Michigan basketball will be well-represented in Asia at 2023 FIBA World Cup
At least four current or former Michigan Wolverines basketball players will compete in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10. Iggy Brazdeikis (Lithuania), Olivier Nkamhoua (Finland), Franz Wagner (Germany) and Moritz Wagner (Germany) are confirmed participants. Sophomore forward Youssef Khayat may play for Lebanon, but details are still being finalized, according to a U-M team spokesman.
Franz Wagner is entering his third season in the NBA, and he’s already a huge piece of what the Orlando Magic are building. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team in 2021-22, before averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1 steals per game last season.
His older brother, Moritz, just came off what was arguably his best NBA season to date. He posted 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field, in 57 games. He recently signed a two-year, $16 million contract to stick with the Magic and remain teammates with his former Michigan player sibling.
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Moritz played for Germany in the 2020 Summer Olympics (played in 2021). An ankle injury held him out of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and EuroBasket in 2022, though. Last summer, meanwhile, Franz helped Germany reach the podium at EuroBasket for the first time since 2005, placing third.
Brazdeikis has been out of the NBA since 2022, with the former Michigan guard also playing for the Orlando Magic and their G League affiliate in 2021-22. He is currently on Žalgiris Kaunas in the Lithuanian Basketball League and EuroLeague. He will represent Lithuania this summer.
A Tennessee transfer, Nkamhoua is one of the newest members of Michigan basketball. He’s been practicing with the team over the last two-plus weeks but will depart for overseas in the coming days to play for Finland, his home country.
“It’s amazing,” Nkamhoua told Michigan radio play-by-play announcer Brian Boesch on ‘Defend The Block.’ “Whenever you’re playing for your own country … The first time I went back home and I played in front of that Finland crowd and my mom came to the game — she was wearing the Finland national team jersey — it’s just a different feeling and a different sense when you’re representing when you were born and raised, especially as a European kid.
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“Your country is where you were born and raised and you have a sense of national pride. You can tell when you go through the games, the way that the fans come to the games and the energy they bring, it’s an amazing atmosphere.”
Here’s a look at schedules for each Michigan representative at the FIBA World Cup
Iggy Brazdeikis, Lithuania (Group D)
• Lithuania vs. Egypt — Friday, Aug. 25 in Manila, Philippines
• Lithuania vs. Mexico — Sunday, Aug. 27 in Manila, Philippines
Olivier Nkamhoua, Finland (Group E)
• Finland vs. Australia — Friday, Aug. 25 in Okinawa, Japan
• Finland vs. Japan — Sunday, Aug. 27 in Okinawa, Japan
Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner, Germany (Group E)
• Germany vs. Japan — Aug. 25 in Okinawa, Japan
• Germany vs. Australia — Aug. 27 in Okinawa, Japan
