1994 FIBA World Championship
FIBA Championnat du monde de basket-ball masculin 1994
Tournament details
Host countryCanada
CityToronto
Hamilton
DatesAugust 4–14
Officially opened byRay Hnatyshyn
Teams16 (from 5 confederations)
Venue(s)SkyDome
Maple Leaf Gardens
Copps Coliseum
Final positions
Champions United States (3rd title)
Runners-up Russia
Third place Croatia
Fourth place Greece
Tournament statistics
Games played64
MVPUnited States Shaquille O'Neal
Top scorerAustralia Andrew Gaze
(23.9 points per game)
← 1990
1998 →

The 1994 FIBA World Championship was the 12th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. The tournament was hosted by Canada from August 4 to 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome[1] and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto[2] as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.[2] The hosting duties were originally awarded to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, but after United Nations limited participation in sporting events in Yugoslavia, Toronto stepped in as a replacement option in 1992.

The 1994 FIBA World Championship was the first time that the FIBA World Championship (now called the FIBA Basketball World Cup) allowed current American NBA players that had already played in an official NBA regular season game to participate. Prior to that only professionals from other leagues were allowed to compete, since players from other leagues were still considered amateurs.[3]

The tournament was won by the United States's "Dream Team II", who beat Russia 137–91 in the Final. The United States finished with a perfect 8–0 record (8 wins and 0 losses). The bronze medal was won by Croatia who beat Greece 78–60 in the bronze-medal game.

Venues

Three stadia were used during the tournament:

Toronto Hamilton
SkyDome Maple Leaf Gardens Copps Coliseum
Capacity: 28,708 Capacity: 16,538 Capacity: 18,436

Qualification

There were 16 teams taking part in the 1994 World Cup of Basketball. After the 1992 Olympics, the continental allocation for FIBA Americas was reduced by one when the United States won the Olympic tournament, automatically qualifying them for the 1994 World Cup.

Qualified teams

Means of qualification Date Venue Berths Teams qualified
Host – 1  Canada
1992 Olympic men's basketball tournament July 26–August 8, 1992 Spain Barcelona 1  United States
1993 FIBA Oceania Championship June 7–10, 1993 New Zealand Auckland 1  Australia
EuroBasket 1993 June 22–July 4, 1993 Germany Berlin, Karlsruhe and Munich 5  Germany
 Russia
 Croatia
 Greece
 Spain
1993 Tournament of the Americas August 28–September 5, 1993 Puerto Rico San Juan 4  Puerto Rico
 Argentina
 Brazil
 Cuba
FIBA Africa Championship 1993 September 18–28, 1993 Kenya Nairobi 2  Angola
 Egypt
1993 ABC Championship November 12–21, 1993 Indonesia Jakarta 2  China
 North Korea
 South Korea *
Total 16

*  North Korea withdrew from the tournament,  South Korea replaced them.

Draw

Group A Group B Group C Group D

 Brazil
 China
 Spain
 United States

 Australia
 Croatia
 Cuba
 South Korea

 Angola
 Argentina
 Canada
 Russia

 Germany
 Greece
 Egypt
 Puerto Rico

Preliminary round

The top two teams from each group remain in medal contention.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 3 0 352 259 +93 6 Quarterfinal round
2  China 3 2 1 252 301 −49 5
3  Spain 3 1 2 249 260 −11 4 9th–16th classification round
4  Brazil 3 0 3 242 275 −33 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
August 4
China  97–93 (OT)  Brazil
Scoring by half: 38-30, 39-47 Overtime: 20-16
August 4
United States  115–100  Spain
Scoring by half: 59-51, 56-49
August 5
Brazil  67–73  Spain
Scoring by half: 36-30, 31-43
August 5
United States  132–77  China
Scoring by half: 71-38, 61-39
August 7
Spain  76–78  China
Scoring by half: 46-31, 30-47
August 7
United States  105–82  Brazil
Scoring by half: 48-36, 57-46

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Croatia 3 3 0 272 187 +85 6 Quarterfinal round
2  Australia 3 2 1 249 255 −6 5
3  Cuba 3 1 2 244 257 −13 4 9th–16th classification round
4  South Korea 3 0 3 217 283 −66 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
August 4
Croatia  85–65  Cuba
Scoring by half: 45-27, 40-38
August 4
Australia  87–85  South Korea
Scoring by half: 59-44, 28-41
August 5
Croatia  104–53  South Korea
Scoring by half: 52-30, 52-23
August 5
Cuba  87–93  Australia
Scoring by half: 42-42, 45-51
August 6
Cuba  92–79  South Korea
Scoring by half: 46-44, 46-35
August 6
Croatia  83–69  Australia
Scoring by half: 43-39, 40-30

