FIBA World Cup 2019: Previewing Group E

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Photo by Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images /

Turkey

FIBA World Rank: 17

NBA Connection: Cedi Osman has emerged as the future of Turkey basketball, a young leader on and off the court for a nation with a strong basketball heritage. The forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers fears no one and can give Turkey the confidence it needs to hang with more highly-ranked teams. Philadelphia 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz is also on the World Cup squad, as are a pair of players in Scottie Wilbekin and Semih Erden who had a cup of coffee in the NBA.

Name to Know: Ersan Ilyasova is a name familiar to most NBA fans, a longtime veteran who is back in Milwaukee playing with the franchise he started with. Ilyasova has been a mainstay for the Turkish national team for years, the bridge between the last generation (led by players such as Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur) and the current one.

FIBA History: The history of Turkey in international competitions often comes down to a simple question: Are they playing in Turkey? While they tend to finish respectably in the World Cup the only time they have placed above sixth is in 2010, when they won the silver medal while hosting the tournament. Similarly they have medaled once at EuroBasket, in 2001 while hosting. Being on the clear opposite end of Asia may be the largest impediment to Turkey medaling this year.

Outlook: The United States would be the other major impediment, as Turkey has to contend with the tournament favorite in their group. Even so Turkey should have a puncher’s chance to place second in the group and advance if they do not slip up against the Czech Republic or Japan, both of which have less NBA talent but reasons for optimism. An upset win over the United States would completely change Turkey’s outlook for the tournament, but the more likely path forward is taking care of business against the other two teams.