NBA
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: How good is New Zealand? Who are their best players?
The 19th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off on 25 August. Let’s take a look at the Tall Blacks and their best players at this year’s tournament
The big event of the summer, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, is just around the corner, and the national teams from qualified countries are starting to reveal their player lists.
New Zealand, ranked 26th in the FIBA World Ranking, earned its spot in the 2023 World Cup during last summer’s Asian Qualifiers. This will be their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, and they’re hoping to recreate the success of their 2002 run when they reached the top four for the first time.
The Tall Blacks find themselves in one of the tournament’s toughest groups, facing two top-10 teams.
They will kick off their journey against the second-ranked team in the world, the USA. They’ll then face Jordan, a team ranked seven spots below New Zealand but who managed to defeat the Tall Blacks with a weakened lineup during the World Cup qualification.
Related: Why isn’t Lebron James playing at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup?
Wrapping up the group stage, the Tall Blacks will have a rematch against Greece, ranked ninth globally, who narrowly beat them 103-97 during the 2019 World Cup.
How good is the New Zealand team?
This World Cup marks Pero Cameron’s debut as head coach after taking on the role in 2019. Cameron was a pivotal player in New Zealand’s historic fourth-place finish in 2002. Now, as a coach, he aims to improve their 19th-place performance in the last World Cup and lead them beyond the round of 16 for the first time in 21 years.
Although New Zealand fell short of expectations in 2019, they led the competition in scoring, averaging 99.4 points per game, demonstrating their offensive prowess despite their shorter stature compared to opponents.
New Zealand’s most experienced players
Despite notable retirements and NBA player Steven Adams’ unavailability, five players – Finn Delany, Isaac Fotu, Jordan Ngatai, Shea Ili, and Tohi Smith-Milner – who have prior World Cup experience are eager to showcase their abilities against some of the world’s top basketball nations.