Group C

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Russia 3 3 0 251 187 +64 6 Quarterfinal round
2  Canada (H) 3 2 1 240 198 +42 5
3  Argentina 3 1 2 204 234 −30 4 9th–16th classification round
4  Angola 3 0 3 168 244 −76 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts
August 4
Canada  83–52  Angola
Scoring by half: 39-30, 44-22
August 4
Russia  84–64  Argentina
Scoring by half: 38-31, 46-33
August 5
Canada  91–73  Argentina
Scoring by half: 30-30, 61-43
August 5
Russia  94–57  Angola
Scoring by half: 46-21, 48-36
August 6
Argentina  67–59  Angola
Scoring by half: 36-34, 31-25
August 6
Russia  73–66  Canada
Scoring by half: 36-41, 37-25

Group D

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Greece 3 2 1 201 183 +18 5[a] Quarterfinal round
2  Puerto Rico 3 2 1 248 219 +29 5[a]
3  Germany 3 2 1 217 198 +19 5[a] 9th–16th classification round
4  Egypt 3 0 3 183 249 −66 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head record: Greece 1–1 (1.02 GAvg), Puerto Rico 1–1 (1.01 GAvg), Germany 1–1 (0.98 GAvg)
August 4
Puerto Rico  102–74  Egypt
Scoring by half: 48-35, 54-39
August 4
Greece  68–58  Germany
Scoring by half: 31-35, 37-23
August 5
Greece  69–53  Egypt
Scoring by half: 37-28, 32-25
August 5
Puerto Rico  74–81  Germany
Scoring by half: 42-41, 32-40
August 7
Puerto Rico  72–64  Greece
Scoring by half: 35-39, 37-25
August 7
Germany  78–56  Egypt
Scoring by half: 39-28, 39-28

Quarterfinal round

The top two finishers from Groups I and II advance to the final round.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 3 0 375 251 +124 6 Semifinals
2  Russia 3 2 1 298 272 +26 5
3  Australia 3 1 2 244 314 −70 4 5th–8th classification round
4  Puerto Rico 3 0 3 249 329 −80 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
August 9
Russia  101–85  Puerto Rico
Scoring by half: 51-47, 50-38
August 9
United States  130–74  Australia
Scoring by half: 62-48, 68-26
August 10
Australia  76–103  Russia
Scoring by half: 30-55, 46-48
August 10
Puerto Rico  83–134  United States
Scoring by half: 25-62, 58-72
August 11
Australia  94–81  Puerto Rico
Scoring by half: 51-41, 43-40
August 12
United States  111–94  Russia
Scoring by half: 52-44, 59-50

Group II

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Croatia 3 3 0 278 189 +89 6 Semifinals
2  Greece 3 2 1 206 213 −7 5
3  Canada (H) 3 1 2 222 224 −2 4 5th–8th classification round
4  China 3 0 3 192 272 −80 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts
August 8
Croatia  105–73  China
Scoring by half: 61-41, 44-32
August 8
Greece  74–71  Canada
Scoring by half: 40-34, 34-37
August 10
Canada  61–92  Croatia
Scoring by half: 30-45, 31-47
August 10
China  61–77  Greece
Scoring by half: 30-35, 31-42
August 11
China  58–90  Canada
Scoring by half: 37-43, 21-47
August 12
Croatia  81–55  Greece
Scoring by half: 38-29, 43-26

9th–16th classification

Quarterfinal round

Group III

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 3 3 0 264 179 +85 6 9th–12th classification round
2  Argentina 3 2 1 266 221 +45 5
3  South Korea 3 1 2 229 284 −55 4 13th–16th classification round
4  Egypt 3 0 3 199 274 −75 3
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
August 8
Spain  98–57  South Korea
Scoring by half: 53-39, 45-18
August 8
Argentina  91–66  Egypt
Scoring by half: 52-30, 39-36
August 9
Egypt  52–94  Spain
Scoring by half: 18-40, 34-54
August 9
South Korea  83–105  Argentina
Scoring by half: 45-50, 38-55
August 11
Spain  72–70  Argentina
Scoring by half: 37-34, 35-36
August 11
South Korea  89–81  Egypt
Scoring by half: 49-34, 40-47

Group IV

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 3 0 268 226 +42 6 9th–12th classification round
2  Brazil 3 1 2 236 251 −15 4[a]
3  Cuba 3 1 2 225 239 −14 4[a] 13th–16th classification round
4  Angola 3 1 2 226 239 −13 4[a]
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head record: Brazil 1–1 (1.03 GAvg), Cuba 1–1 (0.99 GAvg), Angola 1–1 (0.98 GAvg)
August 8
Cuba  76–82  Brazil
Scoring by half: 39-35, 37-47
August 8
Germany  86–76  Angola
Scoring by half: 32-45, 54-31
August 9
Angola  71–75  Cuba
Scoring by half: 39-38, 32-37
August 9
Brazil  76–96  Germany
Scoring by half: 49-48, 27-48
August 11
Cuba  74–86  Germany
Scoring by half: 34-47, 40-39
August 11
Brazil  78–79  Angola
Scoring by half: 44-52, 34-27

13th–16th classification

 
Semifinals13th place game
 
      
 
 
 
 
 South Korea 75
 
 
 
 Angola71
 
 South Korea 76
 
 
 
 Egypt69
 
 Egypt 69
 
 
 Cuba54
 
15th place game
 
 
 
