Sports stars mark tournaments with their presence—but also with their absence. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 gathers a global lineup of elite players, yet it is clear that many of the sport’s brightest performers from the past year will not suit up for this stage. The event in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia will showcase a high level of competition, but the roster gaps are equally part of the story as the on-court battles themselves.
Across the 32 participating teams, the absence of marquee players is a recurring theme. The United States, typically defined by depth and star power, finds its chances reshaped by missing the usual suspects from the top echelons of the NBA awards lists. The contemporary top five selections and the top five alternates include names such as Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Stephen Curry, and others who normally anchor the roster. This year, that familiar anchor is missing, altering how coaches approach preparation, game pace, and strategic balance for a tournament of this magnitude. The ripple effects extend beyond a single lineup, reordering expectations for the national team and forcing adjustments in style and leadership on the floor.
The absence pattern is not limited to the United States. Several European powerhouses face similar constraints as their stars opt out or defer to other commitments. Spain carries a void where a long-standing leader once stood, and the absence of Ricky Rubio—who previously earned MVP honors at a World Cup—reflects a shift toward prioritizing mental health and personal well-being alongside elite competition. Serbia also looks different without Nikola Jokic, a centerpiece whose presence tallies up as a defining factor in the team’s identity. Greece, buoyed by the high-energy play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, faces a rotation challenge without its most physically imposing force, while Lithuania expresses a similar concern over the loss of Domantas Sabonis’ interior influence. France, often powered by a blend of veteran grit and youthful exuberance, must navigate the gap left by the departure of emerging talents who would normally help shape the tournament’s arc. Latvia, too, feels the impact of losing a star such as Kristaps Porzingis, altering shooting, spacing, and floor balance in meaningful ways. The overall effect is a gathering where star power is thinner than anticipated, inviting teams to lean on depth, chemistry, and tactical flexibility to reach the same high level of performance.
This pattern extends into North America as well. Canada, prepared for a strong showing, faces the reality of competing without Jamal Murray, the player who helped drive recent NBA championship celebrations with the Denver Nuggets. Andrew Wiggins, a constant presence on the national stage and a versatile contributor, is also unavailable, restructuring Canada’s approach to both offense and defense. The absence of these premier talents shifts the calculus for every opponent Canada faces, demanding a collective effort that exceeds individual brilliance and tests the resilience of team systems in a major international setting. The contrasts between individual stars and team cohesion become a central theme as coaches adapt to evolving rosters and the unpredictable rhythms of tournament play.
For Japan, the home team in this World Cup, the tournament carries extra emotional weight and heightened expectations. The absence of Rui Hachimura deprives the squad of one of its most credible scoring threats, complicating matchups and defensive schemes that would otherwise rely on his perimeter scoring and versatility. Australia faces a similar challenge on its own terms, with Ben Simmons missing the usual heft of leadership, playmaking, and defensive presence that fans have come to expect from their lineup. The missed contributions from these high-profile players create openings for other teammates to step forward and demonstrate leadership, while simultaneously demanding more from coaches who must recalibrate rotations, roles, and minutes to sustain consistent performance against top-tier competition. In every case, the void left by these absences invites a broader discussion about how national teams adapt under pressure, how younger players develop under international scrutiny, and how a tournament that sits alongside the Olympics as the world’s premier stage for national team basketball continues to evolve in a way that rewards breadth and adaptability just as much as individual brilliance. The story of this World Cup is thus defined not only by the stars who are present but also by those who are absent, and by how their absence reshapes preparation, strategy, and the narrative of the championship chase.