Serbia improved to 757.9 points to move up one spot to fourth place. The Balkan side swapped spaces with Australia for beating higher-ranked opponents in their Qualifiers. Serbia beat 20th-ranked Finland and 23rd-ranked Georgia while Australia defeated 75th-ranked Indonesia and 50th-ranked Korea in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Serbia, the finalist of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 last summer, are now edging closer to the top three of USA, Spain, and Germany, all of which lost at least one game during the window. Latvia jumped up two spots from eighth to sixth thanks to their two victories - beating world number two Spain as well as Slovakia. Those wins outweighed the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers performances of Canada, who beat Nicaragua twice, and Argentina, who lost one thriller against Chile. Both dropped one spot to seventh and eighth respectively. Other European nations to move up were Czechia going from 19th to 18th; Great Britain improving from 53rd to 52nd; and Denmark jumping three spots to 55th thanks to their win over 22nd-ranked Georgia. Cote d'Ivoire grabbed three wins in the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers to move up two spots to 31st - essentially swapping spots with South Sudan, who did not play in the window. Other African nations to move up the rankings are Tunisia and Egypt, both who went up one spot to 35th and 40th, respectively. The top nation in the Asia Cup Qualifiers to improve were the Philippines, who went up one spot to 37th. Korea also rose one spot to 50th. The highest Americas team moving up is Uruguay, who rose two spots to 48th, and Chile, who moved up one spot to 61st. For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Men, please refer to the 'How it Works' section. Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. NEW YORK KNICKS’ JULIUS RANDLE NAMED NBA CARES BOB LANIER COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD JANUARY WINNER – NBA to donate $10,000 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Kids – – Randle is being recognized for his efforts uplifting, encouraging and supporting local youth – NEW YORK, February 29, 2024 – The NBA today announced New York Knicks forward Julius Randle as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of January. Randle is being recognized for his efforts uplifting, encouraging and supporting local youth. Randle will receive the David Robinson trophy and the NBA will donate $10,000 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Kids. As part of Randle’s #30 for 3 campaign – Randle pledges $500 for each three-pointer that he makes this season to the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School in New York City. Randle’s financial commitment goes towards the high school’s literary enhancement program to improve reading and writing skills for students. Amidst an All-Star season for Randle, he has already made 76 three-pointers and raised $38,000 for the school from this season alone. Inspired by Randle’s support, the New York Knicks and Chase Bank have supplemented financial support for the school and provided special game day experiences as well, including the school’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams playing at Madison Square Garden, a Jr. Knicks clinic at school and a mentorship series where students can learn about different careers in sports from Madison Square Garden executives and Knicks front office staff. More than 300 students have been positively impacted as a result of this program. Now in its third season, the #30 for 3 campaign has raised more than $900,000 for the school. Additionally, Randle collaborated with the Hoop Bus to surprise youth throughout New York City with gifts and giveaways for three consecutive days. Randle’s giveback initiative included physical education class takeovers at schools, a Wilson basketball giveaway, Sketchers giveaway and additional supplies. “We chose MSK Kids for the charity donation because we wanted to help in any way possible with children’s cancer research in the city,” said Randle. “With two boys of our own, helping cure childhood diseases is a passion of ours and MSK does incredible research for childhood cancer and diseases.” Randle will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during pre-game of the Feb. 29 Warriors-Knicks game. The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. Each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy and the NBA makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/. ### About NBA Cares
NBA Cares is the league's global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's mission of addressing important social issues. NBA Cares has provided more than 6.5 million hours of hands-on service and created more than 2,200 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in 40 countries and territories. NBA Cares partners with renowned social impact organizations to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health & wellness, including: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Vera Institute of Justice, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, UNICEF, Special Olympics, The Jed Foundation, Share Our Strength and GLSEN.
NEW YORK KNICKS’ GAME PROTEST DENIED NEW YORK, February 28, 2024 – The NBA today denied the New York Knicks’ protest of their 105-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on February 12, 2024. The Knicks protested the result of the game on the ground that a shooting foul was called incorrectly on the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson for making contact with the Rockets’ Aaron Holiday during a last-second shot attempt. Under the standard for NBA game protests, New York was required to demonstrate that there was a misapplication of the official playing rules, as opposed to an error in judgment by game officials. Because the foul call at issue reflected an error in judgment, New York did not demonstrate a misapplication of the playing rules, and the extraordinary remedy of upholding a game protest was not warranted.
