As the FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off in Spain on Saturday (30 August), the best players in the world will have more than just the world title on their minds. Also at stake is a place in Rio, the first such qualification berth for the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament.

Team USA will arrive in Spain as defending champions, and with 14 Olympic titles and four World Cups already to their name, there is little doubt who will be favourites to lift the trophy once more, even without some of the NBA’s biggest stars in the line-up.

Key players like Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis remain, however, and all eyes will be on the Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden, who is fully aware of the high expectations placed on him and the team ahead of the tournament.

“Securing the Olympic berth is the most important thing. Every two years there is a new opportunity to win a championship (the Olympic Games or the World Cup), to win a gold medal and make sure we are on top at all times. It’s a gold medal or it’s a failure. We’ve been preparing for nothing less," said Harden, a gold medalist at London 2012.

“Our defence is looking amazing. We have some of the best scorers in the world on this team, but when the guys really want to play defence as one makes it even more special," he added.
 

Olympic champion at London 2012, James Harden is among the highlights of a strong USA World Cup side (Photo: Getty Images/Mike Hewitt)

The Spanish team boasts six NBA players of its own, including centre Marc Gasol, power forwards Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka and point guards Ricky Rubin and José Calderón. The team can also count on the support of the home fans, and as second in the world ranking and finishing champions in 2006, veteran Pau Gasol leads a strong side hoping to once more claim the world title.

“It is going to be an amazing tournament for our country because the Spanish love basketball and they will support us no matter what happens. We are going to give all we have to make them feel proud of the national team. Our goal is to win the final match, no matter who is on the other side,” said the 2.15m-tall Chicago Bulls player.

Olympic champions in Athens 2004, Argentina currently sit third in the world ranking. Still relying on several of the players who won that historic gold medal a decade ago, coach Julio Llamas will feel the absence of two of his best players, shooting guard Manu Ginóbilli and small forward Carlos Delfino, both out with injuries.

“Ginóbilli and Delfino are irreplaceable for us. Not having them means a lot, but we have to figure out how to do the best we can without them. The more experienced players have to help the younger players and we will have to find a new system if we are to get a good result in the World Cup,” said small forward Andrés Nocioni. The small forward for Spanish side Real Madrid will play a key role alongside power forward Luis Scola and point guard Pablo Prigioni.

In contrast, Brazil will be at full strength for the World Cup, with a side that includes NBA centers Tiago Splitter, Anderson Varejao and Nene. Ranked tenth in the world, their place in Rio is already secured as host country, but the forthcoming tournaments, including the Pan-American Games in 2015, will provide the perfect opportunity to play together against the best in the world.

“The World Cup will be very important for our preparations, as will the America Championship and the Pan-American Games in 2015. This is a very strong tournament that reunites the best teams in the world and our goal is to achieve a good result. For the first time in the recent years we will have our complete roster and our preparation has been great”, said Tiago Splitter, the first Brazilian to win an NBA title, with the San Antonio Spurs last season.
 

An NBA champion with San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter is among Brazil's star players (Photo: Getty Images/Gabriel Rossi)

Two-time Oceania champions Australia are also looking for a strong showing in Spain. With two of the side’s most experienced players, centre Andrew Bogut and point guard Paty Mills, out through injury, the Boomers will have to rely on the team’s balance to succeed.

“We've got a good mix of inside and outside players, we've got good energy and we'll play hard, so I'm looking forward to getting over there”, said the Cleveland Cavaliers’ point guard Matthew Dellavedova, who will share the court in Spain with guard Dante Exum and center Aron Baynes.

Seville, Gran Canaria, Bilbao and Granada will host the first-round matches, with the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final matches played in Barcelona and Madrid. The Spanish capital will also host the third-place play-off and the final.

Twelve teams will compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic basketball tournament, with qualification also possible via the five continental qualifying tournaments in 2015, and the International Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016.