16 FIBA World Cup teams still standing, ranked by their championship chances

The 2023 men’s FIBA World Cup is loaded with NBA talent all over the field. The United States is seeking redemption after a disastrous seventh place finish in this tournament in 2019, and a young roster impressed in group play by finishing undefeated.

Team USA is a championship threat, but are they the favorite? That’s what we’re trying to figure out as the tournament moves into the second round of group play that reduces the field from 32 teams to 16 teams.

The second round of group play will trim the field from 16 to eight teams. Each team will play the two teams in their group they didn’t face in the opening round. The top two teams from each second round group will advance to the quarterfinals in a single-elimination tournament. Follow every result from the 2023 men’s World Cup with our live tracker.

Let’s rank the teams still standing in the World Cup by their chances of winning it all.

16. Brazil

A blowout loss to Spain didn’t keep Brazil from advancing in Group G after routing Iran and Ivory Coast. Former Raptors first rounder Bruno Caboclo is the biggest name here as a 6’9 forward who can force his way to the foul line and control the glass. The real star is Yago dos Santos, a tiny 5’10 point guard who has been on fire as a pull-up three-point shooter and lead creator. Yago’s 24-point, 12-assist effort against Ivory Coast punched Brazil’s ticket to the second round.

15. Greece

Thomas Walkup first gained notoriety as Stephen F. Austin’s March Madness hero back in 2016. Now he’s Greece’s physical and emotional leader as a tough point guard who hounds ball handlers and can make a shot inside the arc. Former Kings lottery pick Georgios Papagiannis has been brilliant as an interior scorer with soft touch, while teammates Giannoulis Larentzakis and Ioannis Papapetrou have added wing scoring. Making the second round without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup is a real accomplishment.

14. Georgia

Georgia’s first trip to the FIBA World Cup is already a success after advancing to the second round. Georgia has a super physical team that grinds opponents down by pounding the ball inside, making their free throws, and controlling the pace. Former Pacers first round pick Goga Bitadze is the biggest name here as a skilled interior scorer. Tornike Shengelia, a Nets’ second rounder in 2012, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, currently with the Spurs, add more size, toughness, and scoring punch. Georgia’s ceiling feels a bit limited without great guard play, but they won’t make it easy on whoever tries to knock them out.

13. Puerto Rico

Tremont Waters, the former Boston Celtics’ second round pick, makes Puerto Rico a thrilling watch. The 5’10 point guard is an audacious playmaker with deep shooting range who has kept the offense moving and pushed his team into…