By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
FIBA announced the updated World Rankings setting the 2020 FIBA Olympic qualifiers field in the process. Sixteen national teams were already in based on their place in the 2019 FIBA World Cup standings, but the remaining sides made the final cut based on their spot in the World Rankings.
Angola, Croatia, China, Mexico, Senegal, Slovenia, South Korea and Uruguay will all have their chance, but the couple of European national teams provide the main part of the additional big names to the Olympic qualifiers. Slovenia will likely count on Luka Doncic, while the Croatians have many stars including NBA players Bojan Bogdanovic, Mario Hezonja, Dario Saric, Ante Zizic and Ivica Zubac.
From the previously known field of national teams, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marco Belinelli, Jonas Valanciunas, Cedi Osman, Nemanja Bjelica, Danilo Gallinari, Dennis Schroder and Tomas Satoransky are among the European NBA stars that made the trip to China this summer and will potentially play in the qualifiers next summer, while Steven Adams, Nicolo Melli, Jan Vesely and other players might get in the mix as well.
All above players and other stars will have to make their decisions, but in any case a hot summer must be expected. The hosts of the four qualifying tournaments will be determined in the coming months, before the 24 national teams make their runs for the four remaining Olympic Games tickets from June 23rd to June 28th.
The four prevailing sides will join Argentina, Australia, France, Iran, Japan, Nigeria, Spain and USA to complete the 12-team field of the 2020 Olympic Games.