FIBA Basketball World Cup player rankings 2023: Luka Doncic leads list of stars at tournament

With all of the pre-tournament games completed, it's finally time for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Spain will defend its crown against several talented contenders after winning the title in 2019. Despite the loss of a few stars, including two-time NBA MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, this World Cup will feature terrific players chasing down the gold medal.

With that in mind, The Sporting News' global panel of writers decided to rank the top 15 players that will take the floor for this edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Players received points based on their position (15 points for first place, 14 points for second place and so on). Players were viewed through a FIBA perspective, meaning they were ranked based on how they could perform in this specific setting rather than their NBA or individual skill sets.

Here is TSN's list of the best players at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

MORE: The hardest groups in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, ranked

FIBA Basketball World Cup Player Rankings 2023

1. Luka Doncic, Slovenia

There is no doubt about it — Doncic is the best player in this World Cup. With Antetokounmpo and Jokic both unavailable, there was no one to take first-place votes away from him.

Doncic carries a heavy offensive load for the Mavericks, but his usage is even higher for Slovenia. Look no further than his incredible 47-point performance against France at last year's EuroBasket competition.

The Slovenians can't match the overall talent of other teams, but they will have a lot of "Luka Magic" on their side.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada

Canada has not been to an Olympic Games since 2000 or finished in the top eight of the World Cup since 1994. That could change in 2023 with Gilgeous-Alexander running the offense.

An All-NBA First Team selection this past season, Gilgeous-Alexander is an unstoppable force when he attacks the basket. The Thunder guard is capable of going one-on-one against any defender and getting a bucket. He is a great candidate to lead the tournament in points.

3. Lauri Markkanen, Finland

Markkanen is one of the most difficult defensive assignments in this ​​tournament. His mix of size, shooting and athleticism make him a tremendous offensive weapon. At EuroBasket 2022, he averaged nearly 28 points per game.

Finland will lean heavily on Markkanen in the group stage, as it has to face Australia, Germany and Japan. If Finland wants to escape that round, Markkanen will have to produce big numbers on a nightly basis.

4. Anthony Edwards, USA

Despite the fact that he is only 22 years old, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has said that Edwards is "unquestionably the guy." In the squad's exhibition games, Edwards showed that he is ready to use this Team USA experience to propel him to a new level of stardom.

The Americans should be able to easily move through Group C, which includes Greece, Jordan and New Zealand. There will be tougher tests down the road, though, and Team USA will need Edwards to step up in big moments.

5. Jalen Brunson, USA

Rounding out the top five of these rankings is Brunson, who has established himself not only as the starting point guard for Team USA, but also as a key leader for a young roster.

Brunson's abilities should fit very well within the FIBA game. He is capable of producing points and assists with the ball in his hands, but he understands that he doesn't need to dominate possessions with so much talent around him.

Ranking the top 15 players at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Here are the full voting results from our global panel of writers: