Milwaukee Bucks: A Bucks-centric 2019 FIBA World Cup primer
The 2019 FIBA World Cup is set to kick off in China Saturday morning and the Milwaukee Bucks will be well represented throughout the competition. Let’s run through the itinerary of pertinent national teams that feature Bucks players.
After plenty of preparations, tune-ups and the finalizing of rosters for national teams around the world, the 2019 FIBA World Cup is finally here.
All roads now lead to China as the most populous country in the world is set to host this year’s 32-team tournament, which has expanded from 24 teams previously, for the next two weeks starting Saturday morning.
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As has been the case in the lead up to the event, the Milwaukee Bucks will be featured heavily throughout the World Cup, considering that Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton have all been chosen to represent their respective home countries.
In fact, the Bucks rank just behind the Boston Celtics in having the second-most players that will feature throughout the World Cup in China between the Antetokounmpo brothers, Ilyasova, Lopez and Middleton.
With 4 USA guys + Poirier & Theis, the Celtics are set to be the NBA team w/ the most players (6) at the World Cup. Bucks (Antetokounmpo x 2, Ilyasova, Lopez, Middleton) have 5.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) August 24, 2019
Looks like 22 of the 30 teams will be represented.
With the start of the NBA season still more than a month and a half away, the World Cup will surely satisfy the needs for all Bucks and basketball fans that are in need of some quality basketball in their lives again. And some of the Bucks stars, specifically the reigning MVP in Antetokounmpo, will help make the tournament one to watch for the dizzying highlights he’s prone to reel off alone.
So without further ado, let’s run through the roads that Greece, Turkey and Team USA will be facing over the first two group stages and much more.