Tournament Favorite – USA Team
As in every year, this year too, the American team is considered the undisputed favorite to win the championship. The Americans have won the last 2 world championships, and the last time they didn't bring home the gold was in 2006 when they were defeated by the surprising Greek team. Although this year most of the brightest NBA stars, such as LeBron James, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and others, will not participate in the tournament, the assembled team is still very strong considering that all players play important roles in the strongest basketball league teams in the world.
Press Interview team coach G. Popovich mentioned that this is a new team that needs to grow together and a good team atmosphere will be very important in achieving the highest results. It is likely that the team will demonstrate more team-oriented play, unlike the previous American all-star teams, but it is expected that most of the attacks will revolve around these players:
K. Walker – Averaging 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the 2018/2019 NBA season, the player is considered the undisputed leader of the team. The 29-year-old player is playing the best basketball of his career, so a good performance in this world championship would further increase his value in the eyes of both experts and fans.
D. Mitchell – Averaging 23.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the Utah Jazz team this season, the 22-year-old player is already considered one of the most talented and promising players in the league. There is no doubt that the tandem of him and K. Walker will be one of the hardest to stop in this championship.
J. Tatum – Averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this season in the Boston Celtics team, the 21-year-old player is also considered to have the potential to one day become a Top 10 player in the entire league. Tatum has all the qualities and talent to do so, and a great step to showcase himself would be a good performance in this world cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlM2W7iQK5k
The USA has so far played only one friendly match. The result was a 90-81 victory over the Spanish team.
Serbia
Probably having assembled one of the strongest lineups in the country's basketball history, Serbia does not hide its big ambitions in this tournament. In 2010, they finished 4th and lost to Lithuania in the battle for 3rd place, but in the 2014 World Championship, they made a strong comeback and managed to reach the championship final. Although they were hopelessly defeated by the American team (which at that time included most of the best NBA players), the young Serbian team's play already left an impression. This championship, the team will enter even stronger, having gained experience and is considered the main candidate to dethrone the USA team.
Four NBA players and a group of well-known and high-performing players in Europe will aim to do what they couldn't in the last championship. The Serbian team has smoothly transitioned through a generational change and currently has a very talented young team, which also has a great atmosphere, allowing them to play better together. Although the main engine of the Serbs is team play, these players should create the game and be the driving force of the team:
Nikola Jokic – Averaging 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, the big man is one of the best ball distributors among big men in the world. Often starting the team's attacks and playing the ball himself, Jokic, nicknamed “Joker” across the Atlantic, leads the league in assists for his position. There is no doubt that the Serbian team's offense will revolve around this player.
Bogdan Bogdanovic – Averaging 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the Sacramento Kings team, the guard is highly valued for his excellent ability to create his own shot and sniper skills. Bogdanovic has also demonstrated cold-bloodedness this season by finishing attacks in the last seconds of the quarter or even the game, showing that decisive moments do not scare him at all.
Nemanja Bjelica – Averaging 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists this season in the Sacramento Kings team, the forward had problems with injuries but has recovered and is now fully ready to help the team achieve the best results. Bjelica is an ideal big man for today's basketball, as he can stretch the floor, run in fast breaks, and play one-on-one.
The Serbian team has already played six friendly matches, all of which were won. The results were a 95-75 victory over Finland, 72-68 and 95-91 victories over Lithuania, an 87-72 victory over Turkey, a 96-64 thrashing of Italy, and an 85-80 overtime victory over Greece.
Greece
Led by the NBA's most valuable player, the Greek team also has very high goals for this championship. The team has assembled one of the best squads in recent years, and good results from this team would surprise no one. The Greeks have a very well-balanced team, whose core has been playing together for a long time, and around it, young and very talented players such as G. Antetokounmpo, I. Papapetrou, G. Papagiannis, and others have been gathered.
This year, unlike in previous years, the Greek team should promote faster basketball, based on utilizing G. Antetokounmpo in fast breaks and one-on-one play. There are concerns in the Greek camp about K. Sloukas' health, as the guard is not yet fully ready to play and it remains a question whether he will recover in time for the start of the championship. The main architects of Greece's victories in this tournament should be:
G. Antetokounmpo – Averaging 27.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, the forward continues to amaze with each passing season. The player, who is improving at a beastly pace, seems to have unlimited potential and improves various elements of his game every year. The only notable flaw in Giannis' game is his unstable and uncertain long-range shot, but the Greek himself mentioned that improving this aspect of his game is one of his priorities heading into the next NBA season.
Nick Calathes – Averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in this EuroLeague season, the guard is considered one of the best guards in Europe. With an average of nearly 10 assists per game, Calathes was the main engine of the Athens Panathinaikos in every match. Calathes has a very high basketball IQ, so even though he does not have a stable and reliable shot, he easily finds ways to be useful to the team in other aspects of the game.
Georgios Printezis – Averaging 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this season, the veteran of the Greek team is still one of the key figures of the team. Mobile, with good court vision, able to play one-on-one and shoot from distance, the big man is one of the best-known European players for a reason. His good play will be very much needed in this championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qZv6JtjcAU
The Greek team, like Serbia, has already played 6 friendly matches. They defeated Iran 82-69 and 88-58, won against Hungary 83-59, thrashed Italy 83-63, won against Turkey 84-70, and in the last match, they lost to Serbia 80-85.
