Basketball: Rising stars to watch at 2023 FIBA World Cup
Olympics.com picks the young basketball stars who could add value to their stock at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, from 25 August to 10 September.
Basketball
When it comes to sporting opportunities it doesn’t get much bigger than the world stage.
And for young basketball stars looking to make an impression, the 2023 FIBA World Cup, beginning on 25 August, co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, will be the perfect place to do just that.
A total of 32 teams will compete in the tournament meaning there will be fresh talent in abundance when the tournament gets underway.
Some have already started to make their mark in the world’s top leagues while others will no doubt grab the attention of fans with their potential and guile.
Olympics.com has selected eight to keep an eye out for at this year’s World Cup.
Josh Giddey in action for the Boomers against Venezuela
Josh Giddey, 20 - Australia
The Australian Boomers are already a team on everyone’s radar owing to the impressive depth of their roster.
With NBA veterans and court legends like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles on the side, the Aussies have bags of experience heading into the 2023 World Cup.
But they also have a nice blend of youth, spearheaded by 20-year-old Josh Giddey.
Having just completed his sophomore year in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey is showing all the signs that he has what it takes to be a top international basketball player: court vision, possibility and an IQ that helps him bring out the best in his teammates.
Juan Nunez, 19 - Spain
Called into the defending world champions’ squad after the late withdrawal of Ricky Rubio, 19-year-old Juan Nunez is a future star to watch.
Previously of Real Madrid before moving to Ulm, Nunez has stepped into Rubio’s big shoes relatively easily; standing fall for Spain, particularly in their warm-up game against the USA in Malaga.
While it wasn’t a perfect performance, the young point guard showed why he was picked as the youngest ever player to claim a FIBA U20 European Championship MVP honour back in June.
He passes the ball well, a trait of success in all winning Spain sides and knows how to set up up buckets.
Khaman Maluach, 16 - South Sudan
Though he may be just 16 years old, South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach is a player not to be underestimated.
Standing at 2.16m, the teen was named Basketball Without Borders Africa MVP earlier this month, and many are tipping him to a future NBA prospect owing to his prodigious talents and impressive size.
There are reports that colleges in the US have already expressed an interest in Maluach and the intrigue around him could well grow at the World Cup where South Sudan will make its tournament debut.
Jean Montero will look to make his mark in a hungry Dominican Republic side including NBA stars
Jean Montero, 19 - Dominican Republic
The hype around Dominican Repuplic’s Jean Montero is arguably already in place with the 19-year-old playing such an instrumental role in qualifying his country for the World Cup.
Down 61-44 against Argentina in the third quarter in a game that, if they would win, would qualify the Dominicans for the World Cup, it was Montero’s last-quarter heroics that ultimately proved the difference.
With the country’s biggest stars out of action, the teen took it upon himself to be the point of difference and fired 13 points in the last 10 minutes to secure his country a place in the tournament.
In 2019 he averaged 30.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in the FIBA U16 Americas Championships and now, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Lester Quinones by his side, Montero has the capability to shine once again.
Tominaga Keisei, 22 - Japan
Already a household name in his native Japan, and in Nebraska where he plays college ball, Tominaga will be the hope of the co-hosts when the World Cup gets underway.
The prized shooter, known as the ‘Japanese Steph Curry’ for his prolific scoring abilities, has already flashed his well-hyped potential in Japan’s tuneup games.
In friendlies against France and Angola, he produced consecutive 20-point games in just more than 20 minutes.
If Akatsuki Five can capitalise on the talents of Tominaga - already a 3x3 basketball Olympian - then they could well uncover unexpected success.
And for Tominaga, if he can shine on the world stage, then his NBA ambitions might well become reality.
Matteo Spagnolo, 20 - Italy
Italy, one of the dark horses for the World Cup, can boast of having one of the best young talents in the international game with Matteo Spagnolo on their side.
Picked late in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Spagnolo has, up to now, been plying his trade in Europe, recently signing a three-year deal with ALBA Berlin.
Promisingly for the Azzurri, Spagnolo was named MVP after a warm-up tournament ahead of the World Cup and the Italians will go into the competition unbeaten having won all of their preparation matches.
Enrique Medina, 19 - Venezuela
Sure to make a statement at this year’s World Cup will be 19-year-old Enrique Medina.
The 2.18m-tall Venezuelan has spent the bulk of his fledgling career in Argentina and more recently, has been at the NBA Global Academy in Australia, where he has been honing his talent.
The tall timber has his sights on being the next big centre for Venezuela who are attempting to improve on their 14th place finish from 2019.
Nikola Jovic in action for his NBA franchise, the Miami Heat
Nikola Jovic, 20 - Serbia
Serbia, one of the teams favoured to do well at the World Cup even without superstar Nikola Jokic, will have plenty still to be excited about with Nikola Jovic.
For those familiar with the NBA, Jovic of the Miami Heat, though young, has already got to experience the very best of basketball having recently been through an NBA Finals.
Though he didn’t get many minutes the British-born rising star will be looking to build his case at the World Cup, and with Serbia packing lots of stars, he will have the guidance he needs to do just that.