Spain overtakes the U.S for number 1 basketball country in the world (fiba)

[Big Mountain Hélà]

Spain overtakes USA for No. 1 spot in FIBA men's hoops rankings​

11:38 AM ET

• Associated Press

For the first time in 12 years, USA Basketball is not atop the world men's rankings.
FIBA, the sport's governing body, updated its rankings Friday, and Spain moved into the top spot, a sliver ahead of the U.S.
The four-time defending Olympic champion Americans moved into the top spot after winning the FIBA world championship in 2010 and had been there since.
"It's not exactly a new title and it probably can't be maintained for too long, but it's something so unique, prestigious and historic that I feel tremendously proud of everyone who ... contributed to it," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo tweeted Friday.

FIBA's rankings were changed in 2017 to a system that takes results from the most recent eight years into account. That means the U.S. is no longer reaping the benefits of the 2014 World Cup title but is still seeing the Olympic gold medals won at Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo factoring into the rankings. The U.S. finished seventh at the 2019 World Cup.​

Spain won the most recent World Cup, plus the EuroBasket title earlier this year. The EuroBasket win was Spain's fourth in its past six appearances at the continental championship, all of those victories coming under Scariolo.

Spain is just 1.1 points ahead of the U.S. men now, leading 758.6 to 757.5.

The next 10 spots in the world rankings were unchanged. Australia is third, Argentina -- which was No. 1 before the U.S. took that spot in 2010 -- is fourth, followed by France, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic.

The U.S. is still ranked No. 1 in women's basketball by a nearly 200-point margin over China. The Americans rolled to gold at the women's World Cup this year, further cementing their spot atop the list.

USA Basketball also holds comfortable leads atop the worldwide boys' and girls' rankings.

FIBA's most recent rankings include the men's national teams from 164 countries and 118 women's national teams.

 

[FaTaL]

So

 

[THE K-MAN]

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

And yet the McDonalds All American team would probably wax them

 

[In The Zone '98]

See the success you have when you play the right way?

 

[010101]

ha*

 

[tremonthustler1]

@ Canada being ranked 117th

 

[Canada Goose]

 

[Dorian Breh]

fiba ruleset is a joke

nba would be boring af if they played fiba rules

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

He posted not 1 but 2 Pau Gasol pictures

 

[Remote]

America laughs and keeps being complacent as the rest of the world continues to improve.

The USA remains the favorite, but the gap keeps on shrinking.

If and when America does lose on the global stage again, rather than acknowledge the need to retool and adapt, the country will almost certainly just blame their losing players and their "character flaws" or "desire".

But whatever. In many ways this is something to be celebrated. The NBA has made global expansion of the game a priority for 35 years. It can't act surprised or disappointed when the rest of the globe embraces and becomes a worthy adversary.

 

[Swagnificent]

And yet the McDonalds All American team would probably wax them

Did you forget when it took Kobe going HAM in the 4th quarter to beat them in 08?

I don't know why yall act like the world ain't caught up. Even last Olympics we got beat several times.

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

America laughs and keeps being complacent as the rest of the world continues to improve.

The USA remains the favorite, but the gap keeps on shrinking.

If and when America does lose on the global stage again, rather than acknowledge the need to retool and adapt, the country will almost certainly just blame their losing players and their "character flaws" or "desire".

Still the same lines I heard in the 2000s.Was it just a little delay?

 

[Remote]

Still the same lines I heard in the 2000s.Was it just a little delay?

So you don't think basketball has improved globally?
It's a shame to live life with ones eyes shut like that.

 

[Mister Terrific]

So you don't think basketball has improved globally?
It's a shame to live life with ones eyes shut like that.

Imo international basketball was stronger in 2004-2008. Spain, Argentina, Italy, Lithuania, Greece all had best teams all-time.

The best Euro players Luka, Giannis, Jokic all play on comparably weaker teams. As to why all 3 got sent home early in the Euros.

The only Euro team that can challenge America on a good day is France