Nearly 50 players from the National Basketball Association, about one of every six participants, will take the court for their homelands when the FIBA World Championships begin Saturday.
A trio from the Class of 2003 will serve as the leaders of Team USA in the World Championships.
Make no mistake about tough Group C at the world basketball championships: any of the six teams could be among the two to get bounced after the preliminary round.
New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin believes he has flown to Japan with an older and wiser team than his previous FIBA World Championship squad.
Argentina center Ruben Wolkowyski admits tiredness has been a significant factor in his team`s disappointing recent performances in the lead-up to the FIBA World Championship.
Venezuela forward Alejandro Barrios is certain his side will leave their recent poor form behind them when the FIBA World Championship tips-off this weekend.
After mowing down five exhibition opponents by an average of 34 points, the U.S. is ready to re-establish ownership of international basketball.
Julluo Nwosu is confident that Nigeria will still be around when the World Championship reaches the knockout stages in just over a week's time.
Angolan power forward Joaquim Gomes said the African champions must play as a unit if they want to hold off Panama in their opener of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
German national team coach Dirk Bauermann said off-the-court issues were the reason Julian Sensley was not named to the team for the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Germany coach Dirk Bauermann has finalised his 12-man squad for the FIBA World Championship, with Julian Sensley the man to miss out.
Japanese national team coach Zeljko Pavlicevic admitted that his squad's 2006 FIBA World Championships opener against Germany is far from their most important match of the tournament.