NBA ANNOUNCES PENALTIES FROM HEAT-PELICANS GAME NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2024 – Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall have each been suspended one game without pay for instigating and engaging in an on-court altercation during the Heat’s 106-95 victory over the Pelicans on Feb. 23 at Smoothie King Center, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Additionally, Heat center Thomas Bryant and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado have each been suspended three games without pay for leaving the bench area during an on-court altercation and fighting. Heat forward Nikola Jović has been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area and entering an on-court altercation. The incident began when Miami’s Kevin Love committed a foul on New Orleans’ Zion Williamson with 11:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. Following that foul, Butler and Marshall engaged in a physical altercation and then Alvarado and Bryant began fighting. For their roles, Alvarado, Bryant, Butler and Marshall were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game. Alvarado will begin serving his suspension tonight when New Orleans hosts the Chicago Bulls. Marshall will also serve his suspension tonight. Bryant will begin serving his suspension on Monday, Feb. 26 when the Heat visit the Sacramento Kings. Butler and Jović will also serve their suspensions that night. To view the incident, click on the following link: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/heat-at-pelicans-feb-23
DETROIT’S ISAIAH STEWART SUSPENDED NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 – The NBA announced today that Detroit Pistons forward-center Isaiah Stewart has been suspended three games without pay for initiating a physical altercation with Phoenix Suns forward-center Drew Eubanks on Feb. 14 before a game between the Pistons and Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Stewart punched and pushed Eubanks during the altercation. Stewart will begin serving his suspension with the next NBA regular-season game that he is eligible and physically able to play, which is expected to be tonight’s game between the Pistons and Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
DEBBIE ANTONELLI, J.A. ADANDE, “NBA INSIDE STUFF,” AND SLAM MAGAZINE NAMED RECIPIENTS OF BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME’S 2024 CURT GOWDY MEDIA AWARD - JoAn Scott Named Recipient of 2024 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award - INDIANAPOLIS (February 16, 2024) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the recipients of the 2024 Curt Gowdy Media Award and John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award at NBA All-Star Weekend.
Renowned analyst and play-by-play commentator Debbie Antonelli, former Los Angeles Times and ESPN columnist J.A. Adande, “NBA Inside Stuff,” and Dennis Page of SLAM Magazine are the 2024 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients. March Madness executive JoAn Scott is the recipient of the 2024 John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Curt Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the late Curt Gowdy, a legendary sports broadcaster and former Hall of Fame Board member and President. This prestigious award is presented to members of the print, electronic, and transformative media whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball.
The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-64, the award honors coaches, players, and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional, and/or the international game.
Antonelli, Adande, “NBA Inside Stuff,” SLAM, and Scott will be acknowledged for their contributions to basketball during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend on August 16-17. For further details, including ticket information, visit hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2024.
Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award Recipient – Debbie Antonelli Debbie Antonelli began her renowned broadcast career in 1987 and has called women’s and men’s basketball games for ESPN, ACC Network, Longhorn Network, and SEC Network, as well as CBS Sports, Fox Sports, RAYCOM Sports, Big Ten Network, NBA TV, and Westwood One. She has also served as a WNBA analyst with the Indiana Fever and Charlotte Sting. In 2017, she became the first female in 21 years to call an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game and has occupied the role for Turner Sports and CBS ever since. Antonelli, a three-year starter at North Carolina State, is a two-time Emmy Award winner and Gracie Award recipient for broadcast and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
Off the court, Antonelli is a lifetime member of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors, a contributor to the Special Olympics, and a co-founder of the Frankie and Friends anti-bullying campaign.
Curt Gowdy Print Media Award Recipient – J.A. Adande J.A. Adande has been a trusted voice in sports for over two decades, covering major events such as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Olympics, and the NCAA Final Four. His career began at the Chicago Sun-Times as the Chicago Bulls completed their first three-peat, continued on to The Washington Post, and soon became a fixture in the Los Angeles Times sports section for 10 years (1997-2007) before he joined ESPN in 2007. There, he worked as an NBA sideline reporter and has been a panelist on “Around the Horn” since the show’s debut in 2002. In 2021, he co-hosted the “Beyond the Last Dance” podcast with former Bull B.J. Armstrong and the “Kobe, LeBron, and the Redeem Team” podcast with fellow Curt Gowdy Award winner Jack McCallum.
