FIBA EuroBasket 2017 draws Mario Hezonja, Nikola Vucevic, Serge Ibaka in the same group
FIBA Eurobasket is the European regional championship for national teams, which is going to be played in 2017 and features several Magic players.
Eurobasket, FIBA’s European regional championship tournament, will take place this summer across four cities on the continent. With the international flavor on the Orlando Magic’s roster, several of their current players will be representing their nations this summer.
Nikola Vucevic played a critical role for Montenegro to qualify for the tournament this summer. Mario Hezonja and Damjan Rudez figure to be important figures for Croatia after their Olympic run (Rudez did not play this summer in the Olympics). Evan Fournier should rejoin France after missing out the Olympics this summer. And there is always the chance for Serge Ibaka to rejoin Spain.
The draw for the tournament was held last week and has set Orlando Magic players to play against each other. Croatia, Montenegro and Spain will headline Group C in the major international competition.
As Croatia and Montenegro should call upon Mario Hezonja, Damjan Rudez and Nikola Vucevic to represent their countries, this will result in Magic players playing against each other this summer.
The trash talk has not quite begun between the teammates yet, but is sure to start as the tournament approaches and these players represent their nations.
“I forgot about it,” Nikola Vucevic told Orlando Magic Daily last week. “We’re in their group. It will be interesting. It’s a long way from now. But it will be fun to play against Mario and Damo. Mario will be fun to compete against. I’m sure there will be a lot of trash talking. I wish we could have gotten France so I could talk trash to Evan.”
Serge Ibaka is also eligible to play for Spain, although he has not played for them in the last several international tournaments.
Croatia and Spain should have no issues with proceeding to the next round of the tournament as four out of six teams in each group advance.
Evan Fournier and France will play in group A. Fournier did not play for France in Rio 2016. He skipped the qualification tournament because of his free agency. Coach Vincent Collett decided to keep the backcourt players for the main tournament and left Fournier out. It is unclear if Fournier will rejoin the national team this summer.
The tournament starts in August 2017. Full tournament info can be found here.
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