The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is here, bringing together some of the world's best hoopers to compete on the international stage.
As it stands, there are currently 60 players on NBA rosters set to compete in the tournament, which tips off on Aug. 25, alongside the best players from Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and South America.
At the end of the World Cup, FIBA will award its All-Star Five for the best players at the tournament. Before we get there, let's take a look at the best players at each position.
For this exercise, we're only going to use one player from each country represented at the tournament, split into guards, forwards and a center.
Guard: Luka Doncic, Slovenia
There's no question Luka Doncic is the best player at the World Cup.
His superb play nearly single-handedly dragged Slovenia to a bronze medal in Tokyo — if not for the heroics of Australia's Patty Mills — and Doncic has only gotten better since then.
Doncic recorded not one, but two triple-doubles in Slovenia's tune-up games ahead of this year's World Cup. He looks like he's in mid-season form.
Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada
After a disappointing 21st-place finish at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Canada comes into this tournament as one of the favorites.
A big reason why is the presence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Coming off an All-NBA First Team and All-Star season for the Thunder, there are few guards as offensively talented as SGA at the World Cup. With Jamal Murray missing the tournament, expect Canada to lean on Gilgeous-Alexander's offense, especially late in games, after he ranked ninth in the NBA in total clutch points last season.
Honorable mention: Josh Giddey (Australia), Jalen Brunson (USA), Tyrese Haliburton (USA), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia), Patty Mills (Australia), Jordan Clarkson (Philippines), Dennis Schroder (Germany)
Dre and Bauky take a look at the FIBA World Cup contenders and they've found some value! 🏀 pic.twitter.com/m7kAnoQGI1
— TAB (@tabcomau) August 24, 2023
Forward: Anthony Edwards, USA
On a youthful United States squad, the question of who will be "the guy" appears to have already been answered with the Timberwolves high-flyer stamping his authority in the red, white, and blue.
In the past, we've seen countless players from Team USA use an international tournament as a springboard to a breakout NBA season. Edwards is on track to follow suit, emerging as Team USA's leading man throughout their exhibition games, capping things off with a 34-point outing against Germany.
"He's unquestionably the guy," coach Steve Kerr said after the game, via ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "You can see he knows it. But now the team knows it, and I think the fans see it. ... He genuinely believes he's the best player in the gym every single night. And he's such a dynamic young player. I think he's taking a leap."
Ant-Man floats to the rim
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 20, 2023
📺 FOX | 🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/6vMUchRNT4
Edwards is arguably the most athletic player in the tournament. With his combination of size and scoring, the 22-year-old is sure to have his fingerprints all over the USA's offense.
MORE: Edwards adding Michael Jordan's signature shot makes Team USA star unguardable
Forward: Lauri Markkanen, Finland
Much of Finland's recent success has come due to the play of Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who spearheaded its charge into the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, following an impressive run to the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2022.
Coming off a breakout 2022-23 NBA season, which saw him earn his first All-Star selection and win the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award, Markkanen averaged a career-high in points with 25.6 per game, along with 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Markkanen took his game to a new level last season, becoming a well-rounded scorer as he improved his 3-point shooting to 39.1 percent on 7.7 attempts per game.
As Finland hopes to secure its spot in the 2024 Olympics, they will ultimately go as far as Markkanen takes them.
Honorable mention: Brandon Ingram (USA), Franz Wagner (Germany), Paolo Banchero (USA), Santi Aldama (Spain)
Center: Rudy Gobert, France
Hear me out: FIBA Gobert is different.
There's no shortage of talented big men at the World Cup, including Gobert's NBA teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, USA's Jaren Jackson Jr., Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas, and Montenegro's Nikola Vucevic, but I'll take Gobert in a France jersey over everyone.
The FIBA rules play right into the big man's strengths, including the live rim and the lack of defensive three-second rules, making the 7-1 Frenchman a monster in international play.
Honorable mention: Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic), Jaren Jackson Jr. (USA), Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania), Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
Odds to win 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Despite finishing seventh at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, the United States enters the tournament as heavy favorites to take home gold, with a youthful squad taking the floor.
| Team | Odds |
| USA | $1.85 |
| Canada | $8 |
| France | $10 |
| Australia | $11 |
| Serbia | $13 |
| Spain | $13 |
| Slovenia | $17 |
| Germany | $21 |
| Greece | $26 |
| Italy | $41 |
| Lithuania | $51 |
| Brazil | $67 |
| Dominican Republic | $81 |
| Latvia | $151 |
| Finland | $151 |
| Venezuela | $251 |
| South Sudan | $251 |
| Puerto Rico | $251 |
| New Zealand | $251 |
| Montenegro | $251 |
| China | $251 |