In 2017, J.A. became the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern’s Medill School, his alma mater.
Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award Recipient – “NBA Inside Stuff” The Transformative Media Award honors an individual or organization that has dramatically changed the format, presentation, or enjoyment of the coverage of basketball through the use of traditional and emerging media. This Award recognizes those who have had a significant, fresh, and lasting impact on the format, content generation, fan enjoyment, and understanding of the game, as demonstrated by “NBA Inside Stuff,” featuring Ahmad Rashad and Willow Bay.
“NBA Inside Stuff," produced by NBA Entertainment and aired on NBC, debuted in 1990 and was one of the most influential sports shows in the history of television. Delivering a weekly 30-minute mix of music, highlights, pop culture, news, and unprecedented player and team access, “NBA Inside Stuff," along with NBA on NBC broadcasts, catapulted the league to new heights in the ‘90s.
The show’s hosts, Ahmad Rashad and Willow Bay, masterfully set the energetic (and hip) tone. Their on-air chemistry and connection with the players resonated with the Saturday morning audience, a groundbreaking programming move for a sports league. The show was so popular that it spawned many media properties focusing on the intersection of sports, music, and pop culture.
Popular weekly staples in this personality-driven show included “Rewind” (Rashad’s weekly recap of league action); “Jam Session” (an upbeat fusion of highlights and popular music); and behind-the-scenes player and team features. The result was a weekly must-watch pulse of the league destination.
“NBA Inside Stuff” aired on NBC for 12 seasons (1990-2002) before moving to ABC (2002-06).
Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award Recipient – SLAM Magazine/Dennis Page Dennis Page, a notable figure in the world of sports media, is the founder and original publisher of SLAM Magazine. The ground-breaking publication has provided a unique and bold perspective on basketball culture, personalities, and stories, establishing itself as a pivotal platform for delivering in-depth coverage of basketball and showcasing the relationship between sports and lifestyle. The Trenton, New Jersey, native served as publisher for Guitar World before playing a crucial role in shaping SLAM’s inception and success. It was his original concept of a "hip hop magazine about basketball" that he transformed into a reality, spearheading the process that led to the publication of the inaugural edition of SLAM in May 1994. Known for its iconic covers, SLAM has produced over 200 editions over the years, each contributing to its legacy as a pivotal source for basketball enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the game and its cultural impact.
John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient – JoAn Scott JoAn Scott has been an admired businesswoman in the basketball landscape for almost four decades, beginning in 1987 when she started at USA Basketball. Scott worked at USA Basketball from 1987-96, culminating as the director of basketball operations from 1992-96. During that time, she was a staff administrator for the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, as well as the United States’ 1996 Olympic team.
Scott then spent the next 17 years at Nike (1996-2013), where she had key roles in the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship and the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games. During her tenure at Nike, she managed and fostered relationships between the company and many universities.
After serving as the managing director of men’s basketball championships for the last 11 years, Scott has ascended to vice president of men’s basketball now with oversight of the Division I, II, and III Men’s Basketball Championships, the National Invitation Tournament, and the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Academy. Scott also manages the NCAA Championships Engagement Unit, which supports corporate partner activations, branding, marketing, fan events, and game presentations for all NCAA championships.
