The tangible enthusiasm for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 continues to build, enthralling basketball fans worldwide as they anticipate this year’s most fabulous international basketball extravaganza.
We’ve exhaustively cataloged the first portion of our Top 30 prodigies to watch during this year’s tournament (listed from 30 to 21). You may find the previously stated list here.
However, before we get into the next ten, it’s worth noting that certain players excel when representing their home countries. At the same time, a slew of other luminaries are forced to prove their worth amongst the crème de la crème of the World Cup domain.
Willy HernanGomez (Spain)
THE CENTRAL PILLAR
Birthday: May 27, 1994 (29 years old)
Height: 209cm / 6’10”
Barcelona (Spain) is the club’s affiliation.
The Hernangomez twins have filled the enormous hole left by the Gasol dynasty with skill. The reigning FIBA EuroBasket 2022 MVP has received praise from several competitions, with his role consistently growing with time.
Maintaining the same level of performance against the world’s finest will be a complex challenge.
Vucevic, Nikola (Montenegro)
PIVOT IN THE CENTER
Birthday: October 24, 1990 (32 years old)
Height: 213cm / 7’0″
Club Membership: Chicago Bulls (USA)
The NBA All-Star selection in 2019 and 2021 has a long history of explosive scoring from all areas of the court. Vucevic also has a respectable rebounding ability.
Concurrently, Montenegro has a plethora of alternatives for post-up plays, with Bojan Dubljevic close to Vucevic.
Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania)
THE CENTRAL ANCHOR
Birthday: May 6, 1992 (31 years old)
Height: 211cm/6’11”
New Orleans Pelicans (United States)
When confronted with JV, it is prudent to put on protective clothing! The strong Lithuanian is the only player with a double-double average in both previous FIBA EuroBasket seasons.
His challenging post-up approach has been matched with a delicate mid-range touch, a feature that has yet to be correctly highlighted during his time in Lithuania.
Barrett, RJ (Canada)
PROLIFIC SHOOTING DEFENSE
Date of Birth: June 14, 2000 (age 23)
Height: 195cm/6’5″
Club Membership: New York Knicks (USA)
RJ Barrett has consistently excelled at every level, from the FIBA Youth Championships to the grandeur of the NBA. Adversaries are likely still nursing physical injuries from the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017, when Barrett averaged 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, capturing the coveted MVP award.
His ability to penetrate the paint and induce fouls might be crucial for the Canadian contingent.
Fournier, Evan (France)
ADVANCED SHOOTING GUARD
Birthday: October 29, 1992 (30 years old)
Height: 199cm / 6’6″
Club Membership: New York Knicks (USA)
Evan Fournier will arrive in Jakarta surrounded by a slew of tough teammates, armed with his incredible 19.8 points per game from the previous FIBA World Cup and an insatiable desire for that elusive Gold medal.
There is no chance that his recent NBA season has depleted the reservoir of self-assurance he wears when he represents Les Bleus. It’s worth mentioning that he just scored 29 points against the Australian team.
Shengelia, Torknike (Georgia)
VERSATILE FORWARD POWER
Birthday: October 5, 1991 (31 years old)
Height: 207cm/6’9″
Virtus Bologna (Italy) is the club’s affiliation.
Following a heartbreaking shoulder injury that prevented Toko from competing in FIBA EuroBasket 2022, he is set to make his FIBA World Cup debut alongside his Georgian teammates.
Under the surface of his vast scoring repertoire, Shengelia has the potential to serve as a superb point forward for his national ensemble.
Wagner, Franz (Germany)
FORWARD ADROIT SMALL
Date of Birth: August 27, 2001 (age 22)
Height: 208cm/6’10”
Orlando Magic (USA) is the club’s affiliation.
Wagner’s flawless performance in his first FIBA EuroBasket campaign continues to astonish us. The agile attacker, who helped Germany win bronze medals with 15.2 points per game, has improved his creativity.
Now a year wiser, his excursions toward the hoop provide an even more daunting spectacle for opponents.
Gobert, Rudy (France)
CENTRAL SENSOR
Birthday: June 26, 1992 (31 years old)
Height: 215cm / 7’1″
Minnesota Timberwolves (USA) is the club’s affiliation.
Entering Rudy’s kingdom beneath the basket is a dangerous undertaking! During two World Cup podium finishes, Gobert has bolstered France’s defense. Suppressing his rebounding supremacy has proven challenging, and tales about his freshly acquired three-point proficiency abound.
The budding talents will face even more significant challenges when they square up against The Stifle Tower’s intimidating presence.
Fontecchio Simone (Italy)
SMALL FORWARD ADEPT
Date of Birth: December 9, 1995 (age 27)
Height: 203cm/6’8″
Utah Jazz (USA) is the club’s affiliation.
Gianmarco Pozzecco’s impassioned eruptions are inextricably linked with the beautiful elegance of Simone Fontecchio’s velvety-smooth touch.
The forward proved his worth as a top-ten scorer in FIBA EuroBasket 2022, a performance he repeated at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Italy will be safe whenever Fontecchio fires another shot.
Brandon Ingram (United States)
SMALL FORWARD VARIABLE
Date of Birth: September 2, 1997 (age 25)
Height: 203cm/6’8″
New Orleans Pelicans (United States)
In the waning minutes of the shot clock, opponents may mistakenly feel they have covered all bases, only to be hit with the bitter insight that the USA roster has a slight forward capable of shooting, scoring, and conjuring plays out of thin air.
Brandon Ingram personifies the possibility of a 20-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist outburst, a looming potential that opponents may be helpless to stop.
