Hoops History
A scholarly examination of the pivotal 2002 FIBA World Championship, its participants, and its enduring legacy.
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Championship Overview
A Global Basketball Showcase
The 2002 FIBA World Championship marked the 14th iteration of the premier international basketball competition for men's national teams. Organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), this event brought together top talent from across the globe to compete for the coveted world title.
Hosted in the United States
For the first time in its history, the tournament was held in the United States, specifically in Indianapolis, Indiana. This marked a significant moment for international basketball, bringing the world's elite to a nation deeply rooted in the sport. The event ran from August 29 to September 8, 2002, and was officially opened by then-President George W. Bush.
A Historic Outcome
The championship culminated in a memorable victory for Yugoslavia, securing their second world title. Argentina emerged as the runners-up, while Germany claimed the third-place position, and New Zealand finished fourth. The tournament featured 16 teams from five confederations, playing a total of 62 games, showcasing intense competition and remarkable athletic prowess.
Tournament Details
Key Dates and Location
The 2002 FIBA World Championship unfolded over eleven days, from August 29 to September 8, 2002. All games were hosted in the vibrant city of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, providing a central and enthusiastic backdrop for the international competition.
Individual Accolades
The tournament recognized outstanding individual performance. Germany's Dirk Nowitzki (opens in new tab) was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his exceptional contributions throughout the championship. Nowitzki also led all scorers, averaging an impressive 24.0 points per game, a testament to his dominance on the court.
Scale of Competition
Sixteen national teams, representing five global basketball confederations, participated in the championship. Over the course of the tournament, a total of 62 games were played, leading to a comprehensive and challenging path to the final positions.
Host Venues
Indianapolis Arenas
The 2002 FIBA World Championship utilized two prominent venues in Indianapolis, Indiana, to host the array of games. These facilities provided the necessary infrastructure and capacity for a tournament of this international stature.
Qualification Pathway
Road to Indianapolis
A total of 16 national teams earned their place in the 2002 FIBA World Championship through a rigorous qualification process across five continental confederations. As the host nation, the United States automatically secured one berth. Notably, the 2000 Olympic champions' direct access was replaced by an additional qualifying spot for FIBA Americas, given the U.S. already qualified as host.
Qualified Teams
The qualification tournaments, held in 2001, determined the final roster of nations that would compete for the world title. Each continental championship served as a crucial stepping stone for teams aiming to represent their region on the global stage.
| Event | Date | Location | Berths | Qualified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host nation | 1 |  United States |
||
| 2001 ABC Championship | July 20โ28, 2001 |  Shanghai |
2 | China Lebanon |
| FIBA Africa Championship 2001 | August 4โ12, 2001 |  Rabat and Casablanca |
2 |  Angola Algeria |
| FIBA Americas Championship 2001 | August 16โ26, 2001 |  Neuquรฉn |
5 | Argentina Brazil Canada Puerto Rico Venezuela |
| EuroBasket 2001 | August 31โSeptember 9, 2001 |  Ankara, Antalya and Istanbul |
5 |  Yugoslavia Turkey Spain Germany Russia |
| FIBA Oceania Championship 2001 | September 21โ23, 2001 |  Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton |
1 | New Zealand |
Each qualified team comprised a roster of 12 players, ready to represent their nation in the global tournament.
Competing Nations
Group A
- Angola
- Canada
- Spain
- Yugoslavia
Group B
- Brazil
- Lebanon
- Puerto Rico
- Turkey
Group C
- Algeria
- China
- Germany
- United States
Group D
- Argentina
- New Zealand
- Russia
Venezuela
Preliminary Round
Advancing to the Next Stage
In the preliminary round, 16 teams were divided into four groups (A, B, C, D). The top three teams from each group advanced to the second round, forming Group E and Group F. The teams finishing fourth in their respective groups proceeded to the 13thโ16th classification round.
