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From the streets of North America to the street courts of Europe and the courts of Asia, basketball is everything. Nothing represents the passion, emotion and pride of the game like the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Looking back from the 1950s to the present day, the world’s greatest stars have left an indelible mark on the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Victories, tough moments, tears of joy and historic feats, there is one constant in 40 years of basketball memory, and that constant won’t go away. Molten and FIBA announce the renewal of a once-in-a-lifetime partnership, ensuring players and fans who grew up watching the game, and the stories to be told in the future, will be written. The iconic ball and brand have been part of many unforgettable moments. .
Molten has been a manufacturer of quality sports balls and equipment since the 1950s. While fans of the sport will be familiar with Molten’s cutting-edge basketballs, the company’s craftsmanship has expanded to handball, soccer and volleyball. Molten’s products aren’t limited to balls: their equipment is used in some of the biggest leagues internationally and by some of the best teams in the world.
Molten’s sports brand slogan, “For the real game,” Highlighting what those who play football at the highest level hope to achieve. It’s also a testament to the thought, passion and attention to detail that has been put into the company since 1958.
Since 1958, Molten has continued to improve the game of basketball. Following the adoption of new ball regulations in 2004, the innovative company launched a revolutionary 12-panel design co-developed by world-class Italian design house Giugiaro. The cutting-edge design improves visibility of ball spin, and combined with improved materials and Molten’s patented technology, players on the court can see exactly how the ball is spinning, helping them better prepare for their next move. Prepare.
This commitment to excellence and high-quality products continues to make Molten a globally recognized brand.
To commemorate this landmark agreement, Sporting News delves into the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup and highlights some of the greatest moments, players and victories from the modern tournament.
Highlights from the FIBA Basketball World Cup
To know where we are going, we must know where we came from, and what better way to begin highlighting the modern era of the FIBA Basketball World Cup (formerly the FIBA World Championship) than with the 1982 World Cup? Colombia.
Thirteen national teams from five different FIBA regions (Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania) competed in five different venues in five cities in Colombia.
The event attracted former NBA player and coach Doc Rivers, Brazilian legend and basketball’s all-time leading scorer Oscar Schmidt and Michael Jordan ) and three-time NBA champion Bill Wennington of the Chicago Bulls.
It also saw the debut of a new basketball that would help shape the game for generations to come. By that time, Molten was already a major supplier of balls for different sports in the Olympics, including basketball, but the turning point came at the 1982 FIBA World Cup, where Molten became the basketball of choice for major international competitions. basketball tournament.
“Molten has always been committed to innovation and excellence and has worked closely with us for 40 years to achieve this”FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said at the association’s 2022 celebrations.
“As FIBA’s oldest partner, they have been an important and valuable member of the FIBA family. Molten Ball is crucial for us as we seek to take the sport to new heights. Important elements. I thank them for their commitment to basketball and FIBA.”
What they did was take it to the next level.
At the 1982 World Championships, the then Soviet team defeated the United States by one point in the final and won the world championship for the third time. American Jim Thomas’ shot at the final buzzer and Vladimir Tkachenko’s rebound gave the Soviet Union the title.
Team USA would seek revenge at the next World Championships in 1986. This time, Team USA was on the right side of history, winning the gold medal game 87-85. Hall of Famer David Robinson and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith lead Team USA to its second world championship.
As the games and tournaments grew, so did the star cast. The 1994 FIBA World Championship occupies an important place in the grand history of this event. because?
This is the first time in the history of the World Cup that American NBA players are eligible to participate in the competition. Prior to this, only professional players from leagues outside the United States could participate in the World Cup, as they were still considered amateurs.
Molten’s innovative balls were used by many future NBA players in the previous three World Cups. International superstars such as Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc and Vlade Divac are all NBA players who have made their mark at the World Cup with this iconic ball beautiful memories. While NBA players got their hands on Molten’s ball at the 1992 Olympics, the 1994 World Championship in Toronto ensured that it would become the norm at major international competitions thereafter.
The U.S. Dream Second Team, consisting of Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Reggie Miller, advanced throughout the game to advance to its third World Cup with a perfect 8-0 record. Team USA.
Basketball proved to be a truly global sport when Russia defeated the United States in the semifinals of the 1998 World Championships and was on course to win silver. The trend continued in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2002, when Team USA failed to reach the podium in their home country and the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming and Manu Ginobili The future basketball legend confirmed his place on the world stage.
Hall of Famer Pau Gasol had just made his first All-Star appearance in the NBA and led Spain to its first FIBA World Cup gold medal in 2006.
The world has caught up, but the United States is trying to remind everyone that they are still the dominant force in the game. Players like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Anthony Davis won back-to-back World Cup titles in 2010 and 2014, putting the world on alert.
When FIBA announces the expansion of the World Cup, the balance of power will change. 32 countries participated in the 2019 event, making it the largest yet. More participation brings more epic moments to more countries. But as has been the case for 40 years, the only sound that remains the same is the bounce of a Molten ball hitting the hardwood.
The 19th FIBA Basketball World Cup is the second World Cup with 32 teams participating, but it is also the first World Cup held in three host countries.
Players and host countries may change, the game may evolve and fans may grow older, but for the foreseeable future, one constant remains. The ball will continue to tell the stories of a lifetime.