SAPPORO, Japan, 19 August 2006 — Nearly 50 players from the National Basketball Association, about one of every six participants, will take the court for their homelands when the FIBA World Championships begin today.
China’s Yao Ming, Argentina’s Manu Ginobili, Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol of Spain, France’s Boris Diaw and a 12-man US roster top global greats vying for the crown, which also conveys a 2008 Beijing Olympics berth.
A field of 24 teams will play five games each over six days in the opening round-robin to decide 16 qualifiers for the knockout stages, the top four from each of four groups advancing.
Today’s opening round-robin matches in Group D send the Americans against Puerto Rico, China against Italy and Slovenia against Senegal.Reigning Olympic champion Argentina and France meet in Group A’s top game. Two-time defending champion Serbia and Montenegro, a record five-time world champion, will open against Nigeria and Lebanon will face Venezuela.
Australia and Brazil meet to open Group C, which also has Lithuania playing Turkey and Eurobasket 2005 winner Greece against Qatar, while Group B sees the hosts meet Germany while Angola play Panama and the Spaniards meet New Zealand.
“We need to just be aggressive, play hard and you have to understand to some of these players this is their NBA championship, this is their ultimate goal — to win these games,” US center Elton Brand said.
“This is as important as any game they have played, so we have to take it as that also.” San Antonio Spurs star Ginobili, who missed the 2002 worlds with an injury, is a prime example of the NBA’s evolution from a nearly all-American league to one with 40 percent talent from outside US borders.
“Many of us are playing with them (in the NBA) every single day so we’re getting closer,” Ginobili said. “You’re not going to see a US team, even though they are very good, beating everyone by 30. That’s part of the past.”
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony will ignite a US lineup trying to return the Americans to the top with speed, defense and teamwork after they lost three times and were a disappointing third at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
“It’s an honor to be part of this once again,” said Anthony, a 2004 Olympian like James. “It’s like a fresh start, a second chance. You don’t get too many second chances in life and I want to take full advantage of this one.”
US coach Mike Krzyzewski, a US college coaching legend at Duke University, marvels at the difference between NBA talent and other competitors.
“In the NBA, they take basketball to a whole other level, and I don’t think people get that impression,” Krzyzewski said. “They’re just so talented that they make some things look easy.” France and Slovenia will have a handful of NBA players each, although the loss of Tony Parker to a broken right finger announced yesterday will be a major blow to French title hopes.
Argentina and Spain have four NBA players in their lineups and NBA players such as Yao, Nowitzki, Gasol and Puerto Rico’s Carlos Arroyo often spark top efforts by teammates.
“I’m confident we can make at least the last 16,” Yao said after China’s workout yesterday.
Argentina and the Serbians have struggled in tune-up games, but exhibitions can be dubious indicators. Teams often try to learn about rivals while saving their best efforts for when it matters most. “There are some teams that are stronger than others but anyone can give you a surprise because there are a lot of talented teams and you have to compete really hard, play really hard and concentrate to beat them,” Gasol said. “You have to earn a seat and you can only do it at the end of the championship when you see where you end up as a team.”