Group A Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain |
3 | 3 | 0 | 244 | 178 | +66 | 6 | Second round |
| 2 | Yugoslavia |
3 | 2 | 1 | 269 | 205 | +64 | 5 | |
| 3 | Angola |
3 | 1 | 2 | 202 | 275 | โ73 | 4 | |
| 4 | Canada |
3 | 0 | 3 | 199 | 256 | โ57 | 3 | 13thโ16th classification round |
Group A Matches
| August 29, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yugoslavia |
113โ63 | Angola |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Canada |
54โ85 | Spain |
|||
| August 30, 2002 | |||||
| Angola |
84โ74 | Canada |
RCA Dome | ||
| Spain |
71โ69 | Yugoslavia |
|||
| August 31, 2002 | |||||
| Angola |
55โ88 | Spain |
RCA Dome | ||
| Canada |
71โ87 | Yugoslavia |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
Group B Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil |
3 | 3 | 0 | 280 | 245 | +35 | 6 | Second round |
| 2 | Puerto Rico |
3 | 2 | 1 | 263 | 242 | +21 | 5 | |
| 3 | Turkey |
3 | 1 | 2 | 268 | 246 | +22 | 4 | |
| 4 | Lebanon |
3 | 0 | 3 | 230 | 308 | โ78 | 3 | 13thโ16th classification round |
Group B Matches
| August 29, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil |
102โ73 | Lebanon |
RCA Dome | ||
| Puerto Rico |
78โ75 | Turkey |
|||
| August 30, 2002 | |||||
| Lebanon |
77โ99 | Puerto Rico |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Turkey |
86โ88 | Brazil |
|||
| August 31, 2002 | |||||
| Lebanon |
80โ107 | Turkey |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Puerto Rico |
86โ90 | Brazil |
|||
Group C Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States (H) |
3 | 3 | 0 | 298 | 212 | +86 | 6 | Second round |
| 2 | Germany |
3 | 2 | 1 | 277 | 250 | +27 | 5 | |
| 3 | China |
3 | 1 | 2 | 237 | 254 | โ17 | 4 | |
| 4 | Algeria |
3 | 0 | 3 | 212 | 308 | โ96 | 3 | 13thโ16th classification round |
Group C Matches
| August 29, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China |
76โ88 | Germany |
RCA Dome | ||
| United States |
110โ60 | Algeria |
|||
| August 30, 2002 | |||||
| Germany |
87โ104 | United States |
RCA Dome | ||
| Algeria |
82โ96 | China |
|||
| August 31, 2002 | |||||
| Algeria |
70โ102 | Germany |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| China |
65โ84 | United States |
|||
Group D Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina |
3 | 3 | 0 | 319 | 238 | +81 | 6 | Second round |
| 2 | New Zealand |
3 | 2 | 1 | 273 | 278 | โ5 | 5 | |
| 3 | Russia |
3 | 1 | 2 | 248 | 259 | โ11 | 4 | |
| 4 | Venezuela |
3 | 0 | 3 | 226 | 291 | โ65 | 3 | 13thโ16th classification round |
Group D Matches
| August 29, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
90โ81 | Russia |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Argentina |
107โ72 | Venezuela |
|||
| August 30, 2002 | |||||
| Venezuela |
85โ98 | New Zealand |
RCA Dome | ||
| Russia |
81โ100 | Argentina |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| August 31, 2002 | |||||
| Venezuela |
69โ86 | Russia |
RCA Dome | ||
| New Zealand |
85โ112 | Argentina |
|||
Second Round
Combined Group Play
In the second round, the results from the preliminary stage were carried over. Teams that had previously met did not play each other again. Group E was formed from the top three teams of Group A and Group B, while Group F comprised the top three teams from Group C and Group D. The top four teams from each of these second-round groups advanced to the knockout stages, while the bottom two proceeded to the 9thโ12th place playoffs.