Previous Curt Gowdy Media Award Recipients:
Year - Print/Electronic/Transformative/Insight 1990 - Dick Herbert/Curt Gowdy 1991 - Dave Dorr/Marty Glickman 1992 - Sam Goldaper/Chick Hearn 1993 - Leonard Lewin/Johnny Most 1994 - Leonard Koppett/Cawood Ledford 1995 - Bob Hammel/Dick Enberg 1996 - Bob Hentzen/Billy Packer 1997 - Bob Ryan/Marv Albert 1998 - Larry Donald & Dick Weiss/Dick Vitale 1999 - Smith Barrier/Bob Costas 2000 - Dave Kindred/Hubie Brown 2001 - Curry Kirkpatrick/Dick Stockton 2002 - Jim O’Connell/Jim Nantz 2003 - Sid Hartman/Hot Rod Hundley 2004 - Phil Jasner/Max Falkenstien 2005 - Jack McCallum/Bill Campbell 2006 - Mark Heisler/Bill Raftery 2007 - Malcolm Moran/Al McCoy 2008 - David DuPree/Bob Wolff 2009 - Peter Vecsey/Doug Collins 2010 - Jackie MacMullan/Joe Tait 2011 - Alexander Wolff/Jim Durham 2012 - Sam Smith/Bill Schonely 2013 - John Feinstein/Eddie Doucette 2014 - Joe Gilmartin/John Andariese 2015 - Rich Clarkson/Woody Durham 2016 - David Aldridge/Jay Bilas 2017 - Harvey Araton/Craig Sager 2018 - Andy Bernstein/Doris Burke 2019 - Marc Stein/Ralph Lawler 2020 - Michael Wilbon/Mike Breen/Inside the NBA/Jim Gray 2021 - Mel Greenberg/Mike Gorman/George Kalinsky 2022 - M.A. Voepel/Walt Frazier/Dick Ebersol 2023 - Holly Rowe/Marc Spears/CBS Sport
Previous John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
1973 - John Bunn 1974 - John Wooden 1975 - J. Walter Kennedy 1976 - Henry P. Iba 1977 - Clifford B. Fagan 1978 - Curt Gowdy 1979 - Eddie Gottlieb 1980 - Arnold "Red" Auerbach 1981 - Ray Meyer 1982 - Daniel Biasone 1983 - Robert J. Cousy 1984 - Lawrence F. O'Brien 1985 - Lee Williams 1986 - Grady W. Lewis 1987 - David R. Gavitt 1988 - Haskell Hillyard 1989 - George E. Killian 1990 - Pat Head Summitt 1991 - Morgan B. Wootten 1992 - Will Robinson 1993 - Joe Vancisin 1994 - William Wall 1995 - Pete Carlesimo 1996 - Vic Bubas 1997 - C.M. Newton 1998 - Tex Winter 1999 - The Harlem Globetrotters 2000 - Meadowlark Lemon 2001 - Tom Jernstedt 2002 - Harvey Pollack 2003 - Joe O'Brien 2004 - Zelda Spoelstra 2005 - Marty Blake 2006 - Betty Jaynes 2007 - Thomas “Satch” Sanders 2008 - Val Ackerman 2009 - Johnny "Red" Kerr 2010 - Don Meyer 2011 - Brian McIntyre 2012 - Pat Williams 2013 - George Raveling 2014 - Alvin Attles 2015 - Rod Thorn 2016 - Jim Delany 2017 - Michael Goldberg 2017 - Donald “Dee” Rowe 2018 - Harley Redin & Jim Host 2019 - Del Harris & Harry Glickman 2020 - Timothy Nugent 2022 - Reggie Minton 2023 - Tom Konchalski
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #GowdyAward or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
CLIPPERS’ TYRONN LUE FINED NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2024 – LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has been fined $35,000 for public criticism of the officiating and for questioning the integrity of game officials, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Lue’s actions took place outside the Clippers’ locker room after the team’s 130-125 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 14 at Chase Center.
