Samo 48 časova pred početak Svetskog prvenstva Argentina je doživela težak udarac - iskusni NBA as Andres Noćioni neće igrati na Mundobasketu u Turskoj! Popularnom El Čapuu stigla je zabrana igranja iz Filadelfije, od strane njegovih poslodavaca Siksersa. "Lekari iz Filadelfije su imali uvid u ultrazvuk analizu mog levog članka i procenili su, iako ne osećam bol i normalno treniram, da je za mene riskantno da igram u Turskoj. Siksersi imaju klauzulu u mom ugovoru po kojoj mogu da mi zabrane igranje ukoliko sam povređen. Noge su mi se odsekle kada sam obavešten o ovome, jako mi je teško", rekao je Noćioni u četvrtak uz suze u očima.

Selektor Argentine Serhio Hernandez mogao je samo da slegne ramenima i u nacionalni tim vrati Markosa Matu koji je otpao u prethodnom "filteru". "Gaučosi" su najveći trivali Srbije u borbi za prvo mesto u A grupi Mundobasketa.  

2 Spiele Sperre für: Teodosic, Fotsis und Schortsanitis

3 Spiele Sperre für: Krstic

Why do players and fans care more about the Olympic basketball tournament than the World Championship?

Derrick Rose: People in the U.S. think that the Olympics are the biggest thing, but it’s different over here with the World Cup… I guess all overseas players get more attention. I guess it’s more exciting, you get more teams… I guess it’s harder to get a spot to play in the Olympics.

Stephen Curry: It’s just that there’s bigger patriotism at the Olympics, kind of pride about our nation when you have a lot of athletes, lots of teams going… Basketball is just one of them. You have the open ceremony, it’s pretty hyped up and people pay attention to it. But the World Championships is a little different because it’s only basketball, it’s usually overseas somewhere… It’s one of those things that we haven’t won in a while so kind of people have lost some of the attention. So hopefully we can bring the gold back to our country.

Lamar Odom: I guess the history and tradition. A lot of Americans are unaware of the World  Championships. But after the coverage of this year’s World Championships, that most likely will change.

Jim Boeheim: It’s not because of basketball, it’s because of the mental philosophy of all americans. It’s Olympics. The rest of the world thinks about the soccer World Cup and the basketball World Championship. They tie them together. But when you’re growing up in the United States, the biggest thing is the Olympics. And it’s not just basketball, it’s any sport.

Can you name players at the World Championship among those that are not in the NBA?

Rose: Navarro. The one who used to play for the Raptors… Oh, Rubio! He’s playing here… I don’t know anybody else.

Curry: I’m not familiar with many names… I watch international games from time to time but I couldn’t name anybody. We respect everybody that we play, but I couldn’t name anybody.

Odom: A lot of people! Garbajosa used to play…

Boeheim: Navarro, Rubio… A lot of the Spanish players. I know the whole team of Argentina except for a couple of guys… Greece doesn’t have any NBA player… I know their names a little bit. Greece is probably one of the best teams in the world and they don’t have any NBA player. They are the only team that beat us in the last three years. The kid Papaloukas was really good. He’s a great player. He was the one who beat us, they wouldn’t have beat us without him.

Can you name any coach?

Rose: Oh no… Don’t know coaches, just players (laughs).

Curry: No.

Lamar Odom: No.

Boeheim: I’m not that familiar with coaches. I’m not as far as their names. I know Spain has a new coach, the ones who are coaching China and Greece…

Who won the last two championships in USA 2002 and Japan 2006?

Rose: Spain won the last one… And Greece in 2002?

Curry: Let me see… We just read this… 2006 it was… Who was it? (Asks Eric Gordon, who says Spain). Spain won the last one? Then who won 2002? (Asks Derrick Rose, who says Argentina) Argentina?

Odom: Spain in Japan and I don’t remember 2002.

Boeheim: Spain won the last one, and the one before that I think it was Argentina.

Do you have any idea if Darko Milicic is playing?

Rose: Oh I don’t know… Hey, Love! Is Darko playing? (Kevin Love: I don’t think so… No, he’s not).

Curry: I don’t think he is. Is he?

Odom: I don’t really know… If I had to choose, I’d say he’s playing. Is he?

Boeheim: Darko? No, he’s not playing with Serbia.