SHANGHAI (AFP) – The United States’ biggest stars may be absent but a number of NBA players are still converging on China for the Basketball World Cup.
Ahead of tip-off on Saturday, AFP Sport picks out five big names to keep an eye on:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The NBA’s MVP for the 2018-19 season is among three Antetokounmpo brothers in the Greece squad. The 24-year-old Milwaukee Bucks forward is joined by 27-year-old Thanasis, who spent the last two seasons with Panathinaikos but was snapped up as a free agent by the Bucks last month. But it is Giannis, born in Greece to Nigerian parents, who is the undoubted pick of the siblings and is so good that he has been nicknamed the ”Greek Freak”.
Kemba Walker (USA): Plenty has been made of Team USA missing its biggest names, but it will give NBA All-Star Walker more chance to shine. The Boston Celtics guard, 29, showed that he is primed to step up with a daunting display last week on the Americans’ exhibition tour of Australia.
Patty Mills (Australia): The 31-year-old guard was instrumental as Australia beat the United States for the first time ever, sinking a game-high 30 points. The history-making feat was particularly satisfying for Mills because the US is coached by Gregg Popovich – Mills’s boss at San Antonio Spurs.
Nikola Jokic (Serbia): With his lumbering physique, the seven-footer (2.13m) has entranced fans and sports analysts with his uncanny precision, especially the sharp passes that have seen him likened to an NFL quarterback.
Marc Gasol (Spain): The 34-year-old centre played a key role in the Toronto Raptors’ historic run to the NBA crown and will now shoulder Spain’s World Cup hopes. Gasol was the 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and is a three-time NBA All-Star. He also helped Spain to the 2006 World Cup title as well as two Olympic silvers. In June, he exercised his $25.6 million one-season contract option to return to the Raptors next season.