FIBA Executive Committee meeting held at NBA All-Star weekend |
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| FEBRUARY 19, 2024 INDIANAPOLIS (USA) - FIBA’s Executive Committee has held its second meeting of the current working cycle at the All-Star 2024 weekend, strengthening its unique collaboration with the NBA. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver opened the meeting and emphasized the close collaboration that the two organizations hold, built over years of collaborative efforts on various projects and initiatives which had paved the way for the growth of basketball. During the meeting, USA Basketball received a special commemorative gift to recognize the Federation’s 50th anniversary. FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani presented the gift to Jim Tooley, USA Basketball Chief Executive Officer and FIBA Competitions Commission Men’s National Teams Deputy Chair. |
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The following key topics were discussed during the meeting: FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 and Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024Reports were received on the preparations for the Olympic Basketball Tournaments for both men and women, to be held in Lille (Group Phase) and Paris (Final Phase) from July 26 to August 11. The FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 were successfully held recently in Belgium, Brazil, China, and Hungary. The three days of competition witnessed record crowds and exciting match-ups, with twelve teams securing their place in the upcoming Olympic Games. The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 will be played from July 2 to 7 in Riga, Valencia, Piraeus, and San Juan. The draw for both Olympic Basketball Tournaments will take place on March 19 at FIBA’s headquarters in Switzerland. FIBA Continental Cups 2025The Executive Committee received reports on the preparations for next year's Continental Cups, to be played across the four regions. Window 1 of the Continental Cup 2025 Qualifiers commences on February 19 and runs through to February 27. The FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers will see the participation of 20 national teams, while the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers will feature 16 teams from across the region. Twenty-four national teams will battle it out at FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, and the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers will see 32 teams vying for a spot in the showcase event. FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying TournamentsPreparations are underway for the newly implemented Pre-Qualifying Tournaments for FIBA’s flagship women’s event. The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournaments will take place in August 2024 and will include four teams not qualified from FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments to Paris 2024 plus 12 teams from FIBA Women’s Continental Cups 2023, with a maximum of 4 teams per region. For more information on this, click here. 3x3The Executive Committee heard a comprehensive recap of the recent FIBA 3x3 World Tour season of 2023 which saw 18 stops covering the entire world, finishing in December with a spectacular World Tour Final in Jeddah. A report was also received on the upcoming 3x3 2024 season, which will also include 3x3’s return to the Olympic Games in July. Club CompetitionsUpdates were received on FIBA’s club competitions, including the upcoming fourth season of the Basketball Africa League which tips off on March 9, the current Basketball Champions League, currently in the middle of its Round of 16, and Basketball Champions League Americas seasons, along with the West Asia Super League current season and the East Asia Super League, which will start its Final Four shortly. eFIBA Season 2The Executive Committee received a season recap report of the successfully eFIBA Season 2, which cumulated in the World Finals being played at a first-ever eFIBA Lan event at the DreamHack Winter 2023 in Sweden. FIBA AcademyA report was received on one of FIBA’s newest initiatives, the FIBA Academy. The FIBA Academy aims to provide international programs to the wider basketball community to further develop skills and competencies of participating individuals through various learning and immersive experiences in their respective fields. This platform will be made available to executives of basketball organizations including National Federations, national leagues and professional clubs, as well as players, coaches and officials. The FIBA Academy also aims to provide National Federations with a comprehensive catalogue of self-paced online courses to share knowledge on a variety of targeted topics in several fields and is part of FIBA’s strategic priority, to Empower National Federations. NBA FINES LA CLIPPERS’ P.J. TUCKER FOR PUBLIC TRADE DEMANDS NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2024 – The NBA announced today that LA Clippers forward P.J. Tucker has been fined $75,000 by the NBA for public comments reported during the week of February 5 expressing a desire to be traded to another team.
Germany and Hungary big climbers in latest FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike |
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| FEBRUARY 15, 2024 MIES (Switzerland) - Germany and Hungary are the headline risers in the updated edition of the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike. Refreshed in the wake of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 which took place recently in Antwerp, Belem, Xi'An and Sopron, there are a number of climbers in the updated rankings. |
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Germany wrote a historic new chapter in Belem when they celebrated taking a ticket to the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024, which means they are now looking forward to appearing at the Games for the very first time. They're now also ranked in the Top 20 after moving up six places to 19th on 322.8 points, also providing exciting momentum for German basketball in their role as host nation of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, Hungary competed on the global stage for the first time in recent times and while it proved to be a bitter-sweet experience after only missing out on Paris 2024 by a single basket, their efforts have been recognized in the rankings. They also now rise up into the Top 20 after climbing five places to 16th on 357.7 points. The Top 10 of the rankings remains unchanged and that is reflective of the current stability and consistency of the leading nations in the world, as well as only three games being played at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024. Every Top 10 nation will be appearing at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 except for Brazil, who were only just squeezed out of a spot. Elsewhere, Puerto Rico stepped up one place to 11th on 495.1 points, which takes them above Nigeria who are now 12th on 490.1 points. While both nations will hit the floor at Paris 2024 after posting successful campaigns at their respective FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, it is the historical element of the ranking which has resulted in Nigeria dropping one place. Specifically, their success at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021 now carries less weight due to the amount of time elapsed since their success at the event. HAWKS’ TRAE YOUNG FINED NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2024 – Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been fined $35,000 for directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The incident occurred with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Hawks’ 136-126 loss to the Chicago Bulls on February 12 at State Farm Arena.
