That’s a Wrap: FIBA Tracker for Five Jazz Players at World Cup

You could make a pretty solid lineup from the Jazz representatives at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

UPDATE: The World Cup is over, with Kelly Olynyk’s Canada coming in third, and Team USA failing to make the podium. Below is an updated accounting of all five Jazz players’ tournaments and how their home countries fared.

Jazz fans don’t have to wait until October to see five of the team’s players in action — but they’ll need an alarm clock.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup kicks off later this month across four locations in Asia. The Jazz will have representation on five of the 32 national teams who will be vying for World Cup gold. And since those teams are starting to prepare for the tournament with exhibition games as early as this week, we figured it was time to revisit the old tradition of giving you one place to keep track of Jazz participants in FIBA’s summer basketball events.

Below is a quick preview of just what we might see from Utah’s five international ballers, along with their full schedules of FIBA action involving current Utah athletes. As the games unfold, we’ll update this page with stats.

Jazz players who reached the bracket phase

Kelly Olynyk

Canada quietly put together a squad with a lot of NBA experience. That’s not the only measure of quality that matters, but it’s a pretty good indication of how many players from a particular country can credibly claim entry into the most selective basketball fraternity on the planet. Nearly every player on Team Canada has seen an NBA court.

Where Canada is lightest, though, is up front, which is why Olynyk might still be featured quite prominently. Guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray will lead the way, and there are some more compact bigs like RJ Barrett and Dwight Powell. But Olynyk is definitely the most proven of Canada’s options for a true center.

They’ll visit Germany for a friendly match and then play a couple of quick exhibition tourneys before group play in Jakarta, where they’ll face Rudy Gobert’s French team, Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis, and Lebanon.

UPDATED 9/10

Canada took home bronze after going 2-1 in the bracket phase. They knocked out Luka Doncic’s Slovenian squad in the quarterfinals, then got stunned by a Serbia team playing without Nikola Jokic, then won an OT thriller against their neighbors to the south. Canada finished third in the World Cup.

Olynyk averaged 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the bracket phase, and 10.9/4.6/2.9 in the tournament as a whole.

• 7/5/4 as Canada advanced passed Slovenia with a 100-89 win to make the semifinals
• 9/3/4 as Canada lost to Serbia, 86-95, to get knocked out of contention for gold.
• 11/2/2 in Canada’s OT win over the USA, 127-118, to claim bronze

Group phase:

Olynyk averaged 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in group play. In the second round, he had:

• 9/7/1 in Canada’s first loss of the tournament, a 65-69 letdown vs. Brazil
• 6/2/1 in limited minutes of Canada’s 88-85 win over Spain

In the three first-round games, he contributed:

• 18/4/2 in a 95-65 win vs. France
• 12/8/5 in a 128-73 win vs. Lebanon
• 15/6/4 in a 101-75 win vs. Latvia

Preparation phase:

Canada had five friendly matches before the World Cup, and KO averaged 12.0 points.

• 11-4-3 in an 81-86 loss to Germany
• 13 points in a 107-76 win vs. New Zealand in the Basketball SuperCup in Germany
• 21 points and the game-saving block in 113-112 win vs. Germany  in the Basketball SuperCup in Germany 
• 11/6/5 in the 85-80 overtime win vs. Spain in the Granada Tournament in Spain
• 4/2/1 in 88-94 loss vs. Dominican Republic in the Granada Tournament in Spain

Walker Kessler

It’s hard to say just how much burn the one-year pro will get on Team USA. On the one hand, he’s the only true center on the roster, but Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bobby Portis are hybrid bigs who will play some there.

Still, centers still matter in the FIBA style of play, and there might be times when USA needs some traditional rim protection. This is Kessler’s first experience with the national team at any level.

After a home exhibition game in Las Vegas, Team USA will hit Spain and United Arab Emirates for some prep tourneys. Their group play might include a showdown with Giannis Antetokounmpo — if the superstar is indeed able to go for the Greeks — but that’s the only major resistance, with apologies to this iteration of the New Zealand and Jordan teams.

UPDATED 9/10

Team USA had a rough bracket phase, letting Germany carve them up in the semifinal and then losing 16-7 in overtime of the 3rd/4th place game. They left the Philippines without a medal, and used Kessler only sparingly. They finished fourth.

