FIBA Basketball World Cup legends: six icons in 2023 edition / News - Basketnews.com
Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Rudy Fernandez, Marcelinho Huertas, Hamed Haddadi, and Leonel Paulo return for another run in FIBA World Cup.
Credit: AFP – Scanpix Credit AFP – ScanpixFIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 games are set to kick off on Friday. Despite initial disappointment stemming from the absence of some of the brightest stars, there's excitement building around the presence of true legends from the FIBA and Olympic basketball scenes in Asia.
Patty Mills
Position:PGAge:35Height:183 cmWeight:82 kgBirth place:AustraliaProfileNewsStatisticsRemember the Olympics in Beijing? How about the World Championship that took place in Japan back in 2006?
If you do, then get ready for a wave of nostalgia, as the upcoming World Cup will feature six players who first graced the world stage a minimum of 15 years ago -- either at the World Championships or the Olympic Games, with their journey starting from the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
BasketNews' staff writer Jonas Leksas takes us on a trip down memory lane as he profiles six basketball legends who are set to grace the World Cup courts in Japan, Indonesia, and the Phillippines.
*This list omits players who were part of FIBA EuroBasket 2007 games or earlier continental championships but didn't participate in the major FIBA tournaments in 2006 or 2008. Among these players are Zaid Abbas (Jordan), Luigi Datome (Italy), Giorgi Tsintsadzde (Georgia), Betinho Gomes (Cape Verde), and Solo Diabate (Cote d'Ivoire).
Patty Mills
Credit fiba.basketballA real FIBA and Olympic basketball legend. Mills may have a bad season and health problems, but you always know -- when it's time for the national team, he will shine in all his beauty.
Mills, now 35 years old, made his debut for the men's national team in 2007 during the continental championship. In the Beijing Olympics, he averaged 14.3 points per game.
Mills was drafted as the 55th pick in the 2009 NBA draft, a relatively late selection. However, his undeniable love for the game propelled him to prove that his rightful place was among the elite in the world's strongest basketball league.
In 2014, he became an NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and has remained in the league to this day.
While Mills stands as a role player in the NBA, his dominance becomes phenomenal when he's on the court for the Boomers.
Since 2012, he has participated in four major FIBA tournaments -- the Olympics and the World Cup -- with an average scoring performance of no less than 21.2 points in each championship.
As we approach the World Cup, Mills is ready to steal the spotlight, despite a season plagued by health issues.
Mills finally won his long-awaited medal with Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. With this World Cup and the next year's Paris Olympics, we might be witnessing the final chapters of his illustrious journey in international basketball.
It's hard to imagine a basketball fan who doesn't admire Mills in tournaments like these. However, this might be one of the last chances to do so.
Joe Ingles
Credit FIBAWhen you mention Mills, it's impossible to leave out Ingles. Since the Beijing Olympics, they've formed an inseparable duo that has elevated Australia to an elite level over the years.
Ingles' path to his glorious career took a different trajectory than Mills'. Unlike Mills, he didn't emerge as a prodigious talent in his youth and had to carve out his journey through European basketball.
The forward, who ventured from Australia to Europe, rubbed his skills on Old Continent for five years. While he may not have topped the charts in terms of statistics, his versatility as a 2.06-meter (6 ft 9 in) forward caught the attention of NBA scouts.
Adaptable across four positions, Ingles embodies the dream player for any coach. His contributions span from anchoring the defense to orchestrating offensive plays -- he's the glue guy that ties the whole team. This quality has also granted him a lengthy career with the Utah Jazz.
In the realm of national team basketball, Ingles symbolizes consistency. He executes the asked tasks, and his tough character on the court has etched a distinct identity for the Australian national team in FIBA tournaments throughout the last decade.
Last season, he returned to the NBA court after a severe ACL injury. Now, he appears poised for another strong run with the national team.
As one of the prominent faces of the Boomers' squad over the past decade, Ingles is undoubtedly aging. This tournament might be one of his final, if not the final, summer competitions.
Let's relish every moment of it. Players who combine such tenacity and charisma are truly rare to come by.
Leonel Paulo
Credit AFP – ScanpixHe is definitely the least-known name on this list, but certainly no less of a legend in his own country than the others.
The 37-year-old forward debuted for Angola in 2007, followed by the Beijing Olympics.
The Beijing Olympic Games are the only ones on Paulo's account, and this World Cup will be the third one in his career for the Angolan NT.
Up until 2022, the national team captain solely played in Angola. However, last year marked his maiden season abroad. In the Portuguese league, he averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds.
An astounding detail about Paulo is that he dedicated a staggering 14 seasons to a single Angolan club, albeit with intermittent breaks. In 2015, he secured the domestic league's MVP title. That underscores the immense significance he holds in the annals of Angolan basketball.
