By Kostas Giataganas / info@eurohoops.net
China is the host nation of the 18th edition of FIBA World Cup that tips off on Saturday and all eyes are set there. Let’s take a few moments to remember how we got this far, with the Top 10 events of FIBA World Cup, as seen by Eurohoops.
1950: The first final
1950 marked the launch of FIBA World Cup and Argentina was the first host and nation to lift the trophy after beating USA 64-50 in the final. The World Cup back then was much different, with only 10 teams participating.
The tournament turned out to be merely political, as Uruguay didn’t participate due to political reasons. Meanwhile, Socialist Yugoslavia played as normal until the point they came across with Francoist Spain when they finally refused to play.
1978: The titans’ final
Philipines 1978, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia have made it in the final, in one of their many battles to come up until their dissolution in the early 90s.
On one hand, we had Aca Nikolic (the “father” of all the great Yugoslavian coaches), with legendary players like the Mirza Delibasic, Drazen Dalipagic. On the other, the Soviets, under the guidance of the great Alexander Gomelsky, with Belov, Tkachenko, Myshkin, and more…
The final was decided in overtime (73-73) and Yugoslavia captured the trophy with an 82-81 victory.
1986: The greatest comeback
The 1986 competition in Spain will be remembered for one of the most subversive semifinals in World Cup and basketball history, between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.
Yugoslavia seemed to be in the advantage, leading by 9 points with about a minute remaining, but three back-to-back three-pointers by the Soviet Union sent the game to overtime (85-85). In the extra five-minute period, Drazen Petrovic (29 p. that night) lost a free throw, while Arvydas Sabonis (25 p.) succeded in his own, sending the Soviet Union to the final.
1990: Swan song for Yugoslavia
Buenos Aires was the host city of that year’s World Cup, where fans had the chance to see Yugoslavia and Soviet Union for the last time before their dissolution. Once again, Yugoslavia reached the title, with a dreamy roster. Dusan Ivkovic had Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Juri Zdovc, Velimir Perasovic and Zeljko Obradovic under his guidance, among others and didn’t struggle much to reach the title.
Remember how we said that the first competition was merely political? Well, all signs pointed to the civil war in Yugoslavia when a fan entered the court with a Croatian flag. Divac grabbed the flag and tossed it away, putting his friendship with Drazen at stake.
1994: Dream Team takes shape
Canada 1994 – the USA makes its first appearance at the FIBA World Cup with its NBA players on board (no more NCAA). Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Johnson, Shaq, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp dominated each and every team. No better luck for Russia in the final of that year, as they were defeated 137-91!
1998: Triumph for Yugoslavia
Athens was the host city right before the dawn of the new century, in a year marked by the absence of USA’s NBAers due to the NBA lock-out, even though they finished third in the tournament.
Yugoslavia returned to the pinnacle of world basketball for the first time after the civil war, by beating Russia in the final with a 64-62 victory.
2002: Tough times for hosts Team USA
Team USA suffered its biggest blows in the city of Indianapolis ever since bringing its NBAers to the World Cup that year. Yugoslavia clinched its fifth title, Argentina grabbed the silver, and Germany, with MVP and Top Scorer Dirk Nowitzki completing the podium.
It was a dramatic final between Yugoslavia and Argentina, as Dejan Bodiroga and Peja Stojakovic led their team against the gold generation of Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola.
2006: Greece downs the Dream Team, Spain grabs gold
Greece forced Team USA to their last defeat in the final round of World Cup competitions in Japan, with Dimitris Diamantidis, Theodoros Papaloukas, Dimos Dikoudis, Kostas Tsartsaris and the rest of the squad getting a 101-95 victory against LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade.
The Greeks advanced to the final, though Spain was unstoppable (even without Pau Gasol) and grabbed a 70-46 victory.
2010: Durant and Team USA on the rise
Turkey’s World Cup is one of the greatest events in recent basketball history. Kevin Durant made a difference for the USA and led it to the gold medal after beating the hosts 81-64 in the final.
Turkey’s journey to the final wasn’t easy, as they overcame Dusan Ivkovic’s Serbia in the semifinal (83-82), while Lithuania completed the podium that year, after beating Serbia in the bronze-medal game.