For the first time, a basketball World Cup will be held in China. From 31 August to 15 September, the tournament will be held in eight cities. The number of participants has increased from 24 to 32 teams, and for all countries it is not just about the medals, but also about qualifying for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
Germany is also starting in China. The selection of the German Basketball Association (DBB) meets in the preliminary round Group G in Shenzhen initially on France, the Dominican Republic and Jordan.
The German games at a glance (all live tickers SPIEGEL ONLINE, TV: MagentaSport)
Sunday, 01.09, 14.30: France - Germany
Tuesday, 03.09, 10.30 clock: Germany - Dominican Republic
Thursday, 05.09, 10.30 clock: Germany - Jordan
How can I see the World Cup live on TV or streamed?
You can not watch the World Cup live on Free TV. The broadcasting rights are exclusive to Deutsche Telekom, which shows all 92 matches of the World Cup live and on demand free of charge - on pay TV at MagentaTV, online (www.magentasport.de) and mobile via the MagentaSport app. The SPIEGEL will offer highlights to the German games.
Schedule (all times CEST)
The two best placed teams of each preliminary round group move into the second round. From this also qualify the two best-placed teams for the knockout phase, which starts with the quarter-finals.
Group A in Beijing
31.08.19, 10.00: Poland - Venezuela
31.08.19, 14.00: Ivory Coast - China
02.09.19, 10.00 am: Venezuela - Ivory Coast
02.09.19, 14.00 clock: China - Poland
04.09.19, 10.00: Ivory Coast - Poland
04.09.19, 2:00 pm: Venezuela - China
Group B in Wuhan
31.08.19, 10.30 clock: Russia - Nigeria
31.08.19, 14.30 clock: Argentina - South Korea
02.09.19, 10.30 clock: Nigeria - Argentina
02.09.19, 14.30 clock: South Korea - Russia
04.09.19, 10.30 clock: South Korea - Nigeria
04.09.19, 14.30: Russia - Argentina
Group C in Guangzhou
31.08.19, 10.30 clock: Iran - Puerto Rico
31.08.19, 14.30: Spain - Tunisia
02.09.19, 10.30 clock: Tunisia - Iran
02.09.19, 14.30 clock: Puerto Rico - Spain
04.09.19, 10.30 clock: Puerto Rico - Tunisia
04.09.19, 14.30: Spain - Iran
Group D in Foshan
31.08.19, 09.30 clock: Angola - Serbia
31.08.19, 13.30 clock: Philippines - Italy
02.09.19, 09.30 clock: Italy - Angola
02.09.19, 1.30 pm: Serbia - Philippines
04.09.19, 09.30 am: Angola - Philippines
04.09.19, 13.30 clock: Italy -Serbien
Group E in Shanghai
01.09.19, 10.30 clock: Turkey - Japan
01.09.19, 14.30: Czech Republic - USA
03.09.19, 10.30 clock: Japan - Czech Republic
03.09.19, 14.30: USA - Turkey
05.09.19, 10.30 clock: Turkey - Czech Republic
05.09.19, 14.30: USA - Japan
Group F in Nanjing
01.09.19, 10.00 clock: New Zealand - Brazil
01.09.19, 14.00: Greece - Montenegro
03.09.19, 10.00 clock: Montenegro - New Zealand
03.09.19, 14.00 clock: Brazil - Greece
05.09.19, 10.00 clock: Brazil - Montenegro
05.09.19, 2:00 pm: Greece - New Zealand
Group G in Shenzhen
01.09.19, 10.30 clock: Dominican Republic - Jordan
01.09.19, 14.30: France - Germany
03.09.19, 10.30 clock: Germany - Dominican Republic
03.09.19, 14.30 clock: Jordan - France
05.09.19, 10.30 clock: Germany - Jordan
05.09.19, 14.30: Dominican Republic - France
Group H in Dongguan
01.09.19, 09.30: Canada - Australia
01.09.19, 13.30: Senegal - Lithuania
03.09.19, 09.30 clock: Australia - Senegal
03.09.19, 1.30 pm: Lithuania - Canada
05.09.19, 09.30: Canada - Senegal
05.09.19, 13.30: Lithuania - Australia
second round
Group I in Foshan
06.09.19: A1 - B2
06.09.19: B1 - A2
08.09.19: A1 - B1
08.09.19: A2 - B2
Group J in Wuhan
06.09.19: C1 - D2
06.09.19: D1 - C2
08.09.19: C1 - D1
08.09.19: C2 - D2
Group K in Shenzhen
07.09.19: E1 - F2
07.09.19: F1 - E2
09.09.19: E1 - F1
09.09.19: E2 - F2
Group L in Nanjing
07.09.19: G1 - H2
07.09.19: H1 - G2