The Jazz center averaged 5.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in the bracket phase, 4.0 and 2.3 in the tournament as a whole.

• 4 points, 5 rebounds in USA’s 100-63 win over Italy to advance to the semifinals
• Kessler did not play as Germany stunned USA 113-111, knocking Team USA out of contention for first place.
• 6 points, 7 rebounds in a 118-127 OT loss to Canada that dropped USA to 4th place

Group phase:

Kessler saw limited action in the group phase and averaged just 3.6 points and 0.8 boards. In the second phase of group play, he had:

• 4 points and 1 rebound in USA’s 85-73 win over Montenegro
• 2 points and 1 rebound in 6 minutes of USA’s 104-110 loss to Lithuania

In the first round, he gave USA:

• Scoreless in just 90 seconds at the end of USA’s 99-72 win vs. New Zealand
• 4 points and 1 rebound in six minutes of USA’s 109-81 win vs. Greece
• 8 points and 1 rebound (3 blocks!) in 12 minutes of USA’s 110-62 win vs. Jordan

Preparation phase:

Kessler averaged 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in Team USA’s warm-up games:

• 5 points & 4 rebounds for Kessler in 4 minutes of a 117-74 win vs. Puerto Rico in Las Vegas
• 2 points & 1 rebounds in 3 minutes of a 92-62 win vs. Slovenia in a warm-up tourney in Spain
• Kessler got in late and did not score vs. Spain in a warm-up tourney in Spain
• 7 points & 5 rebounds in his first extended run (16 minutes) of a 108-86 win vs. Greece in Abu Dhabi
• Did not play vs. Germany in Abu Dhabi

Simone Fontecchio

Fontecchio is a guy who could probably use a nice showing at FIBA to restore some confidence. He made some believers early on in his NBA stint, but mostly struggled: 37-33-80 shooting splits and a team-worst* -13.1 net rating. (*Minimum 20 games.)

He figures to have a big role for Italy. National team fixture Luigi Datome is returning for a swan song, but at 35, it’s unclear how much juice is left. Aside from “Gigi,” a lot of Italy’s top talent is at the guard position or up front, meaning there will be room for Tech to make an impact. He is already a veteran of the Italian team, having stood out in the 2021 Olympics and at last year’s EuroBasket. (Fun side note: Nico Mannion, son of Jazz alum Pace, is also on the squad.)

Italy scheduled itself a whopping seven exhibition games. Then they’ll have to deal with their Filipino hosts — including Clarkson — as well as a pretty solid Dominican team featuring Al Horford.

UPDATED 9/10

Italy got a very motivated Team USA in the semifinal and paid the price. Then they rested some guys from that point on, and consequently settled for 8th place.

Fontecchio had 17.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in a pair of bracket phase games, and 18/5.6/1.4 for the tournament.

• 18/5/1 in a 63-100 loss to USA
• Fontecchio did not play in Italy’s first classification game (a loss to Latvia), and was listed as being out per coach’s decision.
• 16/1/0 as Italy fell to 8th place with an 85-89 loss to Slovenia

Group phase:

Fontecchio averaged an impressive18.6, 6.6 and 1.4 in the group phase. His best game came in the second round:

• 31/7/3 in a thrilling 78-76 win over Serbia
• 12/12/1 in Italy’s 73-57 win over Puerto Rico

His first round wasn’t too shabby either:

• 19/5/2 in 81-67 win vs. Angola
• 13/3/2 in an 82-87 loss vs. Dominican Republic
• 18/6/1 in a 90-83 win vs. Philippines

Preparation phase

Fontecchio averaged 17.7 points in Italy’s seven warm-up games:

• 21 for Fontecchio in a 90-80 OT win vs. Turkey at the Trentino Cup
• Fontecchio did not play in the second game of the Trentino Cup
• 13/6/2 for Fontecchio in an 89-88 win vs. Serbia in a tournament in Greece
• 17 points for Fontecchio in 74-70 win vs. Greece in a tournament in Greece
• 21-6-2 for Fontecchio in 90-83 win vs. Puerto Rico in Italy
• 26-5-1 for Fontecchio in a 93-87 win vs. Brazil in a China tournament
• 8 points for Fontecchio vs New Zealand as Italy wrapped up a perfect slate of friendlies

Jazz players who did not reach the bracket phase

Lauri Markkanen

Markkanen once again figures to be a huge part of Team Finland’s game plan. The Jazz All-Star used last summer’s EuroBasket tournament as a springboard to this year’s successful campaign, averaging 28 and 8 in what turned out to be an appetizer.

