Argentina is still clinging to the Golden Generation of its men's national team. Forward Luis Scola remains the heart and sole of the squad, while New York Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni and former NBA forward Andres Nocioni will add to a wealth of experience. But as it was during the 2012 London Olympics, the 2014 World Cup will act as a slow but promising passing of the torch.
FIBA World Cup 2014 preview: Can Argentina’s old guard turn back the clock?
Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni and Pablo Prigioni lead an Argentinian team to the World Cup, but it will be youngsters that could help it make some noise.
Andy Lyons
There are a number of young players that will help Scola and the veterans make a push this summer. Point guard Facundo Campazzo is the leader of the youth movement and along with backcourt mate Selem Safar should give the Argentinians a much-needed boost, considering San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili couldn't participate as he recovers from a leg injury.
How they got here
The Argentinians finished in third place in the 2013 FIBA Americas tournament, which acted as an automatic qualifier for the top four finishers. They made it to the semifinals last summer but finished behind first-place Mexico and runner-up Puerto Rico. Argentina beat the Dominican Republic in the third-place game of the tournament.
In their last worldwide competition at the 2012 London Olympics, the Argentinians finished in fourth place behind the United States, Spain and Russia.
Key players
2014 FIBA World Cup
Luis Scola: The Indiana Pacers forward will again be the No. 1 option for Argentina. He averaged 18.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in the FIBA Americas tournament last summer and should again be the team's low-post scoring threat. Though he could be viewed as a defensive liability, the squad does have size around him.
Facundo Campazzo: A rising international talent and just 23 years old, Campazzo is an undersized but impactful point guard who last summer averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 assists per game in the FIBA Americas tournament. Also a strong three-point shooter, Campazzo might already be the second-best player on the team.
Pablo Prigioni: Prigioni will provide the same pestering presence he does for the Knicks, and he will fit well alongside the offensive talents in the backcourt.
Andres Nocioni: Most well known for his stint with the Chicago Bulls from 2004-09, Nocioni brings a veteran presence to the forward slot alongside Scola. He currently plays for Real Madrid.
Selem Safar: Safar will try to make up for Ginobili’s absence by adding a bit of three-point shooting to the offense.
Medal chances
Argentina might be a far cry from the club that won gold at the 2004 Olympics, but there’s enough talent here to get them out of group play. Once the tournament reaches the elimination stage, Argentina’s incredible wealth of experience could pay off, or maybe the team will fall short simply because many of the stars are past their prime. Argentina projects as a capable offensive team, but defense could be an issue when they’re facing the better teams in the field.
The biggest subplot for Argentina could be the team’s morale following a very public battle with its national basketball association. Scola threaten to boycott the World Cup because of corruption within the organization, and many of the team’s players (including the injured Ginobili) backed him up. The Argentine Basketball Association is reportedly in $20 million of debt. Scola is playing but it’s fair to wonder how much pride he will have putting on the uniform.
Schedule
Group B play
Aug. 30 vs. Puerto Rico
Aug. 31 vs. Croatia
Sept. 1 vs. Philippines
Sept. 3 vs. Senegal
Sept. 4 vs. Greece
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