NEW YORK (USA) - The Big Apple is buzzing about the New York Knicks, who swept the Philadelphia 76ers, 4-0, to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. Numerous Knickerbockers have national team experience. In the table below, you can click on their names to check their complete FIBA player profile.
KNICKS PLAYER | POSITION | COUNTRY | LAST PLAYED FIBA EVENT |
|---|---|---|---|
Guard | Puerto Rico | 2025 FIBA AmeriCup | |
Guard | USA | 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | |
Guard | USA | 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | |
Guard | Philippines | 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | |
Forward | France | 2022 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup | |
Forward | France | 2024 U20 EuroBasket | |
Guard | USA | 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | |
Center | Germany | 2019 FIBA U18 EuroBasket | |
Forward | Poland | 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament | |
Center | Dominican Republic | 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup |
There is such a strong FIBA flavor to the Knicks that even coach Mike Brown has worked in international basketball. He was at the helm of Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics five years ago.
Most of the players with FIBA experience had leading roles in their national teams.
Remember Karl-Anthony Towns at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila?
He lived up to the hype, especially with a 24-point, 11-rebound and 5-assist performance in a 87-82 win over Italy. In the Second Round, he had 39 points in the game against Puerto Rico and then 25 against Serbia.
Brunson represented his country at the 2023 World Cup in Manila along with Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.
By then, Brunson had already developed a huge reputation in international basketball. He was the MVP of the USA's title-winning run at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2015.
Bridges, meanwhile, had one of the most famous plays in World Cup history.
He was at the center of the wild finish in the Third-Place Game against Canada.
With USA trailing by three points and just a few seconds on the clock, Bridges intentionally missed a free-throw, chased the ball down in the right corner and drilled a 3-ball to force overtime.
Canada kept the USA off the podium, however, with a 127-118 win.
The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup also had Jordan Clarkson representing the Philippines, and he did not disappoint.
Clarkson averaged a team-high 26.0 points per game for Gilas, and had 34 in a 96-75 win over China.
Jeremy Sochan, who joined the Knicks in mid-season, has dazzled for Poland's national team.
The biggest stage in international basketball that he has graced so far was the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, where he averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds.
Jose Alvarado has been electric for Puerto Rico, using his quickness, explosive scoring and defense to ignite the Boricuas.
He last played for his country at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Nicaragua.
Dadiet and Diawara have represented France at youth level but stand a very good chance of playing for Les Bleus in some big games, with their ascension to the NBA as validation of their talent.
Airel Hukporti has also played for Germany's youth teams and should get an opportunity to play for the reigning World Cup and EuroBasket champions.
FIBA