The Top 10 Moments of 2021

MIES (Switzerland) - Basketball, fast, furious and dramatic, was never better than 2021. At the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and the Tokyo Games, and at continental championships, we got our fill of hoops hysteria.

Here is our top ten, as selected by the FIBA.basketball editorial team.

The block

In one of the finest defensive plays ever made at the Olympics, Nicolas Batum soared in to pin Klemen Prepelic's potential game-winning layup at the death to preserve France's 90-89 win and lift Les Bleus into the Gold Medal Game at the Tokyo Olympics.

Standing ovation for Luis Scola

It made the hair on the backs of our necks stand straight up. Everyone in the Saitama Arena, the players, coaches and staffs of Australia and Argentina, the officials, statisticians, rose to their feet and saluted the legendary Scola as he left the court for the last time. Scola had represented Argentina for more than two decades, the leader of its Golden Generation. The 41-year-old's tear-inducing exit came just before the final seconds ticked off of Argentina's defeat in the Olympic Quarter-Finals. 

Vasic, Brooks go out in style at FIBA Women's EuroBasket

There's nothing like going out on top, which is what Sonja Vasic and Jelena Brooks did by lifting the title in Valencia, Spain, at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket for the last time, a competition they had competed in on numerous occasions over the years. After leading the country to glory one last time, the experience became even sweeter for Vasic, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

D'Tigress Three-Peat 

 If there was a debate about which team rules African women's hoops, that was laid to rest on September 26.  Nigeria defeated Mali, 70-59, for their third consecutive title at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket. D'Tigress have now gone unbeaten at the last three editions of the tournament, winning 18 games.

The first-ever 3x3 Olympic Gold Medalists

Latvia's men and USA's women made history as the first countries to reach the top of the podium at the Olympics in FIBA 3x3 basketball.

The Kigali thriller

Tunisia underlined their status as the top team on the continent by capturing the FIBA AfroBasket for the second consecutive time. What made the second championship all the more special was a riveting comeback by Cote d'Ivoire, who almost forced overtime at the end. Tunisia prevailed, 78-75, for their third championship since 2011.

Boomers Finally Reach the Podium

After numerous near misses in their long history of participation at Olympic Games and FIBA Basketball World Cups, Australia defeated Slovenia in the Bronze Medal Game to reach the podium. 

Zamalek lift first Basketball Africa League trophy

History was made on May 30 as Zamalek beat US Monastir in the first-ever BAL Final 76-63, in Kigali, Rwanda.  Twelve teams from across Africa competed in the new professional league, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) which builds on the foundation of club competitions. The FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized on the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. Egyptian club Zamalek won all six of their games in the Group Phase and then swept all before them in the knockout round, defeating Cameroonians FAP in the Quarter-Finals, Angolans Petro de Luanda in the Semi-Finals and then Monastir of Tunisia in the title game.

Slovenia earn first ticket to the Olympics

European champions in 2017, Slovenia pulled off another first when they won the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, to reach the Summer Games for the first time in their history. Led by Luka Doncic, Slovenia made it to Tokyo and put on several more jaw-dropping displays on the way to a fourth-place finish.

FIBA