THE 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup is just days away from kicking off, with the first game set to take place on Friday evening AEST.

The best basketball countries from around the world have qualified for the ultimate tournament, which will see some of the best action in recent years.

In a field that looks as even as ever, there are a plethora of sides that could potentially win it all in the coming weeks.

The big names appear to be ready to hit the court this year in one of the most star-studded tournaments of the modern era. The likes of Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and even Australia’s own Joshua Giddey are suiting up for their respective sides in what will be must-watch action.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be looking at each of the eight groups in the initial stage of the tournament, where six games will be played in the first round of action.

Group A

Angola
Dominican Republic
Philippines
Italy

The first group is commanded by Italy, who will be the favourites to come out of the first round, but the true question lies in which side will be joining it in the second round.

Italy boasts a roster that has plenty of FIBA experience, with the likes of Luigi Datome, Nicolo Melli, and Achille Polonara bringing plenty of chemistry having played in a number of tournaments together. However, there are some youngsters coming through that show a lot of promise, such as Gabriele Procida that appear to point towards a positive future too.

The team also appears in ripping form with six warmup wins, and should hit the ground running in the first round.

The Philippines will have home court advantage and should be able to call upon the crowd to gain inspiration during their matches. Jordan Clarkson looms as a crucial piece too, boasting an ability to take over a match with the ball in his hands, and will need to be closely checked.

The Dominican Republic have been boosted by the inclusion of star NBA big man Karl-Anthony Towns this year. The Caribbean nation have pulled off some major upsets in the past and the addition of Towns only makes them more dangerous. He is a lights-out shooter and one of the best offensive players in the tournament.

Angola looms as the underdog of the group, given its inability to advance to the second round at recent tournaments. The team also lost some key veteran experience, but upsets do happen and it does boast a lot of speed which could bring an opponent or two undone.

Group B

South Sudan
Serbia
China
Puerto Rico

Another group with a strong favourite, Serbia looks the most likely to advance out of the first round in the coming days. It is the sixth-ranked side in the world and for good reason, despite missing arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jovic will bring NBA experience to the table, while the Serbians also have some excellent role players that will undoubtedly have some big moments during the tournament. Serbia is not only the most dangerous side in its group, but one of the most exciting in the World Cup as a whole.

China is hopeful of going one step further than previous outings, and the addition of Kyle Anderson will do those goals no harm. A solid role player in the NBA, Anderson will be able to play a key role in China’s quest to get out of the first round.

Pueto Rico and South Sudan will lock horns in a clash that will be crucial for a spot in the second round. The former will come into the game as favourites, and look a fair chance of being the side that advances to the second round given the list at their disposal.

However, South Sudan has proven itself as an up and comer in the basketball world, and while not all the pieces are quite there yet, an upset may be brewing here if they can get things going when shooting the ball.