Expect him to be featured heavily again this summer. He’s the only current NBA player on Finland’s roster, although there are some international standouts and NCAA prospects on the roster.

Finland has a relatively light preparatory phase, with just four friendlies scheduled. But their group is a fairly brutal one, with each of their three peers bringing multiple NBA players with them to Okinawa. That includes group host Japan, with Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe on the roster, but Germany and Australia both have plenty of NBA talent as well.

UPDATED 9/10

Markkanen (and Finland) were out after an 0-3 showing in the first round of group games. The Jazz All-Star averaged 24.8 points and 8.0 rebounds at the World Cup. Finland officially came in 21st in the World Cup.

Classification games for 17-32

Markkanen had a strong close to the tournament, averaging 33/9/0.5 in the consolation bracket. 

• 34/9/1 in a 100-71 win vs. Cape Verde
• 32/9/0 in a 90-75 win over Venezuela

First round recap

Markkanen averaged 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in group play:

• 19/8/4 in a 72-98 loss vs. Australia
• 27/12/1 in an 88-98 loss vs. Japan
• 12/2/0 in limited minutes of a 75-101 loss vs. Germany

Preparation phase

In three warm-up games, Markkanen averaged 28.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists:

• 24/7/3 for Markkanen in an 81-79 win while hosting Lithuania
• 29/13/3 for Markkanen in an 86-80 win while hosting Estonia
• 32/11/4 for Markkanen in an 80-84 loss in Lithuania
• Markkanen rested for the 57-94 loss in Latvia

Jordan Clarkson

With the Philippines serving as the primary host nation (one of four countries hosting the preliminary stages but the lone site for the bracket phase), that means we’ll get to see Clarkson in something of an ambassadorial role.

We’ll also get to see him lead his team on the court, no doubt. He’s the only rotational NBA player on his national squad, so expect Gilas Pilipinas to be in a lot of respects the Jordan Clarkson Show. It was last summer, when Clarkson averaged 25-6-7 over two games in his first ever appearance with the squad in last August’s qualifiers. (The Philippines actually gained an automatic World Cup berth by virtue of being a host nation.)

Clarkson and team will make just one stop on their preparatory journey: a 4-game tournament in China before group play, which includes Angola as well as Dominican and Italian teams with plenty of NBA talent.

UPDATED 9/10

Host Philippines was out after an 0-3 funk in the initial phase, but it was a strong showing for Clarkson: 26.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in the World Cup. The Philippines landed 24th in the final tournament ranking.

Classification games for 17-32

Clarkson averaged 29.0 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in the Philippines’ two final games.

• 24/4/3 in a 68-87 loss to South Sudan
• 34/2/3 in a 96-75 win over China

First round recap

• 28/7/7 in an 81-87 loss to Dominican Republic
• 21/3/7 in a 70-80 loss vs. Angola
• 23/7/6 in an 83-90 loss vs. Italy

Preparation phase

Clarkson didn’t play in any of the Philippines’ four friendly matches, all part of the China International Hoops Festival: Iran, Senegal, Senegal, Iran.

Head-to-Head

UPDATED – 9/10

Clarkson and Fontecchio faced off in the first-round finale for Group A, with the latter’s Italian squad winning to advance. Fontecchio also faced Kessler’s USA squad in the bracket phase and lost. Olynyk then got the better of Kessler in the 3rd place game on Sunday, after both squads lost in the semifinals.

Markkanen never saw a Jazz teammate as a World Cup foe.

Tuning up?

The Jazz also employ Croatia’s Luka Samanic and Turkey’s Omer Yurtseven. Both countries failed to punch their ticket to the World Cup in the complex, multi-stage European qualifying tournament. Yurtseven did appear with Turkey in the 4-team Trentino Cup, and had 23 points against Italy.