2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Odds and Predictions

The Sports Geek
 
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Odds and Predictions

On Friday, August 25, the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup gets underway as the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia are co-hosting 32 countries, all in search of the 2023 FIBA World Cup crown on September 10.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup occurs once every four years. In 2019, Team Spain blew out Argentina in the gold medal match by a score of 95-75. The Americans crashed out early and finished a disappointing seventh place in the event.

Team USA returns this year with a more equipped squad designed to go much further. Led by Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and others, the USA is favored to win the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

online sports betting sites and see who we predict to win this international basketball tournament.

2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Odds

The following FIBA World Cup odds are courtesy of BetUS:

Team USA is the only team that doesn’t have plus-money odds to win the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Besides the USA, there isn’t another team close to even money. The Americans are odds-on favorites to capture the World Cup of Basketball at -125.

The team with the second-best FIBA Basketball World Cup odds, Team Canada, announced that Jamal Murray will not be participating to focus on recovering for the upcoming NBA season. After winning last season’s NBA title, the Denver Nuggets are co-favorites to repeat as champions at NBA betting sites.

With the Summer Olympics next year, Murray will have another opportunity to represent Canada soon. Despite Murray’s absence, Team Canada still has the second-best odds to win the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup at +800. France and Australia follow with +850 and +900 odds.

FIBA Basketball World Cup Betting Favorite

There is one clear favorite to win the 2023 edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. If another country besides the USA wins, it will go down as a considerable upset.

Team USA (-125)

Team USA’s 2019 World Cup roster did not have the talent and depth that you would expect from an American squad. After Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell, there weren’t many players you’d consider good enough to be featured players on Team USA.

In 2023, it all changes with Steve Kerr’s team in Southeast Asia. Kerr has built a roster that is capable of winning the USA’s third FIBA Basketball World Cup title in four events. The Americans dismantled Serbia, 129-92, to win the gold medal match in 2014.

This team has the same potential of carving up opponents and leaving no question marks behind. There are several playmakers that Kerr can turn to in Asia. The likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant aren’t present, but you will see a hungry effort out of Paolo Banchero, Brunson, and Edwards.

Reaves steal.
Johnson dish.
Banchero finish.#USABMNT vs. Spain | Live on FOX �� pic.twitter.com/mNBORpQ3vZ

Additionally, this is a good spot for the Lakers’ Austin Reaves, who could take a significant step forward in his third season. There is a lot of young talent to like on this roster. While some Team USA basketball teams have no motivation or incentive to play well, there should be some pep in this team’s step.

Banchero is coming off a fantastic rookie season with the Orlando Magic. The 20-year-old forward averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Also, the first overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft was named the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Brunson’s career has been on an upward trajectory since signing with the New York Knicks last year. He came on strong to record career-highs in scoring (24), three-point percentage (41.6), and assists (6.2) in 2022-23.

Team USA is a perfect 4-0 in exhibition games leading up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup. In their latest outing, they never trailed against the Giannis-less Greeks for a 108-86 victory. Edwards’ 21 points led the Americans to the wire-to-wire win. All 12 players scored, with five reaching double digits.

There is NBA talent on several FIBA World Cup teams. That said, another team doesn’t have the depth of the USA’s roster. Going to Reaves, Bobby Portis, and Cameron Johnson off the bench is a luxury that other teams do not have.

FIBA Basketball World Cup Best Value Bet: Slovenia (+1200)

While Team USA has tremendous depth, the best player at the FIBA Basketball World Cup might be from a small country in the Balkans. Luka Doncic, who carried Slovenia at EuroBasket 2022, is back for Team Slovenia.

The Dallas Mavericks’ star averaged 26 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in Europe last year. And if you doubt his commitment to Slovenian basketball, the 6-foot-7 guard said he’d always play for his country if he’s healthy.

Most PPG by an active player:

27.6 — Luka Doncic
27.3 — Kevin Durant
27.2 — Joel Embiid
27.2 — LeBron James

Only Wilt and MJ have more than Luka. pic.twitter.com/7fETFGlRXz

— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 11, 2023

Doncic was not happy with how EuroBasket 2022 ended. Slovenia did not achieve their ultimate goal of winning the championship. However, a motivated and determined Doncic is always a dangerous thing for the rest of the countries at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In Slovenia’s final exhibition game, they torched Japan’s national team by a score of 103-68 in Tokyo. Doncic needed less than 28 minutes to record 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. He exited the game with plenty more to offer, but the four-time NBA All-Star had already delivered a loud message.

Doncic will need a teammate or two to step up in a secondary role. If Slovenia is going to the finals, there will have to be another scorer that helps Doncic. The Slovenians will need to get into a high-scoring shootout, as they don’t have the defense to stop Team USA.

Jaka Blakic and Zoran Dragic could be the catalysts that Doncić needs in Asia. They both contributed nicely, with 16 and 14 points respectively on better than 70 percent shooting. If anything, Slovenia should be a fun team to watch with Doncic running the offense.

You never know what can happen if Doncic gets red-hot. He just needs to heat up at the right time, which is certainly within reason. At +1200 odds, Doncic and Team Slovenia are worth giving a look at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA Basketball World Cup Best Longshot Bet: Germany (+2500)

Several things will have to go right for Germany to win the World Cup. However, there aren’t many teams that can say they have a two-player NBA combo like the Germans can at this event.

Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner should combine to provide Germany with a solid chance of being competitive. Schroder is coming off a fine season with the Los Angeles Lakers off the bench. The 11-year NBA veteran scored 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and notched 4.5 assists per game through 66 games.

Following his second stint with the Lakers, Schroder signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. Schroder gives Team Germany an NBA veteran directing traffic at point guard. He is one of the better point guards in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

However, if Germany is going to win, it will be because Wagner carries the weight. In his second season in the NBA, Wagner was exceptional for the Orlando Magic. Along with Banchero, the future looks bright in Orlando, Florida.

Wagner averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in his second year. Last week, the 6-foot-10, 21-year-old helped Germany beat Team Canada, who have the second-best odds of winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023.

Franz Wagner decides the prep game vs Canadapic.twitter.com/ryaRUlP0rF

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 9, 2023

He led Germany to an 86-81 win, with 18 points, two rebounds, and four assists. Schroder chipped in with 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. In another tune-up game against Canada, Germany was edged out by a point, 113-112.

The X-factor for Team Germany could be 31-year-old Daniel Theis. Currently, with the Indiana Pacers, Theis has six years of NBA experience, primarily with the Boston Celtics.

If the three-balls are falling, the Germans might come up with an unexpected showing in Asia. They’ve been competitive against some good teams in the past. Team Germany should be watched closely this year.

2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Prediction: USA (-125)

There are teams that might be able to match up well with Team USA through the first half of games. However, problems should arise for opponents when they call on their bench. The Americans have too much depth from the bottom to the top.

Despite not having household names on their roster, there are a few members of Team USA that should be well-known in the league in 2023-24. After winning the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year award, Banchero’s ceiling is sky-high.

Edwards, Brunson, and Reaves should continue to climb the ranks as well. Edwards and Brunson are ready for the spotlight after breaking out this past year. Meanwhile, it could be Reaves’ turn to take a big step forward. In addition to offense, Team USA has the reigning 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year on their roster, Jaren Jackson Jr.

Team USA has an abundance of young, motivated talent that will be tough to stop in Southeast Asia. The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup odds suggest that the USA will run away with the gold. It may not be as easy as the odds indicate, but you can expect a championship performance from the American squad through September 10.