By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
In the next two weeks the spotlight will shine on the 288 players of the 24 teams of FIBA’s World Cup. Still everybody will miss some of the greatest players of our time who will watch the games via their television. Eurohoops picks the all absents team; and also the “Dream Team” I and II.
It’s obvious that the picks from Team USA could be many more. But we didn’t select any player like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant who declared long ago that they need rest, taking also into consideration the fact that in other national teams with less top level choices, some absences may hurt much more.
The Fab5 of the absents
Tony Parker (France)
He will probably finish his career with no World Cup participations. The leader of France didn’t play back in 2006 due to an injury (in his only summer absence until this year) and now he wanted to rest. He was the MVP of the previous Eurobasket in his best international moment but now he will watch his friends play without him.
Manu Ginobili (Argentina)
Since 1998 he was always there. He was the leader (alongside with Scola, Delfino, Nocioni, Prigioni, Hermann etc.) of his country’s golden generation which was travelling every summer around the world competing in the top level. The gang misses one more member (Delfino) but Manu is more valuable.
Vassilis Spanoulis (Greece)
The undoubted leader of Greece was injured at the start of the summer and he will miss the World Cup. He was the leading scorer of Greece in Eurobasket 2007, 2009 & 2013, World Cup 2010 & 2006 and the 2008 Olympics. That’s every tournament that he played with the national team after 2006! Nobody can replace him in scoring and coach Katsikaris must find other solutions to cover his gap.
Kevin Love (USA)
After a really mature season and given the many known absences of Team USA, Olympic gold medal winner Kevin Love would be one of the main attractions of the World Cup. He missed the tournament, because of the timing issues of the trade that send him to Cleveland from Minessota.
Kevin Durant (USA)
Icons like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant wasn’t available this summer, something known a long time ago, and that’s why his absence is really big for USA, He was the MVP and the top scorer in 2010 World Cup and also the second leading scorer in 2012 Olympics.
“Dream Team” I
Mantas Kalnietis
Tony Parker
Patty Mills
Vassilis Spanoulis
Manu Ginobili
Nando De Colo
Paul George
Ersan Ilyasova
Kevin Durant
Joakim Noah
Alexis Ajinca
Kevin Love
“Dream Team” II
Nemanja Nedovic
Vasilje Micic
Carlos Delfino
Vladimir Micov
Linas Kleiza
Vitor Faverani
Hedo Turkoglu
Enes Kanter
Andrew Bogut
Kostas Koufos
Ognen Kuzmic
Kevin Seraphen