Spain overtakes U.S. for FIBA men's top ranking
USA Basketball lost the top spot in FIBA men's world rankings, with Spain overtaking it for the No. 1 position in Friday's updated rankings.
La Roja amassed 758.6 points in the rankings, leading USA Basketball by 1.1 points.
π¨ ππ₯πππππ‘π:
β FIBA (@FIBA) November 18, 2022
Spain seize the #1 spot for the first time in FIBA Menβs World Ranking history! π πͺπΈ
π See the full rankings here, presented by @Nike:https://t.co/iPTz2JGlZ8 pic.twitter.com/yea77qbAgV
Team USA led Spain by 1.8 points in September, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon. USA Basketball dropped from the top spot following last week's 94-79 loss to Brazil in 2023 World Cup Qualifiers action.
Due to a seventh-place finish at the 2019 World Cup in China and a third-place showing at the AmeriCup earlier this month, Team USA risked losing top status in international basketball as FIBA uses a weighted system based on victories that stay with a team for six years.
Spain won the last World Cup and defeated France to claim gold in September's EuroBasket tournament.
Team USA can qualify for the 2023 World Cup in February with either a victory over Uruguay or Brazil or with Puerto Rico losing to Brazil, according to Vardon.