Top players who will miss FIBA World Cup 2023
The quadrennial tournament will feature some of the biggest names in basketball, but the confirmed list of top players who won't be playing in Asia is equally impactful.
Basketball
The men's FIBA World Cup 2023 tips-off on 25 August, and while some of the biggest names in basketball are preparing to compete in the tournament, the list of top players who will be missing due to rest or injury continues to grow.
Olympics.com is keeping track of the biggest names who have withdrawn from the competition, which you can check out below.
Which players will miss the FIBA World Cup 2023?
Australia: Ben Simmons | Guard/Forward | Brooklyn Nets (NBA)
Simmons hasn't played for the Boomers since the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, and despite Australia national head coach Brian Goorjian indicating in May that there was hope for Simmons to join their training camp in August, Simmons and the Nets made a decision in late July that he would continue his rehabilitation from a lingering back injury and therefore miss the World Cup.
Canada: Jamal Murray | Guard | Denver Nuggets (NBA)
Murray returned to the court in 2022 after missing 18 months with a torn ACL, and, alongside Nikola Jokic, helped propel the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA title in franchise history. On 17 August, Canada Basketball announced that Murray would miss the World Cup. In a statement, Murray said:
“When I came into training camp, I wanted to see how my body would respond after a long and demanding season and if I would be physically able to compete at the highest level required for the World Cup.
“In consultation with medical staff and the team, it is clear that additional recovery is required, and I have made the difficult decision to not participate in the tournament. It’s still a dream of mine to represent Canada at the Olympics, and I will support the team every step of the way as they pursue this goal.”
France: Victor Wembanyama | Center | San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama, the No.1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, decided to withdraw his name from contention for the French national team in early August. In an interview with L'Equipe, the 19-year-old said: “I’ve decided to dedicate this summer to preparing my body for the many events awaiting it in the coming years. This meant skipping the World Cup. It was a difficult decision, and one that required the advice of many people. But I sincerely believe it’s the best one for the French team and myself.
"It would not be realistic in terms of development and not careful in terms of health," he added. "I hope people will understand. It's frustrating for me too. The France team is still my focus. I want to win as many titles as possible with it. But I think it's a necessary sacrifice."
Greece: Giannis Antetokounmpo | Forward | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
Giannis Antetokounmpo won't be competing at FIBA World Cup 2023, in a big blow to Greece's hopes.
"After months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff it is clear that i am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate," the two-time NBA MVP shared on social media on Friday (11 August), ruling himself out of the tournament.
He added: "My personal, and our ultimate team goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics games [sic] and it will be an honor to represent my National Team next year."
Japan: Rui Hachimura | Forward | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Japan, one of the three host nations for the World Cup, suffered a big blow to their podium hopes when star forward Rui Hachimura announced he would not be participating on 27 June.
"I have decided to skip this year's FIBA World Cup. All apologies for the disappointing news to the fans who were looking forward to the World Cup," Hachimura said in a statement via the JBA.
"It was a very difficult decision but after the season and a long play-offs, and with my first free agency ahead of me, I made this decision in the best interests of my future NBA career. This summer, I hope to focus on the training and getting my body ready for next season.
"I want to thank everyone at the JBA and coach Tom Hovasse for their understanding. I really appreciate it. I wish the team nothing but success and will be their biggest fan."
Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis | Forward/Center | Boston Celtics (NBA)
Latvia are set to make their debut at the FIBA World Cup this August, but will be without their best player after Porzingis announced he will miss the tournament because of a lingering plantar fasciitis issue he continues to deal with in his foot.
Lithuania: Domantas Sabonis | Forward/Center | Sacramento Kings (NBA)
In early July Lithuania head coach Kazys Maksvytis confirmed that Kings All-Star Sabonis underwent surgery to repair a right thumb injury sustained last December, and will therefore miss the World Cup.
"The main reasons behind Domantas availability this summer was his contract and health," Maksvytis said in a press conference. "He tried to recover without the surgery, but it didn't work, and he lost time. After the surgery, everything takes longer."
"He apologised for not coming and promised to be available next summer," Maksvytis added.
Serbia: Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets (NBA)
After a gruelling NBA campaign which culminated in winning an NBA title (and Finals MVP award), Jokic has made the decision not to play in the World Cup this summer.
"With Jokic, we had several conversations, and I must say they were some of the best conversations I've had with players who couldn't make it to the roster," Serbia's head coach Svetislav Pesic said, according to MozzartSport. "He's physically and mentally exhausted, not feeling ready to take responsibility at the moment."
Spain: Ricky Rubio | Guard | Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Ricky Rubio of Spain in action during the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Spain's basketball star Ricky Rubio will miss this summer's FIBA World Cup to focus on his mental health.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Spanish national team point guard has announced on Saturday (5 August) that he is taking an indefinite break from professional basketball.
"I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health. I want to thank all the support I have received from the (Spanish national team to understand my decision," Rubio said in a statement of the Spanish Basketball Federation. "Today #family makes more sense than ever. Thank you. I would ask that my privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time is right."
Honorable mentions who will also miss the World Cup
- Goran Dragic (Slovenia)
- Vlatko Cancar (Slovenia)
- Jose Alvarado (Puerto Rico)
- Maxi Kleber (Germany)
- Lorenzo Brown (Spain)
- Vasilije Micic (Serbia)
- Nemanja Nedovic (Serbia)
- Aleksej Pokusevski (Serbia)
- Nemanja Bjelica (Serbia)
- Boban Marjanovic (Serbia)
- Vladimir Lucic (Serbia)
- Nikola Kalinic (Serbia)
- Kostas Sloukas (Greece)
- Tyler Dorsey (Greece)
- Nick Calathes (Greece)
- Juan Toscano-Anderson (Mexico)
- Frank Ntilikina (France)
- Rodrigue Beaubois (France)
- Killian Hayes (France)
- Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
- Darius Thompson (Italy)
- Nico Mannion (Italy)
- Cory Joseph (Canada)
- Trey Lyles (Canada)
- Marius Grigonis (Lithuania)
- Chris Duarte (Dominican Republic)
- Al Horford (Dominican Republic)