MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup has witnessed many of best players in the world over the last 40-plus years since it began in 1979. But who are the biggest names to play in the first 16 editions?
We went through the archives and put together a list of the top 50 players and are breaking it down into five articles. Here is the third installment with places 30-21.
30. Zeljko Obradovic, Yugoslavia, 1979
Obradovic played a solid role on Yugoslavia's team in 1979, averaging 8.4 points per game. The point guard would go on to help Yugoslavia take second at the 1988 Olympics and win the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1990. He'd end up leaving his mark as a coach however, winning titles as Serbia's play-caller at the FIBA EuroBasket 1997 and World Cup 1998 and silver at the 1996 Olympics. He also has an immensely successful European club competition career.
29. Victor Wembanyama, France, 2021
Victor Wembanyama led France to the U19 World Cup Final in 2021, averaging 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.7 blocks. Fast forward to 2023 and Wembanyama was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft by San Antonio. He won the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year award and led the league in blocks in 2024 and 2025. Wembanyama carried France to the silver medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He missed the final two months of the 2024-25 season with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
28. Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania, 2011
Valanciunas was named Most Valuable Player of the 2011 U19 World Cup after helping Lithuania to their only title. He led the tournament in scoring (23.0 points per game) rebounds (13.9 rebounds per game) and blocks (3.2 blocks per game), including scoring 36 points in the Final. The center also helped his Lithuanian generation win the FIBA U16 European Championship and FIBA U18 European Championship.
Valanciunas has played at five FIBA EuroBaskets - taking second place in 2013 and 2015; as well as two FIBA Basketball World Cups and two Olympics. After being picked 5th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Valanciunas has played 13 years in the NBA for five teams.
27. Tyrese Haliburton, USA, 2019
Haliburton was drafted by Sacramento but traded to Indiana in his second season. He became a two-time NBA All-Star and led the NBA in assists in 2023-24. After winning the 2024 Olympic gold medal, Haliburton has Indiana on the brink of their second NBA Finals following 1999-2000. In 2023, he played the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila with USA Basketball.
26. Valeri Tikhonen, Soviet Union/Russia, 1983
Tikhonen averaged 11.9 points per game as Soviet Union finished second in 1983. He carried Soviet Union to gold at the 1988 Olympics as well as second-placed finishes at the FIBA Basketball World Cups in 1986 and 1990, while also winning the title at the FIBA EuroBasket 1985. Tikhonen would later represent Russia and helped them to second place at the 1998 World Cup.
25. Jalen Brunson, USA, 2015
Brunson was named Most Valuable Player of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015 as he averaged 14.0 points. 3.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists. After the U19 World Cup, Brunson won the NCAA tournament twice with Villanova in 2016 and 2018. Brunson, who played at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, played four seasons with Dallas in the NBA and then moved to New York with whom he was fighting for the NBA title in the 2025 playoffs.
24. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia, 2011
Bogdanovic collected 8.9 points and 5.0 per game at the 2011 U19 World Cup, where Serbia finished second behind Lithuania. Bogdanovic debuted for the senior team on the big stage at the FIBA EuroBasket in 2013 and has played at three continental championships, finishing second in 2017 with Serbia. He also helped Serbia to second place at the FIBA Basketball World Cups 2014 and 2023 and 2016 Olympics and third place at the 2024 Olympics.
Bogdanovic was also the second-leading scorer and named to the All-Star Five at the 2019 World Cup in China. After starring in Europe, Bogdanovic arrived in the NBA in 2017 and has played eight seasons in the league for Sacramento, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Clippers.
23. Alexander Volkov, Soviet Union/Ukraine, 1983
Volkov helped Soviet Union finish second at the 1983 U19 World Cup with 6.1 points per game. The Ukrainian big man claimed the 1988 Olympic gold medal with Soviet Union; took second place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1986 and 1990; and won the FIBA EuroBasket 1985. He played two seasons in the NBA with Atlanta and briefly came out of retirement in 1998 to play for the Ukrainian national team. Volkov was included in the list of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and is a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
22. Rimas Kurtinaitis, Soviet Union/Lithuania, 1979
Kurtinaitis only played a minor role in 1979, totaling 19 points in 7 games. But the guard would go on to have a great national team career, winning gold at the 1988 Olympics for Soviet Union, with whom he also took second at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1986 and the FIBA EuroBasket 1985 title. Kurtinaitis also took the bronze medal at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics with Lithuania and second place at the 1995 EuroBasket. He also has had club success as a head coach.
21. Patty Mills, Australia, 2007
Mills was one of the leaders of an Australia team that finished fifth in 2007 with just one loss. The high-scoring guard averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the run. Mills made his debut with the Boomers later that summer and appeared in two World Cups, averaging 21.3 points per contest in 2019 when Australia reached the Semi-Finals for the first time.
Mills has also played at four Olympics, breaking through with the bronze medal in 2020 where he scored 23.3 points per game. Mills has played 16 years in the NBA and won the title with San Antonio in 2014.
Disclaimer: This content is not an official ranking from FIBA. It is created solely to enhance the experience of the fans following the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025.
This content is updated from the series published in 2023.
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