However, Dellavedova was back on the court that summer for Team Australia, competing in the FIBA World Cup in China. His love of country and dedication to the Australian national team is playing a role in his continued fight to return to the court, sources said.
World Cup Rumors
Spain, the reigning World Cup champions, have five current NBA players who have played on the national team in the past: Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Serge Ibaka, Juancho Hernangomez and Willy Hernangomez. The Australians named their Olympic roster pool this week, and it has 10 current NBA players, including Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Dante Exum and Matisse Thybulle.
While the Dallas Mavericks big man Boban Marjanovic doesn’t what to expect, he’s positive they’ll have a good time in Disneyland: “I can’t imagine what it will all look like, but I believe that it will be something similar to the World Cup, as well as that all security protocols will be detailed and clearly defined. In general, the NBA always thinks of everything. And it will certainly be the same this time. We’ll all be together, we’ll see each other off the court as well. It can’t be bad in Disneyland, that’s for sure,” Marjanovic told Zurnal.
FIBA has confirmed the dates for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, with the showpiece event set to take place from August 25 to September 10, 2023. The approved dates of the competition have been decided by FIBA’s Central Board following consultation with the host nations and a recommendation by FIBA’s Competitions Commission. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will see the Group Phase take place in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, with the Final Phase to follow in the Philippine capital city of Manila. It marks the first in the competition’s history that it is to be staged in more than one country.
Tim Reynolds: FIBA says the dates for the 2023 Basketball World Cup will be Aug. 25 through Sept. 10 that year. Championship game in Manila.
Kobe Bryant became so impressed with Real Madrid forward Gabriel Deck when he watched him performing with Argentina in the 2019 FIBA World Cup that he thought he may be a good fit for the Los Angeles Lakers. At least that’s what Argentina great Manu Ginobili told Deck.
While being interviewed by Nicolas Laprivottla (Deck’s teammate on Real Madrid and the Argentinian national team) Hola Que Tal Como Estas podcast, Ginobili revealed that Bryant became nothing less than enamored with Deck’s game during the World Cup. “Kobe didn’t know all the names but he was wondering,” Ginobili said. “Kobe was completely passionate about basketball, a student of the game. He asked me and I answered about the players. H fell in love with Tortuga (Gabriel Deck’s nickname). I told Tortuga after that he had a fan in Kobe and that he wanted to take him to the Lakers. He asked me and we commented on the decisions of the coach, I told him about the characteristics of those he didn’t know. He was interested but came a time when I was nervous and didn’t want to talk anymore.”
