Slovenia vs Venezuela Basketball Preview: Prediction, odds and more for the FIBA World Cup 2023

In their first game of the FIBA World Cup, Slovenia finds themselves facing off against Venezuela. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 26, and will air at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Heading into the World Cup, Slovenia was seen as a team that could make a deep run. Led by an NBA superstar in Luka Doncic, they have all the firepower they need. As for Venezuela, they are a younger squad that is looking more towards the future of their national team.

Per the latest power rankings, Doncic and company sit in the No. 8 spot. Venezuela finds themselves more towards the bottom at No. 25.

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Slovenia's 2023 FIBA World Cup roster

Ziga Samar
Aleksej Nikolic
Klemen Prepelic
Mike Tobey
Jaka Blazic
Gregor Hrovat
Ziga Dimec
Zoran Dragic
Bine Prepelic
Gregor Glas
Jakob Cebasek
Luka Doncic

Venezuela's 2023 FIBA World Cup roster

Gregory Vargas
Garly Sojo
Jhornan Zamora
David Cubillan
Pedro Chourio
Miguel Ruiz
Windi Graterol
Heissler Guillent
Yohanner Sifontes
Michael Carrera
Jose Materan
Nestor Colmenares

Slovenia vs. Venezuela predicition

Heading into this matchup, it's clear who is expected to walk away victorious. The Slovenians are one of the top teams in the World Cup this year, and Venezuela doesn't have anyone to slow down the opposing star player.

One interesting to watch in this matchup is how Venezuela defends Luka Doncic. They don't have much size in terms of centers, but they have a lot of length. Seven players on their roster are between 6-foot-5 and 6-8.

With all this length, Venezuela can run small-ball lineups that can easily switch around the floor. This might aid them as they attempt to slow down the Dallas Mavericks All-Star.

Nonetheless, Slovenia is a clear favorite with one of the NBA's top stars leading the charge for them. Given that Venezuela is one of the lower ranked teams, this should be an easy opening matchup for them.

Players to watch

Looking at the rosters, there is one obvious player that everyone will have their eyes on. Luka Doncic regularly shines in international play, and is sure to be one of the top performers in the FIBA World Cup this year.

Following a minor scare in a tuneup game against Greece, Doncic has played like a superstar. The official games haven't even gotten underway and he's already putting together a stellar highlight reel.

Doncic will surely be looking to make a statement in their first matchup of this World Cup.

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

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Edited by Kevin McCormick