The upcoming FIBA World Cup will be Montenegro's second appearance in the tournament. As one of the most promising teams in Europe, Montenegro has consistently proven their potential on the European and international stage. With a rich basketball heritage and a roster filled with young and experienced players, Montenegro is keen on taking home the trophy and building a competitive dynasty in the process.
About Montenegro Men’s National Basketball Team
Montenegro’s basketball history is limited as they joined FIBA in 2006, right after the restoration of Montenegrin Independence. Having finished its 2019 world cup campaign in 25th place and three of four EuroBasket campaigns in the top 20, Montenegro will be a tough test for any team.
Montenegro was the third team alongside France and Lithuania to qualify in the second round for the FIBA world cup by winning seven of its 12 matches.
Team Montenegro squad for the World Cup
The following is the extended Montenegrin squad for the 2023 FIBA men’s world cup:
| Player Name | Position | Date of Birth |
| Zoran Vuceljic | Shooting guard | September 9, 2003 (19 years old) |
| Emir Hadzibegovic | Small forward | August 24, 1996 (26 years old) |
| Radosav Spasojevic | Power forward | February 28 1992 (31 years old) |
| Andrija Grbovic | Small forward/Power forward | September 16, 2003 (19 years old) |
| Aleksa Ilic | Power forward/Center | September 17, 1996 (26 years old) |
| Bojan Dubljevic | Center/Power forward | October 24, 1991 (31 years old) |
| Nikola Vucevic | Center | October 24, 1990 (32 years old) |
| Nemanja Radovic | Small forward/Power forward | November 11, 1991 (31 years old) |
| Marko Simonovic | Center | October 15, 1999 (23 years old) |
| Vasilije Bacovic | Center/Power forward | May 11, 1996 (27 years old) |
| Nikola Ivanovic | Point guard | February 19, 1994 (29 years old) |
| Kendrick Perry | Point guard | December 23, 1992 (30 years old) |
| Igor Drabnjak | Point guard | April 21, 2000 (23 years old) |
| Balsa Zivanovic | Point guard | April 6, 2001 (22 years old) |
| Masan Vrbica | Point guard | June 14, 1994 (29 years old) |
| Luka Bogavac | Shooting guard | September 20, 2003 (19 years old) |
| Petar Popovic | Point guard/Shooting guard | September 13, 1996 (26 years old) |
| Vladimir Mihailovic | Point guard | August 10, 1990 (32 years old) |
| Fedor Zugic | Shooting guard | September 18, 2003 (19 years old) |
| Dino Radoncic | Small forward | January 8, 1999 (24 years old) |
| Andrija Slavkovic | Shooting guard | February 15 1999 (24 years old) |
Key Matchups for Montenegro
Montenegro’s first competitive bout will be against Mexico. The Central-American nation is not to be underestimated as they have pulled off major upsets previously against top-ranked teams such as the USA.
Facing off against such formidable opponents will undoubtedly be a big challenge. However, it will also serve as a platform for Montenegro to gauge their strengths and weaknesses while striving to get the win.
Next in line will be Egypt. This will be the first encounter between the two teams with Montenegro looking to get a decisive victory to solidify its second-round chances.
Egypt might not be a tough team to beat since they have yet to win a world cup game since 1994, but it would be better not to look over the possibility of a close encounter.
Lithuania will present Montenegro with its toughest challenge in Group D. The Baltic state has been a dominant force in international basketball, consistently showcasing exceptional teamwork and skill. This particular matchup will test Team Montenegro's ability to defend against fast-paced offenses and execute efficient scoring strategies.
Throughout these matchups, Team Montenegro will have to be resilient and work as a cohesive unit as every win will get them closer to entering round II. These clashes will serve as opportunities for the team to measure its progress and enhance its image as a competitive team.
FAQs
A. After failing to qualify in 2009, they qualified in 2011, finishing 21st in the tournament.
A. Montenegro will play its league matches at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
A. Montenegro is ranked 18th as per FIBA world rankings.
A. Nikola Vucevic is a 6 foot 10 inches tall center who plays for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. He also represents Montenegro in international tournaments.
