MUNICH (Germany) - The road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 continues, with the upcoming European Qualifiers seeing 32 nations competing for 12 spots, starting on November 27.
With all sides aiming for a plane ticket to Qatar, here is a list of 10 players who aim to stand out during the Qualifiers.
Mario Hezonja - Croatia
FORWARD
Birth Date: Feb 25, 1995 (30 years old) Height: 202 cm / 6'8" Team: Real Madrid (ESP)
After narrowly missing out on qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2025, Croatia instead focused their attention on the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers, where Mario Hezonja led Croatia to a flawless 4-0 record. The veteran averaged 15.0 points, shooting 45 percent from the floor along with 4.5 rebounds a game. Now Hezonja - and Croatia - will want to continue their good run of form into Group E, where they face Israel, Cyprus and world champions Germany.
Tomas Satoransky - Czechia
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: Oct 30, 1991 (34 years old) Height: 201 cm / 6'7" Team: FC Barcelona (ESP)
After leading Czechia to FIBA EuroBasket 2025, Tomas Satoransky's hopes of leading his nation in what would have been his fifth continental showpiece were dashed by a back injury. He averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in their three Qualifiers. Now, Satoransky returns to guide Czechia to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, where they will square off against Slovenia, Sweden and Estonia in a tricky Group H.
Tornike Shengelia - Georgia
FORWARD
Birth Date: Oct 5, 1991 (34 years old) Height: 207 cm / 6'9" Team: FC Barcelona (ESP)
Veteran Toko Shengelia's lengthy international career is ready for another chapter as the 34-year-old hopes to secure back-to-back appearances at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Shengelia averaged 15.5 points in the last World Cup - including 16 points in their debut win over Cape Verde. More recently, he averaged a shade under 13 points a contest at EuroBasket.
Isaac Bonga - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: Nov 8, 1999 (26 years old) Height: 203 cm / 6'8" Team: Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
The reigning FIBA EuroBasket Defensive Player of the Tournament will begin his road to the World Cup on Friday, when world champions Germany face Israel in a tricky opener. Bonga averaged 7.8 points per game in his first World Cup in 2023, with his best showing coming against Finland in the Group Phase, when he scored 15 points en route to being an integral part of his side's title success. He was a huge factor in Germany's recent EuroBasket success; hitting 20 points in the Final against Türkiye, and his aggressive defensive nature will be pivotal during these Qualifiers.
Andreas Obst - Germany
GUARD
Birth Date: Jul 13, 1996 (29 years old) Height: 191 cm / 6'3" Team: FC Bayern Munich (GER)
Germany's key three-point marksman will look to bring his shooting flair to the World Cup Qualifiers. Andreas Obst made a name for himself during the last FIBA World Cup by shooting an impressive 44.7 percent from three-point land, whilst averaging 10.4 points a game. He buried four triples in a 24-point outing in the Semi-Finals against the USA. This summer, he averaged 9.0 points, mainly off the bench for Germany, helping them win EuroBasket.
Mateusz Ponitka - Poland
GUARD
Birth Date: Aug 29, 1993 (32 years old) Height: 198 cm / 6'6" Team: Bahcesehir College (TUR)
After missing out in 2023, veteran Mateusz Ponitka will be keen to lead Poland to their first World Cup since the 2019 edition in China. There, Ponitka averaged 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and hasn't slowed down since then, posting a solid 21 points at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers and a further 18.1 points at EuroBasket. He is a major offensive threat going into the Qualifiers.
Olivier Nkamhoua - Finland
GUARD
Birth Date: May 2, 2000 (25 years old) Height: 203 cm / 6'8" Team: Pallacanestro Reggiana (ITA)
Olivier Nkamhoua played a major part in Finland's best-ever finish at EuroBasket last summer, narrowly missing out on a podium spot in Riga, and now returns to the fold this summer in the hopes of turning the Susijengi's fortunes at the World Cup. Nkamhoua averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds at EuroBasket, and at his first World Cup in 2023, he posted 8 points on 57.1 percent shooting. Now armed with more experience, Nkamhoua's lethal inside game mixed with decent outside shooting will be a threat to Finland's Group G opponents, Hungary, France and Belgium.
Ercan Osmani - Türkiye
CENTER
Birth Date: Aug 4, 1998 (27 years old) Height: 213 cm / 7'0" Team: Anadolu Efes (TUR)
During the recent EuroBasket, Türkiye's main threats came from Cedi Osman and Alperen Sengun, but going under the radar was big man Ercan Osmani, who went about his business effectively, averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, en route to a runner-up finish. Osmani is undoubtedly a player who can do damage under the basket, but it's his intensity and high energy that Türkiye will look to benefit from during these Qualifiers. And, who can forget his Semi-Final performance against Greece?!
Matthew Strazel - France
GUARD
Birth Date: Aug 5, 2002 (23 years old) Height: 184 cm / 6'0" Team: AS Monaco (FRA)
Promising young guard Matthew Strazel is looking to have a breakout year with France over these Qualifiers with the goal of competing in his first World Cup. He made his international debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and averaged 10.3 points in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. He will bring brilliant playmaking and fierce defensive capabilities to this French side.
Arnas Velicka - Lithuania
GUARD
Birth Date: Dec 10, 1999 (26 years old) Height: 195 cm / 6'5" Team: Neptunas Klaipeda (LTU)
Arnas Velicka enjoyed a productive EuroBasket,;averaging 10.6 points and 5.4 assists a game, bringing a no-nonsense style of play that is deadly, particularly if he is let loose from range, as Latvia found out in the Round of 16, as Velicka went for 21 points. Above that, he is a player who finds his teammates in space from anywhere on the court and rarely makes mistakes.
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