09.09.19: G1 - H1
09.09.19: G2 - H2
Quarterfinals in Beijing
10.09.19, 1:00 pm: I1 - J2
10.09.19, 15.00: J1 - I2
11.09.19, 1:00 pm: K1 - L2
11.09.19, 15.00 clock: L1 - K2
Semifinals in Beijing
13.09.19: Winners quarterfinal 1 - winners quarterfinal 3
13.09.19: Winners quarterfinals 2- winners quarterfinal 4
Match for 3rd place in Beijing
15.09.19, 10.00 am: loser semi-final 1 - loser semi-final 2
Final in Beijing
15.09.19, 14.00 clock: Winner Semifinals 1 - Winner Semifinals 2
The German squad for the 2019 World Cup
The German Basketball Federation can compete with perhaps the best squad in its history. Five NBA professionals were in the provisional squad, from the Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga (both Washington Wizards) were still deleted. Even injuries were spared the team. With Isaiah Hartenstein of the Houston Rockets said only one player who would have been a candidate for the final squad. His employer demanded that the 21-year-old prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
Squad: Ismet Akpinar (Besiktas), Danilo Barthel (FC Bayern Munich), Robin Benzing (Basket Zaragoza), Niels Giffey (Alba Berlin), Maximilian Kleber (Dallas Mavericks), Maodo Lo (FC Bayern Munich), Andreas Obst (Ratiopharm Ulm), Dennis Schröder (Oklahoma City Thunder), Johannes Thiemann (Alba Berlin), Daniel Theis (Boston Celtics), Johannes Voigtmann (CSKA Moscow), Paul Zipser (Bayern Munich)
Coach: Henrik Rödl
That's the German squad
Dennis Schröder (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Position: Point Guard
The point man of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the leader of the national team. This shows the Braunschweiger every time he runs in the DBB dress. In his NBA team in Oklahoma City Schröder came last season from the bank, but was still one of the performers of the playoff team. At the European Championships 2017 Schroeder was with 23 points on average the top scorer of the national team. How far Germany will come depends very much on the performance of the 25-year-old.
Maodo Lo (Bayern Munich)
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
With 49 international appearances, the playmaker of the German champion Bayern Munich belongs to the veterans. Lo is a dedicated defender and accurate from a distance. The 26-year-old is an option for the first five in addition to Schröder, should coach Henrik Rödl decide on a "small" lineup.
Paul Zipser (Bayern Munich)
Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
The former player of the Chicago Bulls was already at the European Championship 2015. The access of FC Bayern was injured for a long time last season. He will nevertheless play a major role - in the preparation he showed that he is fit again. The 25-year-old should be on the grid.
Andreas Obst (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Position: Shooting Guard
Switched after a season in Spain in the summer back in the Bundesliga to Ulm. The 23-year-old was part of the qualifying squad, but did not deliver consistently. What speaks for him: his good distance throw. Nevertheless, he is likely to get only a little deployment time and above all be used for special tasks.
Robin Benzing (Basket Zaragoza)
Position: Small Forward
The captain has already completed 135 caps, highest in the team. Recently, the 30-year-old moved back to Zaragoza in Spain. In qualifying he was the best German scorer. If not even from the beginning, Benzing will play a big role as the "sixth man" of the bank.
Ismet Akpinar (Besiktas Istanbul)
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
The 24-year-old showed in preparation that he is a reliable backup for Schröder and possibly even a candidate for the grid. The scorer will be playing for Besiktas from next season.
