FIBA World Cup Preview: Group A

Benefiting from a perk bestowed upon the host nation, China falls into a relatively straightforward Group A at the FIBA World Cup. On paper, the quartet featuring Poland, Venezuela, and Cote d'Ivoire appears to give China a reasonable chance of satisfying the home crowd with more than a mere group-stage appearance.

Pressure will be on Venezuela to join the host in the second round. Ranked 20th in the world, the South American side owns Group A's highest world ranking and also boasts one of the tournament's most experienced teams.

Poland, ranked 25th in the world, is another second-round candidate, though recent losses to Germany, Tunisia, and the Czech Republic in World Cup tune-up games have cast doubts on its chances.

Cote d'Ivoire, meanwhile, is expected to bring up the rear. The African nation made the tournament over Cameroon thanks to a marginally better point differential, but the world's 64th-ranked country could find itself with a mountain to climb after facing the host team in its opening matchup.

Group Schedule

Cote d'Ivoire

Projected starting 5

Key Player

Mouloukou Souleyman Diabate has been with the national team since 2007, helping Cote d'Ivoire qualify for two of the three FIBA World Cups (previously termed the World Championships) over that span. The veteran guard played a big part in his nation's 2019 qualification, too, scoring a game-high 16 points in Les Elephants' berth-clinching win over Mali in February.

Poland

Projected starting 5

Key Player

Equipped with one of the best names in the tournament, A.J. Slaughter will dictate Poland's pace as its designated ball-handler, much as he did in qualifiers earlier this year. The 32-year-old guard is a seasoned veteran of the European game, having played all over the continent since going undrafted after college in 2010.

Though he only acquired Polish citizenship in 2015, Slaughter has become a key piece for the national side. He led the team in scoring during the European qualifiers with 14.7 points per game.

Venezuela

Projected starting 5

Key Player

Nestor Colmenares debuted for the Venezuelan national team in 2011, making his first international appearance at the Americas Championship. Eight years later, the 31-year-old forward is a key cog in La Vinotinto's squad: He was one of just three Venezuelan players to play all 12 games in World Cup qualifiers, averaging 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds as Venezuela finished second in its group behind Canada.

China

Projected starting 5

Key player

Yi Jianlian's NBA career fizzled out in 2012 after just five seasons, but the former Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks forward returned to China and carved out a solid career in his native country. The former sixth overall pick was named the CBA's Finals MVP this past season after his Guangdong Southern Tigers swept the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.