 
 
 Angola 67
 
 
 Cuba75

Semifinals

August 12
South Korea  75–71  Angola
Scoring by half: 47-46, 28-25
August 12
Cuba  54–69  Egypt
Scoring by half: 28-34, 26-35

Fifteenth place playoff

August 13
Angola  67–75  Cuba
Scoring by half: 38-40, 29-35

Thirteenth place playoff

August 13
South Korea  76–69  Egypt
Scoring by half: 41-35, 35-34

9th–12th classification

 
Semifinals9th place game
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Spain 90
 
 
 
 Brazil85
 
 Spain 65
 
 
 
 Argentina74
 
 Argentina 85
 
 
 Germany71
 
11th place game
 
 
 
 
 
 Brazil 93
 
 
 Germany71

Semifinals

August 12
Spain  90–85  Brazil
Scoring by half: 43-34, 47-51
August 12
Germany  71–85  Argentina
Scoring by half: 41-44, 30-41

Eleventh place playoff

August 13
Brazil  93–71  Germany
Scoring by half: 48-42, 45-29

Ninth place playoff

August 13
Spain  65–74  Argentina
Scoring by half: 25-39, 40-35

5th–8th classification

 
Semifinals5th place game
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Australia 95
 
 
 
 China57
 
 Australia 96
 
 
 
 Puerto Rico83
 
 Puerto Rico 85
 
 
 Canada82
 
7th place game
 
 
 
 
 
 China 76
 
 
 Canada104

Semifinals

August 13
Australia  95–57  China
Scoring by half: 44-27, 51-30
August 13
Canada  82–85  Puerto Rico
Scoring by half: 47-48, 35-37

Seventh place playoff

August 14
China  76–104  Canada
Scoring by half: 41-51, 35-53

Fifth place playoff

August 14
Australia  96–83  Puerto Rico
Scoring by half: 57-47, 39-36

Final round

 
SemifinalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Russia 66
 
 
 
 Croatia64
 
 Russia91
 
 
 
 United States137
 
 Greece58
 
 
 United States97
 
Third place game
 
 
 
 
 
 Croatia 78
 
 
 Greece60

Semifinals

August 13
United States  97–58  Greece
Scoring by half: 40-30, 57-28
August 13
Croatia  64–66  Russia
Scoring by half: 22-31, 42-35

Third place playoff

August 14
Greece  60–78  Croatia
Scoring by half: 32-36, 28-42

Final

August 14
16:00
United States  137–91  Russia
Scoring by half: 73–40, 64–51
Pts: Wilkins 20
Rebs: Johnson 11
Asts: Dumars, Price 5		 Pts: Babkov 22
Rebs: Kisurin 7
Asts: Bazarevich 7
SkyDome, Toronto
Attendance: 32.616
Referees: Wiesław Zych (POL), Isaac Glass (URU)

Awards

 1994 FIBA World Championship winner 

United States
Third title
MVP
United States Shaquille O'Neal

All-Tournament Team

Main article: FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team

O'Neal, who had a sponsorship deal with Pepsi, declined to accept the MVP award and sent Shawn Kemp in his stead as the award, which was sponsored by Coca-Cola, was a bottle of Coke encased in glass atop a wooden base.[4][5]

Top scorers (ppg)

Source:[6]

  1. Australia Andrew Gaze 23.9
  2. Croatia Dino Rađa 22.4
  3. Croatia Arijan Komazec 19.4
  4. South Korea Hur Jae 19.4
  5. Brazil Paolo de Almeida 19.4
  6. South Korea Moon Kyung-Eun 19
  7. Cuba Richard Matienzo 18.8
  8. United States Shaquille O'Neal 18
  9. Argentina Marcelo Nicola 17.7
  10. United States Reggie Miller 17.1

Final standings

1994 FIBA World Championship final rankings.
Rank Team Record
1  United States 8–0
2  Russia 6–2
3  Croatia 7–1
4  Greece 4–4
5  Australia 5–3
6  Puerto Rico 3–5
7  Canada 4–4
8  China 2–6
9  Argentina 5–3
10  Spain 5–3
11  Brazil 2–6
12  Germany 5–3
13  South Korea 3–5
14  Egypt 1–7
15  Cuba 3–5
16  Angola 1–7

References

  1. ^ The New York Times, BASKETBALL; Dream Team Ends Its Sequel Predictably
  2. ^ a b The New York Times, Sports of The Times; Toronto, Dream Team, The World
  3. ^ "Why Can Pros Complete in International Events". Archived from the original on January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Soda wars fizzle as O'Neal declines to accept award". The Orlando Sentinel. August 15, 1994. p. B2. Retrieved December 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^ "USAB: A Look Back at the USA Men's 1994 World Championship Gold Medal". Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  6. ^ Statistics

External links

FIBA Basketball World Cup
United States squad – 1994 FIBA World Championship – Gold medal
Russia squad – 1994 FIBA World Championship – Silver medal
Croatia squad – 1994 FIBA World Championship – Bronze medal
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