Johannes Thiemann (Alba Berlin)
Position: Power Forward / Center
At his club Alba Berlin Thiemann is a player who brings a lot of energy from the bank. A similar role he had in his previous appearances for the national team. That should not change at the World Cup, but the 25-year-old will not see much playing time due to the strong competition in the big positions.
Niels Giffey (Alba Berlin)
Position: Small Forward
The winger of Alba Berlin has been a national player since 2013 and has finished most international matches after Benzing. During qualifying, he was one of the best and had a significant role in the club Alba finals in the Eurocup. For the first five it will not be enough for the nephew of the Federal Minister of the Family Katharina Giffey, as a bank player, the 28-year-old can still help the DBB team.
Daniel Theis (Boston Celtics)
Position: Power Forward / Center
The 27-year-old extended his contract in the NBA for two years this summer. As with the Boston Celtics, Theis will play an important role in the defensive under the basket due to his athletic ability. He and Schröder already know each other from their time together in Braunschweig. When pulling to the basket, Theis is a reliable option and also has a good throw distance.
Danilo Barthel (Bayern Munich)
Position: Power Forward / Center
At the European Championship 2017, the Bayern captain came to an average of 19 minutes per game. In China, Barthel will also play an important role of the bank, as all-rounder, the 27-year-old can help out on several positions.
Maximilian Kleber (Dallas Mavericks)
Position: Power Forward
The 27-year-old has several parallels to Dirk Nowitzki: born in Würzburg, Power Forward - and working for the Dallas Mavericks, where Kleber recently extended his contract until 2023. In addition to Schröder, he is one of the most important achievers in the DBB team. Kleber's versatility makes him a key player in the offensive. For him, it is the first big tournament with the national team.
Johannes Voigtmann (Alba Berlin)
Position: Center
Has progressed steadily in the national team and at club level and will play for the current Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow from next season. Now plays his third big tournament with the DBB. At the European Championships 2015, he still benefited from Maik Zirbes' injury and moved into the squad. The 26-year-old will be an enormously important player at the World Cup.
Henrik Rödl
Position: Coach
The European champion from 1993 is since 2017 national coach. Even at World Championships, the former professional experience: 2002 he brought as a player on the side of Dirk Nowitzki bronze. The World Cup in China is for the 50-year-old the first major tournament as head coach.
Who are the favorites?
The US wants to pick up their third consecutive and fifth overall title, but they can not run full. Several top stars have canceled, in the squad are therefore only two Allstars. Another title candidate is Serbia with his center Nikola Jokicvon the Denver Nuggets from the NBA. Other candidates for medals are France, Spain, Greece, Lithuania and Australia. The German team has outsider chances.
Assessments for all teams can be found in our World Cup Power Ranking.
Basketball World Champion since 1978
| year | team |
|---|---|
| 2014 | USA (129: 92 vs Serbia *) |
| 2010 | USA (81:64 vs Turkey) |
| 2006 | Spain (70:47 vs Greece) |
| 2002 | Yugoslavia (84:77 n / V vs Argentina) |
| 1998 | Yugoslavia (64:62 vs Russia) |
| 1994 | USA (137: 91 vs Russia) |
| 1990 | Yugoslavia (92:75 vs Soviet Union) |
| 1986 | USA (87:85 vs Soviet Union) |
| 1982 | Soviet Union (95:94 vs USA) |
| 1978 | Yugoslavia (82:81 nv vs Soviet Union) |
* From 1992 to 2003, Serbia came under the name of Yugoslavia
Who are the stars?
The biggest star is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Greek, nicknamed "Greek Freak", has been honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the past NBA season and now wants to get his first medal with the national team. A contender for this MVP award was also the Serb Jokic, whose versatility could now dominate the World Cup. The US can rely on Allstar Kemba Walker and the spectacular guard Donovan Mitchell. Other prominent players at the World Cup are Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio (both Spain), Danilo Gallinari (Italy) and Frenchman Rudy Gobert.