The Montenegro men's national basketball team, governed by the Basketball Federation of Montenegro, is ranked 18 in the FIBA standings.
Montenegro became a member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in 2006 after the country regained its independence that year. Since then, the team has qualified for EuroBasket four times (in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2022). Additionally, Montenegro has qualified twice for the FIBA World Cup (in 2019 and 2023).
Montenegro will play their first match against Mexico on August 25, 2023. The game will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Manilla, Philippines.
Montenegro NBA Players in FIBA World Cup 2023
Montenegro has produced some incredibly talented basketball players who have made a name for themselves in the NBA and represent their country in the FIBA World Cup.
Nikola Vučević, who will compete for Montenegro in FIBA tournaments, is one such NBA player. Vučević is a center for the Chicago Bulls and has previously played for the Orlando Magic from 2012 to 2021 and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2011 to 2012.
Another basketball player named Bojan Dubljevic plays as a power forward/center. He is well-known for his outstanding skills and has represented Montenegro in several international competitions, like the EuroBasket and World Cup Qualifiers. Dubljevic was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2013 NBA draft, as the 59th overall pick.
Another Montenegrin player who has made it to the FIBA World Cup Squad is Đorđije Jovanović. He currently plays for the Ontario Clippers in the NBA G league.
Below are two other players from Montenegro who have featured in the NBA:
Marko Simonović has played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and the NBA G League for the Windy City Bulls.
Kendrick Perry has played for Iowa Energy in the NBA G League.
Montenegro has qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup twice in its history, with its most recent appearance in 2019. However, the team was unable to make it out of the group stage, finishing with a record of 1-2. Having talented NBA players like Nikola Vučević and Bojan Dubljevic representing Montenegro could potentially improve the team's chances of making a deeper run in the competition.
With the experience and skill sets of these players, they have the potential to lead the national team to success, making it incredibly exciting to see them represent their country in the FIBA World Cup. It is important to note that the final team selection will be determined by the Basketball Federation of Montenegro based on the players' skill sets, requirements, and overall fitness.
FAQs
A. Montenegro has made significant strides in basketball since gaining independence in 2006. Their national team has competed in major international tournaments like EuroBasket and the FIBA World Cup, finishing fourth at the EuroBasket in 2011.
A. Lithuania regards basketball as their national sport.
A. Despite all his accomplishments, Michael Jordan never played in the FIBA World Championship and therefore never won it.
A. The United States and Yugoslavia are tied for the most World Cup victories in basketball, with each country winning 5 times.
