Anticipating the FIBA World Cup 2023 and Key Players to Watch

With the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup starting imminently, many will be turning their focus to one of the sport’s premier competitions.

It will be hosted across multiple countries for the first time as the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia will share hosting duties. At the same time, the tournament continues to get bigger regarding the number of teams set to participate. This year’s event will be the second in a row that will feature 32 nations after it was expanded from 24 for the first time in 2019.

With the continued expansion, basketball fans will be able to watch some of the biggest stars compete. There will be numerous individuals who play their professional club basketball for teams in the NBA, EuroLeague, and other global competitions all sharing the hardwood court space, all looking to lead their countries to glory.

What is the Schedule of the 2023 FIBA World Cup?

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will begin on August 25 and will conclude on September 10, meaning there is just over two weeks of competitive basketball scheduled to be played.

At this competition, 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four and will face each other once. The two teams who finish in the top half will advance to the Second Round; those finishing third and fourth will compete in a 17th-32nd bracket.

The next stage will feature teams divided into groups once again. The top two countries from the Second Round qualify for quarterfinals while the bottom two will be eliminated; 16th-32nd bracket teams compete to be the best among those that did not make it to the quarters.

Quarterfinal games will commence on September 5, with games also held on September 6 and 7. Semifinals will occur on September 8, and on September 10, the Final will be contested to crown a winner.

Who are the Favorites to win the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup?

It probably does not come as a surprise to learn that the latest odds are all favoring the USA for the upcoming edition of this tournament. Fans who want to wager on the competition and watch the action unfold in Asia can do so with a basketball live stream that can be accessed through Unibet, where they can also bet simultaneously on the action.

The USA are considered heavy favorites in the latest odds, as they are provided with odds of 3/4 to win the title. It would be their sixth success if they were to win, but their first since 2014, as the rescheduled edition in 2019 saw Spain achieve success. The Europeans have odds of 8/1, as do Canada, as the next favorite to win.

What stars can be watched?

As alluded to, there will be a host of stars set to take to the court for their respective countries, with many of them having been able to have achieved a global reputation across the sport.

Luka Doncic might just be one of the biggest stars set to take to the courts in Asia as he will represent Slovenia. The Dallas Mavericks guard has been an incredible talent for both club and country, and has never failed to shine when the spotlight has been on him. For instance, he scored 47 points against France at the 2022 EuroBasket competition.

The USA are perhaps the favorites, though, as they will still be able to include a star in Anthony Edwards. Despite not being able to call upon many of the NBA’s top stars, Edwards is available, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first pick of the 2020 NBA Draft has a lot of potential still to show off. The shooting guard recently had his breakout year in the league as he showed how he could combine offense and defense. However, his hunger and ambition makes him potentially dangerous on the court, as he wants to achieve some lofty goals.

Elsewhere, it is worth keeping an eye on France’s Rudy Gobert – a name familiar to those who have followed the NBA as he is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year – while Real Madrid’s Rudy Fernandez is another name to keep an eye on, as the Spanish player will play in his final World Cup and will want to go out by helping his country retain their title.