35 NBA players enter World Cup qualifying window

Jokić and Wembanyama top the five-day slate.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 271 min read

Your full list of NBA players playing in @FIBAWC qualifying games Thursday through Monday — featuring the likes of Nikol Via @TheSteinLine on X

What happened: Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, Lauri Markkanen and VJ Edgecombe are among the confirmed participants. Games begin Thursday and continue through Monday around the globe.

Why it matters: The window carries qualification stakes for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. NBA players can bolster national-team campaigns before the upcoming 2026-27 season.

By the numbers: Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 2025-26; Markkanen averaged 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.

What to watch: Results through Monday will shape how national teams enter the next qualifying window.

Sources

@TheSteinLine 2026-08-27T05:09:07.465316+00:00

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