PHOENIX SUNS’ NBA G LEAGUE AFFILIATE TO DEBUT IN 2024-25 SEASON AS ALL 30 NBA TEAMS NOW HAVE G LEAGUE AFFILIATE
– Suns Launch Online Contest for Fans to Name Team – NEW YORK and PHOENIX, Feb. 14, 2024 – The NBA G League and Phoenix Suns today announced that the Suns have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team, which is set to debut in the 2024-25 season. With today’s announcement, the NBA G League expands to a record 32 teams, while all 30 NBA teams now own or operate an NBA G League affiliate. “Bringing a G League team to Phoenix was one of my first priorities as owner,” said Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury team owner Mat Ishbia. “Adding a G League team creates another area for us to compete to be the best and will be a vital tool to help develop players and coaches. Just like the Suns and Mercury, our G League team will serve as a community asset and make a positive impact on and off the court.” A team for the community, the Suns NBA G League team will pay homage to how the Phoenix Suns were named in 1968 through a public contest. Fans will have the chance to name the NBA G League team via an online contest,* now through Feb. 28, by submitting entries to Suns.com/GLeague. The winning submission will receive free tickets for the team’s inaugural NBA G League season and a $1,000 cash prize. “We are honored to welcome Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns to the NBA G League, and are thrilled to achieve our long-stated goal that each of the 30 NBA teams has an NBA G League affiliate,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “The NBA G League has never been more valuable to NBA teams than it is today, and the Suns’ investment only reinforces that reality. I can’t wait to join fans in the Valley next season to enjoy the unique brand of NBA G League basketball.” The Suns NBA G League team will play its home games in the Phoenix metro area. More details on the venue, as well as the team’s name and logo, will be announced in the spring. The NBA G League is a proven developer of NBA talent. Almost 60 percent of current NBA players have NBA G League experience, while eight NBA head coaches were NBA G League coaches first. The NBA G League also acts as the NBA’s research and development laboratory, testing innovative rules now used in the NBA, including the Coach’s Challenge and the 14-second shot-clock reset rule. *G League naming contest rules and eligibility available here. Penny Taylor and Carmelo Anthony to perform draws for the Olympic Basketball Tournaments on March 19 |
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| FEBRUARY 13, 2024 MIES (Switzerland) - The highly anticipated Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024 Draws for both men and women are scheduled for March 19 and will take place at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland, at 19:00 CET. International basketball legends Penny Taylor of Australia and Carmelo Anthony of the USA will perform as hosts for the Draws. Taylor, the MVP of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2006 after leading the Opals to the title, claimed Olympic silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Games. She also played at the 2016 Olympics when Australia were fifth. She was recently inducted to the 2023 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame. |
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| Anthony is second on the all-time scoring list for the USA. He won gold medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics and bronze at the 2004 Athens Games. |
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With the conclusion of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 held in Belgium, Brazil, China, and Hungary, all 12 teams for the women's draw are now confirmed: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Spain and USA Eight of the 12 teams for the men's tournament are already known: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Serbia, South Sudan and USA. France are qualified as hosts and the other nations have qualified at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Slots in the men's draw will also be reserved for the winners of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 to be held from July 2nd to July 7th in Riga, Valencia, Piraeus, and San Juan. The draw principles will be announced at a later stage and will be based on the FIBA World Ranking Men and the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike, and geographical principles. The draws will be livestreamed on FIBA's YouTube channel. Field confirmed for the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 |
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FEBRUARY 12, 2024MIES (Switzerland) - The 12-team field for the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 is now complete following the successful conclusion of the four FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, in Antwerp, Belgium; Belem, Brazil; Xi'An, China and Sopron, Hungary. A total of 11 teams already have previous Olympic appearances, but there was a significant new chapter written for Germany, who will make history when they appear at the Games for the very first time. The last tickets to the Olympic Games were claimed on Sunday by Canada, Germany, Japan, Serbia and Spain. Australia, Belgium, China, Nigeria and Puerto Rico qualified on Friday and Saturday. FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 champions USA and the hosts of the Olympic Games, France, had guaranteed spots in the Olympics ahead of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. The full list of the 2024 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament teams is as follows: Australia
Belgium
Canada
China
France
Germany
Japan
Nigeria
Puerto Rico
Serbia
Spain
USA Emma Meesseman (Belgium), Gabby Williams (France), Mai Yamamoto (Japan) and Ezi Magbegor (Australia) all received TISSOT MVP awards following impressive individual displays at the respective tournaments. The Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 will take place from July 29 to August 11. BULLS’ ANDRE DRUMMOND FINED NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2024 – Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond has been fined $15,000 for making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The incident occurred with 1:22 remaining in overtime of the Bulls’ 129-123 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 6 at United Center.
