Top 10 stars returning to their national team at the World Cup

MIES (Switzerland) – The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be highlighted by many stars returning to their national teams after missing at least the teams’ competitions last summer – if not longer. Here are 10 of the biggest names who will be coming back in Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. 

10 – Silvio Sousa – Angola

Sousa is one of Angola’s best players but he has not played for the national team since the FIBA AfroBasket 2017. The forward is not a stranger to the global stage though as he played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014 and the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017.

But Angola fans will see an entirely different player than the 18-year-old in 2017 as Sousa returns to the national team at 24 and gives the team a real boost.

9 – Moritz Wagner – Germany

Wagner returns to Germany and will give the team a huge boost after he made his national team debut in 2021, when he helped Germany surprisingly win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Split and then reach the Tokyo Olympic Quarter-Finals.

Wagner was injured last summer and missed out on Germany’s great run to third place at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, which took place in his home city of Berlin. Wagner was on hand in the German capital and was a major help from the stands. Now Wagner gives the team a boost on the court.

8 – Sergio Llull – Spain

Llull actually played 2:44 minutes in one game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers in the August 2022 window. Before that, the 36-year-old had last played at the Tokyo Olympics.

Llull did not play on the Spain team that won the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 title last summer, but he will lace them up for the national team once again as the team lacks point guard depth.

7 – Nicolas Batum – France

France’s chances for their first World Cup title improved greatly when Batum said he would be back. The last time FIBA fans saw the 34-year-old was blocking Klemen Prepelic’s shot to preserve a win in the Semi-Finals of the Tokyo Olympics, where France took the silver medal – their first medal since 2000.

Batum did not play for France at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, where the team finished second.

6 – Nando De Colo – France

France will receive another boost as De Colo is also back in the mix after he also last played at the Tokyo Olympics. The masterful playmaker was unavailable for the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, where Les Bleus reached the Final but lost to Spain.

With Batum and De Colo back on board, France certainly should be considered one of the favorites.

5 – Bogdan Bogdanovic – Serbia

Bogdanovic last wore the Srbija jersey at the last World Cup where he accumulated the most points in the tournament and the team was bounced by Argentina in the Quarter-Finals.

Bogdanovic did not play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Belgrade, where the home side was upset by Italy to miss the Tokyo Games; and he also missed the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, where Nikola Jokic and co. were shocked again by Italy in the Round of 16.

4 – Tornike Shengelia – Georgia

Shengelia is the heart and soul of the Georgia team and it was a real challenge for him not being able to play at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, which was co-hosted in his home nation.

The forward missed the tournament with a shoulder injury but he was able to play a massive role in getting Georgia to the World Cup for the first time in history.

3 – RJ Barrett – Canada

Canada fans are very excited to see Barrett back in the mix as the country’s young star has not played for the Red and White since the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Victoria, Canada in 2021.

Barrett, who famously helped Canada win the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017, would have been a big help for the team last summer when they finished fourth at the FIBA AmeriCup 2022.

2 – Patty Mills – Australia

Australia have their scoring ace back as Mills returns to the Boomers after not playing at the FIBA AsiaCup 2022, where the Oceania powers held on to win the title.

Mills last played for the Green and Gold at the Tokyo Olympics, and he was the third-leading scorer in the tournament for a Boomers team that claimed the bronze medal. Australia fans can look forward to the 35-year-old still racking up the points. 

1 – Karl-Anthony Towns- Dominican Republic

The longest absence of any of these players belongs to Towns as the NBA big man has not played for Dominican Republic in a decade – since the FIBA AmeriCup 2013.

Towns was just 17 years old back in 2013 and Dominicana fans hardly remember him wearing the national colors. But the 27-year-old is ready to help the national team challenge for a best-ever showing at the World Cup. 

FIBA