FIBA World Cup 2019: Previewing Group A

Poland

FIBA World Rank: 25

NBA Connections: Shooting guard A.J. Slaughter helped lead Western Kentucky to a Sweet Sixteen berth back in 2008. Going undrafted, he played with the Detroit Pistons during NBA Summer League before heading overseas to play professionally. Poland’s only active NBA player, free agent Marcin Gortat, retired from international play in 2015.

Name to Know: Mateusz Ponitka is the team captain for Poland and the elder statesman for the team. He appeared in his 100th game for Poland during qualifying and led the team in scoring. The 6’6″ wing has been a mainstay for the team and helped Poland reach the U-17 title game in 2010, losing in the title game to a USA team stocked with talent such as Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. In a field lacking dominant wing defenders Ponitka could make some noise.

FIBA History: Poland won its final five qualification games, including a tight win over Croatia, to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The European nation will make its first appearance since 1967, a major feat for a squad that lost its best NBA player in decades four years ago before this qualification cycle began. In 1967 the team finished fifth in a smaller field.

Outlook: Poland enters as something approximating co-favorites to win the group alongside host China, although the Chinese playing in front of a home crowd probably tips the scale in their favor. Poland finished strong in qualifying and it would be a surprise for Ivory Coast or Venezuela to beat them out of the group.