During the last World Cup, Paulo emerged as one of the most productive players on his national team, boasting an average of 8.4 points per game.
However, it wasn't just his performance that left a lasting memory. In an altercation with Italy's Alessandro Gentile, the Angolan veteran mirrored the iconic moment of Zinedine Zidane's legendary headbutt.
Rudy Fernandez
Credit FIBAFernandez's journey with the Spanish national team started in FIBA EuroBasket 2005. Astonishingly, the only summer he skipped since then was in 2017.
As you contemplate when this remarkable career might draw to a close, the Spanish legend consistently defies expectations.
Even with the challenges posed by back issues in the past, the 38-year-old Rudy remains an inspiring figure. Following triumphs at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and the 2022-23 EuroLeague, he was among the first to confirm his participation in this year's World Cup.
While Fernandez's athleticism has undergone changes due to his history of back troubles, his exceptional basketball IQ and winning mindset continue to make him an invaluable asset to the storied Spanish squad.
Finding comparable credentials among other players is nearly impossible -- Fernandez is poised to emerge as the most decorated player in the upcoming championship.
With two World Cup titles, four gold medals at EuroBaskets, a pair of silvers and a bronze from the Olympics, as well as another silver and bronze each from European competitions, his achievements are truly staggering.
Although we can't predict Rudy's career trajectory, one thing remains clear -- much like tennis icon Rafael Nadal, who coincidentally shares the same birthplace of Mallorca, Fernandez finds joy in the game and isn't ready to step away just yet.
The timeline for this journey's conclusion remains uncertain. Whether you love or hate Rudy, it doesn't matter. As long as we can witness a veteran of his caliber in the realm of FIBA basketball, let's treasure every minute he spends on the court.
And remember, as long as players like Fernandez and Sergio Llull are playing, underestimating Spain would be a massive error.
Marcelinho Huertas
Credit AFP – ScanpixLet's take a moment to honor the epitome of experience among the most experienced ones. Huertas will be the oldest player in the forthcoming World Cup and the second oldest in the tournament's history, just behind the Angolan legend Eduardo Mingas.
It's hard to believe that this iconic Brazilian point guard celebrated his 40th birthday in May. These numbers are mind-boggling, especially when you witness the level at which Huertas continues to perform.
Back in 2005, this Brazilian veteran clinched the FIBA AmeriCup. The subsequent year, he graced the stage at the World Championship hosted in Japan, sharing the court with greats such as Leandro Barbosa, Marcelinho Machado, and Tiago Splitter, among other legendary Brazilian basketball figures.
As the years passed, Huertas was the one who endured.
But don't mistake Huertas for just a presence on the court. He recently secured the Basketball Champions League (BCL) title with Lenovo Tenerife, earning the Finals MVP award. Remarkably, he improved statistically this year, averaging 12.9 points and 6.8 rebounds.
As a new generation takes its place within the Brazilian national team, one fact remains undeniable: Marcelinho will not only serve as a mentor at the World Cup, but his role on the court will remain pivotal.
Huertas has never been a standout in terms of physical attributes. Instead, his arsenal thrives within his tremendous basketball IQ. He even received an invitation from the Los Angeles Lakers after he crossed the 30-year threshold.
Huertas is the embodiment of Brazil's Sarunas Jasikevicius, Serbia's Milos Teodosic, or Argentina's Pablo Prigioni.
Like the guards mentioned above, Huertas didn't attain an NBA path due to specific physical traits.
Nonetheless, they all share a paramount attribute in basketball -- their minds. So, prepare your popcorn and anticipate Marcelinho's coming basketball masterpieces on the Asian stage.
Hamed Haddadi
Credit FIBAIran's best basketball player of all time. The first Iranian in the NBA.
Back in 2004, Haddadi took his initial steps onto the court for the men's national team, but it was in 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, that his exceptional performance not only garnered attention but also earned him the tournament leader status in blocks and rebounds.
As time progressed, Haddadi's leadership prowess flourished. He played a pivotal role in shaping his team into the pride of Asia, drawing parallels to the notable success of Serbian basketball.
One of the big "What ifs?" after his career is not coming to play in Europe. At different times, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were interested in Haddadi's services, but the Iranian first went to the NBA, and after five seasons there, he chose to dominate in Asia.
Now, the 38-year-old center may be coming to his last dance on the national team, and the preparation was not easy for him. Haddadi only joined the squad in August, and until then, he was rehabilitating from Achilles tendon surgery.
No doubts remain when Haddadi stands tall on the court. His presence not only makes him the most popular but also the most crucial player for Iran.
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