The preliminary round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup features eight groups featuring four teams each. The Philippine-hosted event preliminary round happens from August 26 to 30 with Group C highlighting tournament favorites the United States grouped with Greece, New Zealand, and Jordan. With two favorites in the group, fans and bettors can consider this the “Group of Death.” Each side plays each other once for a total of three games per nation. The top two teams proceed to the second round and the bottom two teams fall into the classification rounds.

2023 FIBA World Cup Group C Teams

Team USA fans, how would you like to see your team on court?

Pick your Starting 5 here #FIBAWC x #WinForUSA

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) July 24, 2023

READ MORE: 2023 FIBA World Cup Group D Betting Odds

USA

• Odds to win Group C: -833
• NBA players playing for USA: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (New York Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)

The ultimate powerhouse, the United States, has never missed out on the World Cup. 2023 will be their 19th introduction to the FIBA World Cup. The United States is ranked second in the world as of November 2022 and secured a spot in the Philippine-hosted tournament on the penultimate game day. Team USA has five titles, including back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2014. However, the squad seeks redemption after falling short in the Quarter-Finals in 2019.

Their failed campaign in 2019 means the team is out to seek revenge. The fact that they lost at the previous FIBA Basketball World Cup makes an even stronger case to introduce a formidable squad. True enough, Team USA retains the top spot in the Power Rankings and the top of the Olympic world. Head coach Steve Kerr and his men gear up to win a sixth gold in World Cup history.

Greece

• Odds to win Group C: +500
• NBA players playing for Greece: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Greece returns to the big stage for its fifth consecutive World Cup appearance. They are out to find greener pastures after failing to reach the Quarter Finals in the last three tournaments since finishing runners-up in 2006 in Japan. It will be their ninth overall appearance for the country and join the pack as the ninth-ranked team as of November 2022. Moreover, Greece had a pair of fourth-place finishes in 1994 and 1998.

The Official Beloved had no trouble reaching the World Cup, and NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed the fact that his teammates Dimitris Moraitis and Nikos Rogkavopoulos outplayed Serbia with one of the youngest Greek rosters in history. Head coach Dimitris Itoudis wants to re-ignite the glory days of this nation when they were a staple podium finisher across international competitions.

New Zealand

• Odds to win Group C: +3,400
• NBA players playing for New Zealand: N/A

New Zealand landed a sixth straight appearance in the World Cup and seventh overall. The Tall Blacks rank 26th in the world as of the 2022 update. Their greatest achievement was a fourth-place finish in 2022 but failed to get past the Round of 16 since then.

Their FIBA Asia Cup campaign triggered confidence-inspiring narratives for the squad. The Tall Blacks finished fourth in 2017 followed by a third-place run in 2022. They’ve been within striking distance of a last-16 spot in the World Cup ever since 2022. They capped the Asian Qualifiers with an 8-2 record, winning their group and advancing to another global tournament. One notable moment for this team is when they almost upset Giannis Antetokounmpo’s side and were six points away from reaching the second round in 2019.

Jordan

• Odds to win Group C: +7,900
• NBA players playing for Jordan: N/A

Jordan is one of the few younger nations in the tournament. This is only their third time in the tournament and join the competition as the 34th-ranked team as of the November 2022 update. The Wesam Al-Sous-led side finished 23rd and 28th in their previous two FIBA World Cup appearances.

We could witness better results coming from the Western Asian nation this year. There are numerous question marks surrounding the team at this point, but a third appearance could make all the difference. This is their chance to finally pick up their first win and shock Group C as underdogs.

Where to Bet on the NBA with Crypto

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the NBA Season with crypto. The power of cryptocurrency and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire NBA Season betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023-24 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online crypto sportsbook.