DAZN deepens basketball offer with global distribution deal for FIBA's Courtside 1891 product |
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
MIES/LONDON (Switzerland/UK) - DAZN Group, the world's sports entertainment platform, FIBA and Two Circles, today announce a long-term strategic partnership that sees DAZN become a global distributor of Courtside 1891.*
Courtside 1891 is the home of FIBA live streaming, with a focus on national team basketball.
Courtside 1891 hosts live and on-demand content from FIBA's international competitions, including both FIBA World Cups and their Qualifiers, as well as all FIBA Continental Cup competitions and Youth World Cups. In addition, users can watch live and on-demand content from pan-regional club competitions such as Basketball Champions League, FIBA Intercontinental Cup, EuroLeague Women and East Asia Super League as well as from domestic leagues such as Liga Endesa, NBL, Japanese B. League and much more.
The new announcement will see Courtside 1891 made available as a standalone offering on DAZN, with both premium paid-for and free-to-access content available to registered users, similar to NFL Game Pass, which was launched globally on DAZN in 2023.
This builds on DAZN and FIBA's longstanding relationship, centred on their joint venture, FIBA Media, which remains unchanged. Since 2016, DAZN and FIBA have partnered in operating FIBA Media, in particular, to maximize the B2B distribution of FIBA's expansive media rights.
Separately, FIBA and Two Circles launched Courtside 1891 in 2022 as part of a strategic direct-to-consumer (D2C) partnership, with the service being a part of FIBA's extensive broadcast distribution of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 last year.
Under this new arrangement, FIBA will leverage DAZN's global reach and innovative technology stack to extend its D2C distribution and develop new engaging formats and products for the Courtside 1891 proposition. This arrangement will complement the existing extensive set of broadcast relationships which FIBA Media has negotiated with media partners, ensuring global distribution of live coverage from FIBA’s premier competitions.
To celebrate the launch of Courtside 1891 on DAZN, games played by the USA and France national teams throughout February at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 and the FIBA Continental Cup 2025 Qualifiers will be available to fans within the USA and France respectively for free on Courtside 1891 on DAZN.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: "DAZN already has a strong portfolio of basketball on our platform. Basketball is the third most watched sport on DAZN and we have big ambitions to become a primary destination for fans of the sport across the world. We have had a long and collaborative relationship with FIBA, and I look forward to working ever more closely with them and other partners to bring this premium action to basketball fans."
Frank Leenders, Director General of FIBA Media and Marketing Services, said: "FIBA is very pleased to announce this partnership with DAZN, which represents an important extension of the distribution and visibility of FIBA's major events through the Courtside 1891 product. Furthermore, this addition to the already expansive partnership between FIBA and DAZN is an example of the synergies we have achieved together. DAZN is the global leader in sports D2C and they continue to recognise the undoubted value of both international and club basketball."
Kris Gotsch, Two Circles' Managing Director, EMEA Services & Product, said: "This latest partnership marks a significant step in our collaborative journey to bring more basketball to more fans, in more markets around the world. By developing these direct, genuine relationships we hope to create even more opportunities to know our fans best for years to come."
DAZN already broadcasts a number of other basketball competitions in various markets, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) in Germany and Belgium; the WNBA in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; the Basketball Champions League in France and Italy; the basketball Serie A (LBA), EuroLeague and EuroCup in Italy; FIBA events in Japan and Italy; and Liga ACB in Portugal.
Spectacular FIBA social media numbers seal record-breaking year of success |
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FEBRUARY 5, 2024
MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA enjoyed unprecedented social media engagement during 2023 to highlight the success of its global events and a soaring worldwide appetite for basketball content.
