VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - The race to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is fast, furious and feverishly fun.

Here's my A to Z view of the fifth international window, which tips off on Thursday.

Alien

Not the movie, but the player. That's what LeBron called Victor Wembanyama after watching him play in the USA recently and now we'll see the projected top pick in next year's NBA draft with France in this window. Of course, we've been watching for a while, now.

Brussino

Nicolas Brussino, the two-time Olympian, the 2019 World Cup finalist, the 2022 AmeriCup champion, the former Dallas Maverick ... He needs to step up, play with emotional discipline and be Argentina's scoring leader at the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

 

'Che'

Coach Nestor 'Che' Garcia was involved in a most stunning development before this summer's FIBA AmeriCup when he parted ways with Argentina. That paved the way for him to again take the controls of the Dominican Republic, the team he coached at the 2019 World Cup. On Thursday, he coaches against, you guessed it, Argentina!

Diaz

He's a dawg, Alberto  Diaz! The last man in for Spain at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, joining after Sergio Llull's injury, was dubbed "silent leader" in the Spanish press for his performances. Diaz is now back in the Qualifiers, where his gritty play has always been vital for the No. 2 team in the FIBA World Ranking.

Edon and Elias

Edon Maxhuni and Elias Valton aren't hyped like Lauri Markkanen and Sasu Salin, yet each will be crucial for Finland at the World Cup and must continue to make strides in the Qualifiers.

Freddie

Freddie Ibrahim saved Jordan against Chinese Taipei (go to end of video) in the Round of 16 at this past summer's FIBA Asia Cup. Now he's really got to turn it up a notch in home Asian Qualifiers against the Philippines and New Zealand.

Gordie

Gordon Herbert was masterful at the FIBA EuroBasket as Germany boss, coaching big personalties and getting the best out of everyone. His national team is on the cusp of World Cup qualification. Germany are at the top of Group J with a 7-1 record.

Hamed Haddadi

The bona fide legend of not just Iran but Asia wants to make it to a fourth World Cup in a row but to do that, he must dominate in this week's games against China and Australia.

Iceland

Third in Group L at 4-2, Iceland have a legitimate shot to reach the World Cup! If it was big news playing at EuroBaskets in 2015 and 2017, imagine what a World Cup berth will mean for this great sporting nation. Reykjavik will be packed on Friday for a vital clash with Georgia.

Japan

There's no pressure to qualify for the World Cup since the Japanese have an automatic berth as co-hosts, yet a sense of urgency to start playing better is very real. Wins against Bahrain and Kazakhstan in this window are absolute musts for the team coached byTom Hovasse.

Kai's the guy

Kai Sotto, the talented center of the Philippines, is going to be in the spotlight at the World Cup. Gilas need to start getting the best out of their big man on both ends of the floor.

Latvia

Still smarting over missing China 2019 and EuroBasket 2022, Latvia will take a giant step towards qualification for next year's World Cup if they clinch a sixth consecutive win in the European Qualifiers, at Greece, on Friday.

Mexico

Third in Group F, the same record as second-top Brazil and fourth-placed Uruguay - a team they face in this window - means Mexico are in the thick of the fight for a World Cup spot.

Never

Since playing as Serbia, this great basketball country has never missed out on playing at the World Cup, featuring in 2010, 2014 and 2019. Nothing less than sweeping all before them the rest of the way will do for Serbia since they lost twice to Belgium in the First Round.

Oscar-like inspiration required

The great Oscar Schmidt always got fired up for Brazil's big games. There is no room for complacency in this window if Brazil are going to make it to the World Cup. The South American giants, second in Group F, play at USA and Mexico in this window, and host Puerto Rico and USA in February.

Pozz, Pajola and Pesaro

Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, defensive stalwart Alessandro Pajola and the Adriatic coastal city of Pesaro take center stage this window for Italy as they host recently-crowned European champions Spain in a battle for first place in Group L.

Qualifiers on three of four continents

The big games will be played in the Americas, Asia and Europe in this window but not in Africa, where all the drama for spots in the World Cup will unfold in February. 

Retin

Retin Obasohan made such an impression on Goran Dragic in their EuroBasket Round of 16 game, which Slovenia won, that the latter told Belgium coach Dario Gjergja he'd never "seen this physicality". When push comes to shove, look for Obasohan to try and make the big plays for the Lions in this window.

Scariolo's world, we live in it

Sergio Scariolo is simply the best. Since 2009 at the helm, Scariolo has coached Spain to the 2019 World Cup, FIBA EuroBasket titles (2009, 2011, 2017, 2022), Olympic silver (2012) and bronze (2016).

Turkey

The 12 Giant Men still control their own destiny but their best chance of making it to the World Cup to beat Belgium and Serbia (by eight points) in this window and then finish with wins over Latvia and the Belgians in February. Hard? Yes. Impossible? No.

Uruguay

Locked and loaded with the Granger-Fitipaldo one-two punch set to go, Uruguay are chasing their first World Cup berth since 1986. They face Mexico, and once again, Puerto Rico, in this window.

Vasiljevic

Dejan Vasiljevic is such a dangerous shooter from three-point range that in just two appearances in the Asian Qualifiers for next year's World Cup, Australia's 1.87m guard leads the squad in made shots from the arc. He is a combined 10 of 20 against Bahrain and Iran.

Wael

The talisman of Lebanon, Wael Arakji, is the player fans want to see, and they'll be hoping for a repeat performance of the Cedars' FIBA Asia Cup 2022 clash with New Zealand in Jakarta, when tournament MVP Arakji had 25 points.

X-factor

There are plenty of X-factor candidates in this window, players that will give a heck of a lot more than anyone expected. Turkey's Bugrahan Tuncer will be an X-factor. Remember the EuroBasket Round of 16 game against France? Having averaged 6.3 points in the Group Phase, he exploded for 22 against Les Bleus and was poised to be the player of the game had Turkey not missed vital free-throws at the end of regulation, thus allowing France to win in overtime.

Yakhchali

Behnam Yakhchali, the hooping and scooping scoring machine from Tehran, needs to bring his 'A' game in this window for Iran to have any chance of beating China and Australia.

Zhou Qi

Also known as da mowang (The Big Devil), Zhou Qi was so good in three FIBA Asia Cup 2022 appearances that he made the All-Star Five. The China center had a memorable 22-point, 21-rebound, 3-block effort against eventual runners-up Lebanon. He'll go up against Iran and Bahrain in this window.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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