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    Latvia anchored by NBA talent. See potential World Cup Starting 5

    Porzingis is out to make noise before his Celtics debut
    Jul 7, 2023
    latvia world cup projected starting five
    ILLUSTRATION: Echo Antonio

    DON’T think Latvia is already happy to just make its first-ever Fiba Basketball World Cup next month.

    Looking to prove that their entry is no fluke, the Latvians are expected to bring their best players, including a core that led them to an impressive 11-game winning streak in the European qualifiers that set the stage for their World Cup debut.

    Announcing a 24-man pool late June, Latvia could form a starting unit with a pair of current NBA players and another two with past experience.

    Led by Italian coach Luca Banchi, the Latvians try to make an early statement in Group H alongside France, Canada, and Lebanon, together with Group G in Jakarta at the Indonesia Arena.

    Check out what the Latvia Starting 5 in 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup could look like:

    PG – Toms Leimanis

    He’s among Latvia’s top point guards, suiting up for Spanish club CB Estudiantes.

    Turning 29 on August 7, Leimanis can match up well with other countries’ court generals at 6’3”.

    Leimanis showed his playmaking ability in Latvia’s 10-point win over Greece in the last game of the qualifiers in February, scoring a team-high-tying 11 points and dishing out eight assists in 27 minutes.

    SG – Dairis Bertans

    The older brother of Davis Bertans is among Latvia’s mainstays, playing in all of the country’s 12 games in the qualifiers and averaging a shade below 10 points.

    Undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Dairis still managed to make it to the league in the 2018-19 season when he played for the New Orleans Pelicans and averaged 2.8 points in 13.9 minutes for 12 games before getting waived.

    The 6-foot-4 shooting guard now plays for Spanish club Real Betis and is turning 34 on September 9 during the final round of the World Cup.

    Latvia also has Rihards Lomazs in the shooting guard rotation. The German club Oldenburg sniper was among the country’s top scorers in the qualifiers, averaging 15.6 points and 2.8 triples on 43.5-percent shooting from deep in 10 games.

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    SF – Rodions Kurucs


    The 40th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by Brooklyn, Kurucs had a solid rookie season with the Nets, averaging 8.5 points, 3.9 boards, and 0.7 steal in 20.5 minutes in 63 games with 46 starts before steadily falling out of the rotation in the next two years.

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    Kurucs then had short stints with Houston and Milwaukee before moving to Europe.

    Now 25 and playing for French club SIG Stasbourg, Kurucs is still a prototypical small forward with a 6-foot-9 frame that can defend other country’s top perimeter players.

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      PF – Davis Bertans


      The “Latvian Laser” can use the World Cup to prove he still belongs in the NBA.

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      After having his best NBA season in 2019-20 with Washington when he averaged 15.4 points on 42.4% shooting from three-point distance, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.7 steal in 29.3 minutes over 54 games, Bertans went on a steady decline in his next two years with the Wizards and the next two with the Dallas Mavericks.

      Recently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 30-year-old 6-foot-10 Bertans is expected to be among Latvia’s go-to guys.

      C – Kristaps Porzingis

      Kristaps Porzingis

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      Porzingis is fresh off his best scoring season in the NBA and is just entering the peak of his career, turning only 28 on August 2.

      The 7-foot-3 stretch big man showed the entire package for Washington, putting up 23.2 points, 2.1 triples, 49.8% shooting, 8.4 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.9 steal in 32.6 minutes over 65 starts last season.

      Before he settles into new team, the Boston Celtics, Porzingis looks to carry Latvia on his back in their bid to make a memorable World Cup debut.

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      ILLUSTRATION: Echo Antonio
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