Group B features one of the tournament’s heavy hitters. They are one of the eight groups in the preliminary round of the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup happening between August 26 to 30. Serbia is matched with South Sudan, Puerto Rico, and China. Each team plays each other once, for a total of three games per nation. The top two teams advance to the tournament’s second round with the bottom two teams qualifying for the classification rounds. Let’s take a closer look at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Group B betting odds below.

2023 FIBA World Cup Group B Teams

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READ MORE: 2023 FIBA World Cup Group A Betting Odds

Serbia

• Odds to win Group B: -2000
• NBA players playing for Serbia: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks), Aleksej Pokusevski (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat), Filip Petrusev (Philadelphia 76ers)

Without a doubt, Serbia is one of the biggest contenders for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This team ensured they have a say in who takes this year’s trophy after qualifying for Asia on the next to last game day. They rank sixth in the world as of November 2022 and will appear in their fifth World Cup competition in five editions. Serbia finished second in 2014 after a disappointing 2010 run in Turkey despite reaching the semis. Their second-place victory succeeded another campaign cut short in the 2019 Quarter-Finals.

The Eagles have a stacked roster, including a handful of sleeper players. Serbia topped the Power Rankings four years ago as the main team to win the tournament, only to finish fifth place. They were supposed to have another dominant performance at the 2020 Olympics but failed to punch a ticket following a hole loss to Italy in the FIBA OQT. Serbia were also on pace to win the group stage at FIBA EuroBasket in 2022 before they were sent home before the Quarter-Finals. Their erratic record in recent years adds more variables to the equation, but we expect nothing but quality basketball from this squad.

Puerto Rico

• Odds to win Group B: +1400
• NBA players playing for Puerto Rico: N/A

Puerto Rico is a familiar name on the international basketball scene. Los Gallos now prepare for their 15th World Cup appearance and tenth straight qualification. The South American team ranked 21st in the world as of November 2022 and secured a spot in the tournament on the final game day. Their best finish happened nearly three decades ago when they reached the Semi-Finals, losing to the Soviet Union and then to the United States in overtime in the Third Place matchup.

This is not a team to be overlooked. They use their underdog status as fuel, and they react strongly to become one of the most clutch teams in the competition. They’ve done it multiple times, including four years ago in China, when they were trailing the U20 Croatia team in a tune-up game before the event, and then powered their way through to a fifteen-placed finish.

China

• Odds to win Group B: +1,800
• NBA players playing for China: Kyle Anderson (Minnesota Timberwolves)

China returns to the World Cup for the tenth time. This is also their fifth appearance in the last six tournaments. The 2019 hosts ranked 27th in the world and held a best finish of eighth in the 1994 World Cup. Team Dragon won both games in the November 2022 qualifier for a spot in this year’s FIBA World Cup.

Although China failed to book a sweet sixteen spot as hosts four years ago, they now have a shot at a better finish without the pressure of playing hosts. The Asian basketball team is still a dangerous team to take on. They went 10-2 through the Qualifiers, parting the seas through the Second Round, finishing just a win behind top-five world team Australia. This is a testament to how good this team can be once they put the pedal to the metal.

South Sudan

• Odds to win Group B: +3,900
• NBA players playing for South Sudan: N/A

One of FIBA’s youngest federations gears up for its World Cup debut. South Sudan has been one of the fastest-growing nations in the sport and skyrocketed to World No. 63 as of the November 2022 update. The squad qualified for the tournament after positive performances in the African Qualifiers.

Finding South Sudan in 24th in the Power Rankings might cause debate. Luol Deng’s crew went 11-1 in the African Qualifiers and made a strong statement leading up to the tournament. They have one of the best stories in basketball and are ready to shock the world once they land in the Philippines in a few weeks.

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