By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
In less than one year, the FIBA World Cup will be a global showcase of the sport’s top talent.
However, the FIBA qualifying windows are not an afterthought anymore, and no matter the legacy of a jersey, you can’t get the job done if you are not serious about it.
In the past it was less evident, since a national team program was essentially evaluated once per year. Now, the stakes are higher throughout the season, and consistency is rewarded more frequently.
You can see it in the way NBA stars are eager to participate and play in front of their home fans.
And the fans respond to that. Even with no Luka Doncic on the lineup of the opponents, 15.831 French fans celebrated Victor Wembanyama’s return with their national team jersey at Bercy Arena.
In Canada, more than 13.000 fans watched the action inside the Videotron Centre in Quebec City as Lu Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led their team to an impressive 97-92 victory over Argentina.
Despite no marquee NBA names being present, in a do-or-die game, 17.677 Greek fans were present in Athens for the clash against Spain.
Watch All FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Windows action on Courtside 1891
Meanwhile, for the teams that are not qualifying for the major tournaments, the “windows” are their own major chances to make a step forward and improve, something that at this point is not wishful thinking but a fact.
This is how the national team games are becoming more than a sideshow to the basketball season, and being part of those teams is transforming into a full-time job.
You can’t expect to walk into any arena in any part of the world and dominate. Even the US decided that it’s time to use players who are seasoned EuroLeague veterans to avoid any unexpected defeats, since they can’t get their NBA stars to play.
International NBA stars have to explain themselves for not being present in those games, since the participation of Giannis, or Doncic, or Jokic can make a difference even in games which until recently were considered “easy”. The social media message of Deni Avdija is the most recent example.
Neither players, coaches, nor federations can underestimate anyone, or they might end up paying the price of not competing at the top level. The next two windows are more than important, and teams like Greece, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovenia having a 4-4 record and being in danger of not making the trip to Qatar are proof.
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