FIBA World Cup news: The big name NBA stars out to spoil the Boomers’ World Cup success

The Australian Boomers face a stern test to medal at this year’s World Cup, see all the stars they could face in their draw including the NBA’s most improved player and an excelling Laker.

Patty Mills and his Team Australia teammates celebrate with their bronze medals during the Men's Basketball medal ceremony on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 07, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The NBA’s most improved player, a Lakers forward excelling in the playoffs alongside the legendary LeBron James and a veteran guard with over 700 games under his belt.

Get to know Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Rui Hachimura (Japan) and Dennis Schroder (Germany) - the NBA stars taking home millions who stand between the Australian Boomers and a medal at this year’s FIBA World Cup.

Australia is expected to finish first in Group E, but it won’t be easy as Finland, Japan and Germany possess a host of star players in their own right.

If the Boomers finish in the top two in their pool, the men in green and gold face the prospect of taking on the likes of Dallas star Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Minnesota’s French tower Rudy Gobert and Cleveland’s Spanish guard Ricky Rubio.

We take a look at the NBA players in the pool games, their strengths and what the Boomers will need to do to shut them down on the World Cup stage.

Pool round

GERMANY: (11th in the world)

Dennis Schroder (Los Angeles Lakers)

The nine-year NBA veteran has played a key role off the bench to help the Lakers surge into the Western Conference second round.

Schroder is averaging 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and is shooting an impressive 85.7 per cent from the field.

Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers will be one of Germany’s star players at this year’s FIBA World Cup. Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

The 29-year-old is also underrated from the perimeter – including in the clutch - as shown when he nailed a corner three with 1.4 seconds left to give the Lakers a thrilling Play-in victory over Minnesota.

Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)

Wagner is starting to find his feet in the NBA following four seasons. The German big man played a vital role in ensuring the emerging Orlando Magic finished the 2022/23 season with a winning record.

He averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while he shot 84.1 per cent from the field.

Wagner will give the Germans size – 6’11 – to defend the paint and crash the boards.

Daniel Theis (Indiana Pacers)

Theis has experienced a rollercoaster ride in recent times after being traded from Boston to Indiana following a run to the NBA Finals with the Celtics.

He spent the majority of the season as a backup and mentor at the Pacers, but he still possesses the ability to star on the big stage.

Theis showed this when he recorded a season-high 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Japan: (36th in the world)

Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers)

Hachimura is making big headlines in Japan following his starring for the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.

The 6’8 and 104 kilo power forward has enjoyed a stellar maiden stint with the Lakers after being traded to LA from Washington in January.

Hachimura will appear in his first conference semi-final after standing out in Los Angeles’ first-round triumph over Memphis, including a team-high 29 points in a Game 1 victory.

Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers is expected to excel for Japan at this year’s FIBA World Cup. Photo: Harry How/ Getty Images

He averaged 14.5 points and 4.7 rebounds for the series after scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds in Game 6. The performance included a poster dunk that had raucous home crowd in raptures.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham recently praised Hachimura for his playoff performance, calling him “an All-Star type of talent.”

“I don’t even think he’s scratched the surface (of his potential),” Ham told reporters at Lakers practice ahead of Game 4 in Los Angeles.

Yuta Watanabe (Brooklyn Nets)

This Brooklyn Nets bench weapon led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage in the 2023 season, averaging 44.4 per cent.

Japan has long been a potent side from the perimeter and Watanabe will feature prominently at the World Cup.

Finland: (24th in the world)

Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)

Markkanen is currently fulfilling his military service, which is mandated for all Finnish men before they turn 30.

Thankfully for Finland, the Utah Jazz forward recently announced he plans to play at the World Cup after completing his service.

Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz will play for Finland at this year’s FIBA World Cup. Photo: Alex Goodlett/ Getty Images

It’s a major boost for the Finnish given Markkanen’s masterclass season for Utah.

He picked up the NBA’s Most Improved Player honours and became an All-Star after becoming the league’s first player to record over 100 dunks and 200 threes (most by a seven-footer) in a season.

Potential Second Round Opponents:

SLOVENIA:

Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Already considered one of Slovenia’s greatest players of all-time and he’s only four years into his NBA career.

Doncic is a scoring machine and one of the most feared players in world basketball when he is on.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks is keen for World Cup success with Slovenia. Photo: Tim Heitman/ Getty Images

Potential Quarter-final Opponents:

FRANCE:

Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers)

Evan Fournier (New York Knicks)

Victor Wembanyama (Favourite to be No.1 pick in 2023 NBA Draft)

French sensation Victor Wembanyama is tipped to go No.1 in the 2023 NBA draft. Photo: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP.

SPAIN:

Ricky Rubio (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Willy Hernangómez (New Orleans Pelicans)

Usman Garuba (Houston Rockets)

Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies)

BOOMERS ON COLLISION COURSE WITH NBA SUPERSTAR AFTER DREAM DRAW

The Australian Boomers’ FIBA basketball World Cup hopes have received a major boost after being drawn in a favourable pool group.

The Boomers will go in as favourites in Group E alongside Germany, Finland and host nation Japan.

All three pool games will be played in Okinawa, Japan.

Australia also received an advantageous path to the second group phase, should they finish in the top-two.

The Boomers are locked in to face the top two finishers of Group F (Slovenia, Georgia, Venezuela, Cape Verde).

This means Australia could face Luka Doncic’s Slovenia in the second group phase, which would be a replay of the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Boomers’ chances of going one game further than their Olympic efforts have improved. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Slovenia are strong favourites to win Group F and would play the Boomers in a blockbuster second round clash.

The second group phase games will also be in Okinawa, Japan.

A decent draw comes as the Boomers will name a formidable team for the World Cup from August 25 to September 10.

The likes of Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Jock Landale, Josh Green and Joe Ingles all look set to play.

Meanwhile, trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand received a horror draw in Group C alongside the USA and Greece.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the second round.

Originally published as FIBA World Cup news: The big name NBA stars out to spoil the Boomers’ World Cup success