Emus Team Announced for FIBA World Cup

Basketball Australia are announcing a 12-player team for the U19 Emus, who will compete at the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup, which will be held in Switzerland from 28 June to 6 July.

Head Coach Robbie McKinlay provided some insights on the team selection and standard of competition. 

“We knew from success at the Oceania and Asia level, this was a deep and versatile group, so selection was always going to be a challenge. Our exposure to elite European competition at the Albert Schweitzer event in Germany assisted with what sort of athletes and players we need to compete with the very best,” said McKinlay.

“The Under 19 World Cup features numerous players that are either pros in elite professional competition or about to be. The teams have depth, size and versatility and in our pool, our three opponents are prime examples of that. It will be a physical style of basketball,”

“The best players at his level execute under pressure and can sustain their skill level against the physical style of play. Our team has the tools and athletes to compete with the best in this area." 

Australia has qualified for 15 of the 17 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cups since the tournament began in 1979 and remains the only nation outside Europe and North America to have claimed the title.

That historic victory came in 2003, when a standout Australian side led by tournament MVP Andrew Bogut triumphed in Thessaloniki, Greece. Since then, the team’s best finishes have been two fourth-place results in 2009 and 2013.

The Emus are coming off a dominant performance at the 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup, resulting in a commanding 96–33 victory over New Zealand in the final.

Team selections listed below.