By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
The oddities in a World Cup are many. The world basketball scene is full of numbers and occurrences that you don’t usually see on the court and Eurohoops presents you with the most unusual of numbers
1. Tallest player – Yao Ming (CHN), 2,26 m
Yao Ming is the tallest player, who has ever competed in a FIBA World Cup. The Chinese center played in two tournaments (2002, 2006) with his national team getting the 12th and 15th place respectively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1OKwefp1jk
2. Shortest player – Tyrone Bogues (USA), 1,59 m
Tyrone Bogues is the shortest player who has ever played in a FIBA World Cup. The American play maker struggled in Spain (1986), where USA won the gold medal beating Soviet Union in the final.
3. Oldest player – José Piculín Ortiz (PUR), 38 years
Pikoulin Jose Ortiz is the oldest player who has ever competed in a FIBA World Cup. In 2002 (Indianapolis) he was 38 years old. He played in Puerto Rico’s national team for 21 years (1983-2004)
4. Youngest player – Guo Ailun (CHN), 16 years old
Guo Ailoun was a member of China’s National Team in Turkey (2010), when he was just 16 years old. Two months before that he had led his national team in the seventh place of the FIBA U-17 World Cup.