Spain
For a long time, the Spanish national team, which has been the strongest team in Europe, having triumphed in the European Basketball Championships 3 times in the past 10 years, is no longer considered the best team in Europe this year. Although the team certainly does not lack talent, generational change and an aging core affect even the best. In any case, this championship will be a great chance to show the world that Spain has many talented basketball players who can compete with the best teams in the world.
As unfortunate as it is, P. Gasol, who has become a symbol of the team, will not participate in this year's World Cup, which, despite the player's age, is still a significant loss for the team. Another veteran of the team, S. Rodriguez, will also not play in the World Cup, and other high-level players from European clubs will try to replace him. The roles of the team's leaders are predicted for these players:
M. Gasol – 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists this season. The big man is undoubtedly mentioned as a key player for the Spanish national team, on whose shoulders the greatest responsibility will fall. Formerly recognized as the best defensive player of the NBA season, capable of stretching the floor with long-range shots, setting great screens, and an experienced center, he should shine in this tournament as well.
S. Lull – 10.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4 assists. This is the statistic of the Spanish national team veteran this season. Having missed many games due to injury, Lull was just as hard to stop on the court as before the injury. A player who drove opponents to despair with difficult and often unexpected shots should be the main engine of the Spanish national team's offense in this championship, and his duo with M. Gasol will determine a large part of the team's success in this championship.
R. Rubio – 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists this season with the Utah Jazz. Rubio demonstrated solid play in the World Cup preparation games. Rubio has always been known for his excellent court vision, but in recent seasons he has also improved his long-range shooting. Adding his top-level experience in the NBA and consistent representation in the national team, we have a very talented, experienced player on whom a large part of the team's results in this year's championship will also depend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qQ6EVQ85E
The Spanish national team, preparing for the 2019 World Basketball Championship, has already played 3 friendly matches. They defeated the Lithuanian national team 78-70, the Ivory Coast national team 79-62, and lost to the USA team 81-90.
France
Ranked 3rd in the FIBA list, the French national team will enter this World Championship with a very strong but not the strongest lineup. The team, which has gathered 6 players representing NBA clubs and a bunch of well-known faces in Europe, would not surprise anyone by reaching the semifinals or even the final under favorable circumstances and achieving optimal sports form.
Although the era of T. Parker, who was the team's leader for more than a decade, has ended, the team's lineup still looks very formidable, as this team has never lacked talent. The key players for the team in this championship should be:
Rudy Gobert – 15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2 assists per game with the Utah Jazz. The big man is rightly considered one of the best defensive players in the world. Long arms and excellent athletic abilities cause many problems for opponents, and Gobert can also finish attacks and repeat missed shots by teammates in offense.
Evan Fournier – 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists this season. The 26-year-old guard has significantly improved and has high hopes for this championship. Fournier creates shooting opportunities well, has a very accurate shot, and is not afraid to take the initiative in crucial moments of the game. It is very likely that he will be entrusted with the decisive shots in the last seconds of the quarter.
Nicola Batum – 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists. This is the statistic of the 30-year-old French national team veteran this season with the Charlotte Hornets. This club season was one of the worst in Batum's career, largely due to injuries. After recovering from injuries, Batum returned to the lineup but did not manage to regain better form by the end of the season. In any case, this player is one of the most experienced and long-time high-level French basketball players, so his importance to the national team is unquestionable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkFtW_dMdtU
The French team has already played 5 friendly matches. They lost to Turkey 69-74 in the first friendly match marathon, then defeated Tunisia 94-56, Montenegro 80-72, Brazil 86-72, and Argentina 77-58.
Predictions
The final lineups of all teams are not yet clear, but with just over a week left until the start of the championship, it is becoming increasingly obvious that these teams will be the favorites of the tournament. It seems that betting organizers agree with this list. You can see the World Championship offer here.
- USA – The odds for the Americans to win the championship are just 1.47. Betting 100 euros would win you only 47 euros. The Americans have the most talented team in the championship, which is also well-coached, but the lack of experience in international competitions and minimal rule differences between the NBA and European basketball could be a hindrance, so the odds do not fully reflect the risk.
- Serbia – The odds for the Serbian national team to win the championship are 5. Betting 100 euros on Serbia's triumph would win you 400. The Serbian national team does not lack talent, and the team has been playing together for a long time and should be well-prepared for this championship. It is definitely worth risking the team's victory in this championship.
- Greece – The odds for Greece to win the tournament are 11. This means that betting 100 euros could win you 1000. The Greek national team also has a strong core and a very talented team, led by the NBA MVP, but it is likely that, as strange as it may sound, it will be harder to play here than in the NBA. Antetokounmpo does not have a stable long-range shot, and the physical basketball promoted by European teams is not favorable for a player who bases his game on drives. The Greek national team will go far, but it is hard to see them winning this year.
- Spain – The odds for Spain's triumph in the championship are 19. Spain's success in the tournament will largely depend on the Rubio and Gasol tandem, how well it works together, and the involvement of supporting players. You can never underestimate the Spanish team, but this year they no longer look like such a dominant force, and it is likely that the team will not reach the highest places.
- France – The odds for France to win the championship are 25. France is the dark horse of this five, as they have many NBA-level talents and an athletic team that will be very difficult for everyone to compete with. With a good day for Fournier and Batum, and a strong pillar under the basket in R. Gobert, this team can surprise and even reach the final.
