how fit the players are. If everyone's healthy and we play our game, play as best we can, we can win."

No one picked Russia to win the title at FIBA EuroBasket 2007 but they went on a surprising run to the Final in Madrid before pulling off a shock victory over hosts Spain.

A 7ft 1in (2.16m) center, Mozgov was not in that team that David Blatt steered to glory but he did play at FIBA EuroBasket 2011 and at the Olympics the next year when the team finished third in two extremely competitive tournaments.

Mozgov won Olympic bronze in 2012

Russia did not advance from the Group Phase at the event in 2013 and 2015 but did go unbeaten in qualifying last year for this summer's tournament under coach Sergey Bazarevich with Mozgov averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Mozgov, many would argue, is a player that Russia must have to be a real threat for supremacy. He helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2015-16 NBA title and then signed for the Los Angeles Lakers.

He averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season for the Lakers.

Russia's first game at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 will be on September 1 against Turkey.

FIBA