MIES (Switzerland) - The Players Commission held a one-day meeting in the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, FIBA Headquarters, on Thursday, February 20, which was the first for the new cycle of 2019 - 2023.

The 16-member panel is headed by Chairman Dirk Nowitzki and Deputy Chairwoman Jenni Screen.  Dirk Nowitzki was appointed chair of the commission and ex officio Central Board member in August last year at the FIBA Central Board meeting held in Beijing.  

The Players Commission is made up of former and current players coming from all five continents and during the meeting, it held discussions on a wide range of issues which included the Players Hub, conditions for players during FIBA competitions, rules of the game, the calendar of future competitions including Tokyo 2020 and, women in basketball - one of FIBA's priority strategic pillars. The main activities and goals for the new cycle of 2019 - 2023 were discussed and agreed upon. 

The meeting was also attended by FIBA Secretary General, Andreas Zagklis. 

Chairman, Dirk Nowitzki, said: "I feel very honored to be part of this commission and to have the opportunity to speak for players, to help grow the game and to bring both sides together. I am excited to get going with today’s first meeting. We have some bright minds with great ideas sitting at the table today and I am sure over the next four years this commission will grow the game together with the players and help things to keep moving forward."

The duties of FIBA's Players' Commission are:

• To study topics relating to players, men and women, of all age groups
  
• To propose to the Central Board any measures deemed necessary to improve the conditions of players and protect their ability to grow as players and as role models for others
• To make recommendations on practices or activities likely to be affecting the interests of players
• To provide feedback and advice on possible improvements to the various Competitions of FIBA

FIBA's Players' Commission for 2019-2023 consists of:
Chairman 
Mr Dirk Nowitzki (GER)

Deputy Chairwoman
Ms Jenni Screen (AUS)

Members
Mr Mathieu Faye (SEN)
Ms Maria Paula Goncalves da Silva (BRA)
Ms Ilona Korstin (RUS)
Ms Hamchetou Maiga-Ba (MLI)
Mr Dejan Majstorovic (SRB)
Ms Raffaella Masciadri (ITA)
Mr Yegor Mescheriakov (BLR)
Mr Marko Milic (SLO)
Mr Hanno Mottola (FIN)
Ms Yuko Oga (JPN)
Ms Marie-Eve Paget (FRA)
Mr Kirk Penney (NZL)
Ms Amaya Valdemoro (ESP)
Mr Nikolaos Zisis (GRE)

FIBA