Group E Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Rico |
6 | 5 | 1 | 510 | 488 | +22 | 11 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Spain |
6 | 5 | 1 | 480 | 391 | +89 | 11 | |
| 3 | Yugoslavia |
6 | 4 | 2 | 562 | 437 | +125 | 10 | |
| 4 | Brazil |
6 | 4 | 2 | 502 | 502 | 0 | 10 | |
| 5 | Turkey |
6 | 2 | 4 | 496 | 509 | โ13 | 8 | 9thโ12th classification round |
| 6 | Angola |
6 | 1 | 5 | 438 | 536 | โ98 | 7 |
Group E Matches
| September 2, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico |
85โ83 | Yugoslavia |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Turkey |
64โ87 | Spain |
|||
| Brazil |
86โ83 | OT | Angola |
||
| September 3, 2002 | |||||
| Angola |
66โ86 | Turkey |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Spain |
65โ73 | Puerto Rico |
|||
| Yugoslavia |
90โ69 | Brazil |
|||
| September 4, 2002 | |||||
| Puerto Rico |
89โ87 | 2OT | Angola |
RCA Dome | |
| Turkey |
78โ110 | Yugoslavia |
|||
| Brazil |
67โ84 | Spain |
|||
Group F Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina |
6 | 6 | 0 | 587 | 466 | +121 | 12 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | United States (H) |
6 | 5 | 1 | 605 | 443 | +162 | 11 | |
| 3 | Germany |
6 | 4 | 2 | 541 | 485 | +56 | 10 | |
| 4 | New Zealand |
6 | 3 | 3 | 493 | 560 | โ67 | 9 | |
| 5 | Russia |
6 | 2 | 4 | 520 | 536 | โ16 | 8 | 9thโ12th classification round |
| 6 | China |
6 | 1 | 5 | 464 | 538 | โ74 | 7 |
Group F Matches
| September 2, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
64โ84 | Germany |
RCA Dome | ||
| Russia |
82โ106 | United States |
|||
| Argentina |
95โ71 | China |
|||
| September 3, 2002 | |||||
| China |
68โ95 | Russia |
RCA Dome | ||
| United States |
110โ62 | New Zealand |
|||
| Germany |
77โ86 | Argentina |
|||
| September 4, 2002 | |||||
| New Zealand |
94โ88 | China |
Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Russia |
85โ103 |  Germany |
|||
| Argentina |
87โ80 | United States |
|||
Classification Rounds
13thโ16th Place Playoff
Teams that did not advance from the preliminary round competed in a separate bracket to determine their final rankings from 13th to 16th place. These matches provided additional competitive opportunities for the teams.
| Thirteenth to Sixteenth | Thirteenth Place | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2, 2002 | |||
| Canada |
91 | September 3, 2002 | |
| Lebanon |
67 | Canada |
98 |
| September 2, 2002 | Venezuela |
97 | |
| Algeria |
83 | Fifteenth Place | |
| Venezuela |
98 | September 3, 2002 | |
| Lebanon |
70 | ||
| Algeria |
100 | ||
9thโ12th Place Playoff
Teams that did not qualify for the knockout stages from the second round competed in their own classification bracket to determine their final standings from 9th to 12th place. These games were crucial for national team rankings and future tournament seeding.
| Ninth to Twelfth | Ninth Place | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2002 | |||
| Turkey |
94 | September 7, 2002 | |
| China |
86 | Turkey |
91 |
| September 6, 2002 | Russia |
86 | |
| Angola |
66 | Eleventh Place | |
| Russia |
77 | September 7, 2002 | |
| China |
85 | ||
| Angola |
84 | ||
Final Standings
Champions: Yugoslavia
The national team of Yugoslavia demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the tournament, ultimately clinching their second FIBA World Championship title. Their victory underscored their status as a dominant force in international basketball during this era.
Runners-up: Argentina
Argentina delivered a remarkable performance, reaching the final and securing the silver medal. Their journey through the tournament was marked by impressive victories and a display of burgeoning talent, signaling their rise in global basketball.
Third Place: Germany
Germany achieved a historic third-place finish, largely propelled by the stellar play of MVP Dirk Nowitzki. This bronze medal represented a significant accomplishment for the German national team on the world stage.
Fourth Place: New Zealand
New Zealand surprised many with their strong showing, securing fourth place in the championship. Their performance highlighted the growing competitiveness of basketball beyond traditional powerhouses.
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not official sports data or analysis. The information provided on this website should not be used as a substitute for official tournament records, statistics, or professional sports commentary. Always refer to official FIBA archives and reputable sports news sources for definitive information regarding historical sports events. Never disregard official data because of something you have read on this website.
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