The record-breaking numbers across @FIBA channels, which include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Sina Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, Toutiao and Kuaishou see FIBA ranked #1 for engagement and video views among Olympic International Federations, according to leading analytics platform Blinkfire. |
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Engagements witnessed a 99.4 percent increase from 85 million to 169.6 million, while video views rocketed, with a new high of 2.4 billion, representing an increase of more than a third at 33.5 percent from the 1.82 billion during the previous calendar year.
Similarly, the appetite for basketball content was evident in the ever-increasing number of followers being attracted to @FIBA channels. They grew 28 percent to 24.1 million from 18.9 million. FIBA's extensive social media ecosystem encompasses over 25 event and regional verticals, with nearly 100 accounts providing coverage of basketball in every corner of the globe.
Factoring in the broader suite of social media channels under the FIBA banner for specific competitions and regions, the consolidated numbers are even more impressive. This includes the outstanding social media numbers of FIBA 3x3 for the 2023 season, with the demand for content at an all-time high for the discipline. |
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For all FIBA accounts, there was an increase of 129.6 percent in engagements compared to 2022, with the new headline number soaring skywards to 339.5 million engagements. The 5.1 billion video views marked an increase of 60.6 percent, and there were 49.1 million followers - up 25.6 percent on the prior year.
A key driver for the amazing growth across all social platforms was the stellar success of the showpiece FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which generated intense interest globally for the sport. Widely heralded as the best FIBA event in history, the way it engaged with existing fans and attracted new fans to the sport was exceptional.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 earned a breathtaking 4.6 billion video views, 480 million engagements and 20 billion impressions, on both owned and earned channels, to leave a lasting and indelible footprint.
"We are all thrilled by 2023 returning such impressive social media numbers and underlining how more people than ever are following and engaging with the sport," stated FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
"Attracting even more followers and new fans is vital if we want to meet our aim of continually growing basketball globally.
"Our digital platforms are more than keeping pace with the different ways that people want to consume basketball across multiple channels right around the world. That is also why FIBA is so dedicated to embracing new technology and innovations in our sport," concluded Zagklis. |
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FIBA and TCL to 'Inspire Greatness' with extension of Global Partnership for another four years |
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JANUARY 18, 2024
MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA and global leading tech brand TCL will continue their relationship as Global Partners for another four years after agreeing to build on their already highly successful collaboration.
Having partnered since 2018, TCL premium level branding has been showcased at all of FIBA's major tournaments. This included last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, where TCL played a crucial role in helping deliver FIBA's biggest and most successful event in international basketball history. TCL also built commercial display booths in all three host countries of the World Cup and had Fan Cams for on-court activities in all 92 games.
Meanwhile, TCL has become synonymous with high performance and excellence through the 'TCL Player of the Game' award at FIBA events. Harnessing the power of brand exposure in FIBA's leading competitions, this platform has accelerated TCL's globalization and they have been able to use this to increase their influence, bringing the local markets benefits from both a sales and reputation perspective. |
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 | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador Luis Scola was on hand at the closing ceremony of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to present the TCL Player of the Game to Franz Wagner of Germany. |
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Both FIBA and TCL also delivered a Corporate Social Responsibility project together. The 'Break and Believe' initiative to boost the appeal of girls and women's basketball was launched at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Australia and has been an exciting part of FIBA's renowned 'Her World, Her Rules' project.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: "FIBA and TCL enjoy a strong partnership that is now being extended to a third consecutive World Cup cycle.
"TCL has not only become synonymous with some of the best player performances in FIBA competitions, but they have also shown a great appetite to support wider basketball campaigns. The highly active part they have played in promoting Women in Basketball, one of our strategic priorities, is the kind of added value that makes us particularly satisfied to be extending this agreement for another four years."
Vice President of TCL Technology, Ms. Wei Xue, commented: "TCL is honored to extend this strategic cooperation with FIBA for the next four years. During the past six years in our partnership, through our successful collaboration together, we have experienced international events such as the FlBA Basketball World Cup and the FlBA Women's Basketball World Cup, which have brought passion and joy to basketball fans worldwide.
"Working together with FIBA again, TCL aims to further accelerate its process of globalization through FIBA's international exposure and activations, improving TCL's global brand influence. Let's continue to inspire greatness."
This agreement was brokered by FIBA Marketing, the strategic partnership between FIBA and Infront. |
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