Lebanon's participation at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup is guaranteed to make many Lebanese fans ecstatic since this is the country’s return to the world competition after thirteen years. The World Cup is known as the platform that showcases the best talents in the world and Lebanon has earned its place this time.
The Lebanese National Basketball Team represents Lebanon in various international basketball competitions. Over the years, the team has re-emerged as one of the top performing, consistent teams in the Middle East and in Asia, and has shown its prowess by finishing runner-ups against the mighty Australia in the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup.
As part of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, Lebanon competed alongside fifteen other teams all of which took part in the Asia Cup. Lebanon progressed to the second round with five wins and finished its qualifiers campaign with seven wins out of ten to make it to the world cup.
Team Lebanon Extended Roster for the World Cup
| Player Name | Position | Date of Birth |
| Wael Arakji | Point guard | September 4, 1994 (28 years old) |
| Jad Khalil | Point guard | November 20, 1996 (26 years old) |
| Ali Mansour | Point guard | January 1, 1998 (25 years old) |
| Ali Mezher | Point guard | March 22, 1994 (29 years old) |
| Amir Saoud | Shooting guard | January 18, 1991 (32 years old) |
| Karim Zeinoun | Shooting guard | June 16, 1999 (24 years old) |
| Sergio El Darwich | Shooting guard | July 25, 1996 (27 years old) |
| Mark Khoueiry | Shooting guard | August 21, 2001 (21 years old) |
| Youssef Khayat | Small forward | March 11, 2003 (20 years old) |
| Mark Khoury | Swingman (Guard/Forward) | February 22, 1998 (25 years old) |
| Hayk Gyokchian | Power forward | December 11, 1989 (33 years old) |
| Karim Ezzeddine | Power forward | August 8, 1997 (25 years old) |
| Ali Haidar | Power forward | July 20, 1990 (33 years old) |
| Naim Rabay | Power forward | October 28, 1997 (25 years old) |
| Gerard Hadidian | Center | April 21, 1995 (28 years old) |
| Omari Spellman | Power forward | July 21, 1997 (26 years old) |
Led by head coach Jad El Hajj, Team Lebanon brings both skill and determination to every game they play. They embody the spirit of sportsmanship and pride themselves on representing their country with honor on the global stage.
Key Matchups for Lebanon
As we look ahead to the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, it is crucial to highlight some key matchups that await Team Lebanon in the league stages.
Going by the tournament schedule, Team Lebanon will begin its world cup campaign on August 25 against Latvia - a team renowned for its rich basketball history and notable achievements on the European scene.
Led by the Boston Celtics’ newest member Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia is a defensive-heavy team and will challenge Lebanon’s offensive abilities. Winning this encounter will require Lebanon to study Latvia’s overall gameplay and strategize accordingly.
Next up will be one of the top teams in Canada. Canada’s national team has experienced tremendous success in recent years due to their impressive blend of young and experienced talent.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray are capable of dropping double-doubles and triple-doubles on any given day. Lebanon will look to improve its perimeter defense in order to neutralize Canada’s elite shooting.
Lebanon’s third matchup and its toughest competition will be France, one of the powerhouses in European and international basketball. France is ranked fifth on the FIBA world rankings and boasts a roster filled with renowned and emerging NBA, and Euroleague talents. Lebanon will have to be more active on the defensive end and take advantage of any inconsistency shown by the French team.
Lebanon's participation at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup signifies the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and talent development within its national basketball program. As they prepare to face formidable opponents from around the globe, Team Lebanon will showcase their skills while representing their nation on one of the most prestigious stages in global sports.
FAQs
A. Lebanon's best performance came in the 2002 edition when they finished in 16th position.
A. Lebanon finished as runner-up behind Australia, taking home the silver medal.
A. According to FIBA’s website, Lebanon is ranked 43rd in the world.
