2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup was the 18th tournament of the FIBA Basketball World Cup for men's national basketball teams, held from 31 August to 15 September 2019. The tournament was hosted in China and was rescheduled from 2018 to 2019, becoming the first since 1967 that did not occur in the same year as the FIFA World Cup. The tournament expanded from 24 to 32 teams.
Opening ceremony of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Image: Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center
Image: Shanghai Oriental Sports Center Indoor Arena
Image: Wuhan Sport Centre 02
2019 United States FIBA Basketball World Cup team
The United States men's national basketball team competed in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and finished in seventh place. After winning the past two World Cups in 2010 and 2014, they were seeking to become the first country to capture three straight gold medals. With high-profile players electing not to participate, Team USA was devoid of A-list players from the National Basketball Association (NBA). They were also impacted throughout by injuries to players Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart. The Americans lost to France in the quarterfinals, ending their 58-game winning streak in FIBA and Olympic competition. Normally played every four years, the tournament was moved from its expected 2018 playing to avoid conflicting with soccer's World Cup schedule.
Gregg Popovich (pictured) replaced Mike Krzyzewski as the US head coach.
Jeff Van Gundy was the US coach during the World Cup qualifiers.
Kemba Walker was the lone Team USA player who was on the All-NBA Team in 2019.
Khris Middleton joined Walker as the only team members who were NBA All-Stars in 2019.