Georgia men's national basketball team

The Georgia national basketball team (Georgian: საქართველოს ეროვნული საკალათბურთო ნაკრები) represents the country of Georgia in international basketball matches, and is controlled by the Georgian Basketball Federation. Georgia became a member of FIBA in 1992, after they gained independence from the Soviet Union. The national team played their first official match against Poland in 1995.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Georgia women's national basketball team.

Georgia
FIBA ranking36 (9 December 2020)[1]
Joined FIBA1992
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationGBF
CoachIlias Zouros
Nickname(s)ჯვაროსნები
jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
Olympic Games
AppearancesNone
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
Appearances5
MedalsNone
First international
 Poland 91–68 Georgia
(Birmingham, United Kingdom; 24 May 1995)
Biggest win
Georgia 103–43 Azerbaijan 
(Tbilisi, Georgia; 1 September 2001)
Biggest defeat
 Italy 90–43 Georgia
(Siena, Italy; 28 February 1998)

Georgia's accomplishments on the international stage have been four qualifications to the European Basketball Championship. Their best result came at their debut trip to the tournament in 2011. While they have qualified for the top European event, they have yet to achieve qualification to the top global tournament at the FIBA World Cup.

History

Soviet era

Until 1991 Georgia was a part of Soviet Union and players born in Georgia played for the Soviet Union national team. Notable players born in Georgia who played for the Soviet Union and won medals in Olympic Games, FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket include: Nodar Dzhordzhikiya, Otar Korkia, Guram Minashvili, Vladimer Ugrekhelidze, Levan Moseshvili, Zurab Sakandelidze, Mikheil Korkia and Nikolay Deryugin.

Independent Georgia

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, on several occasions the Georgian national team unsuccessfully tried to qualify for the EuroBasket, Europe's biggest basketball competition and major tournament. Although, the national team did play on the EuroBasket Division B level three times and gained promotion in 2009 after defeating Belarus in play-offs.[2] After the expansion of the EuroBasket in 2011 from 16 to 24 teams, Georgia qualified to the competition for the first time. Since then the team have qualified for the tournament every time.

EuroBasket 2011
Main article: EuroBasket 2011

The national team played five matches in Group D. They finished their preliminary group with an 2-3 record, with wins against Belgium and Ukraine, to advance. In their second round group phase, Georgia lost all five of their matches to finish their maiden voyage to the EuroBasket in 11th place.[3]

EuroBasket 2013
Main article: EuroBasket 2013

After finishing second in qualifying group, Georgia qualified for its second Eurobasket tournament. After a comfortable 84–67 victory in the opening match over Poland, Georgia lost their four remaining matches and finished the tournament with an 1-4 record.[4] To this date, the Eurobasket 2013 was the only tournament, where Georgia could not win more than one match.

EuroBasket 2015
Main article: EuroBasket 2015

Georgia qualified to the Eurobasket for the third successive time in 2015. After three consecutive losses to start the tournament, the national team finally earned their first win in group play against North Macedonia 90–75. They followed it up with another victory to end the opening phase of the event against Croatia, 71–58[5] to move on to the knockout stages for the first time. There they suffered a narrow hard fought defeat to the tournament favorites, and eventual silver medalist Lithuania 81–85.[6]

EuroBasket 2017
Main article: EuroBasket 2017

During the EuroBasket 2017 qualification Georgia topped its group after an 90–84[7] victory over Montenegro and qualified to Eurobasket for the fourth successive time. Once the competition began, the national team got off to a quick start, avenging their EuroBasket 2015 knockout stage defeat to Lithuania 79-77. The rest of the group stage didn't go as well for the Georgian side though. As they could only manage to pullout one more victory against Israel, to finish the tournament with an 2-3 record.

EuroBasket 2021
Main article: EuroBasket 2021

Georgia will co-host the EuroBasket 2021, and they have automatically qualified for the 2021 tournament. This will make it the fifth successive time that Georgia has qualified for the event overall. Tbilisi will be one of the host cities, and will be used for several group phase matches at the brand new Tbilisi Basketball Arena.[8]

The Foundation

The core of the national team that has consistently qualified to Europe's biggest basketball competition consisted of captain Zaza Pachulia, Viktor Sanikidze, Manuchar Markoishvili, Tornike Shengelia, Giorgi Tsintsadze and Giorgi Shermadini. These pioneers in the Georgian basketball community have set the standard for future generations of the national team to build upon, and maintain.

Competitive record

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

Group E
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Georgia 4 4 0 372 347 +25 8 EuroBasket 2022 as host
2  Serbia 4 2 2 335 310 +25 6 EuroBasket 2022
3  Finland 4 1 3 278 310 −32 5[lower-alpha 1]
4   Switzerland 4 1 3 328 346 −18 5[lower-alpha 1]
Updated to match(es) played on 30 November 2020. Source: FIBA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head; 3) Points difference; 4) Points scored.
Notes:
  1. Switzerland 64–69 Finland

Team

Current roster

Roster for the EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers matches played on 20 and 23 February 2020 against Switzerland and Serbia.[9]

Georgia national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 4 Rati Andronikashvili 18 – (2001-03-19)19 March 2001 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Rustavi
PF 7 Beka Burjanadze 26 – (1994-01-03)3 January 1994 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Gran Canaria
PG 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze 34 – (1986-02-07)7 February 1986 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Al-Shamal
C 9 Giorgi Shermadini 30 – (1989-04-02)2 April 1989 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) Iberostar Tenerife
SG 10 Duda Sanadze 27 – (1992-07-25)25 July 1992 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Oliveirense
C 11 Giorgi Turdziladze 22 – (1997-10-21)21 October 1997 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) TSU Tbilisi
C 12 George Korsantia 22 – (1998-01-11)11 January 1998 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) TSU Tbilisi
SF 17 Mikheil Berishvili 32 – (1987-04-12)12 April 1987 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Al-Shamal
SG 18 Merab Bokolishvili 27 – (1992-02-27)27 February 1992 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Rustavi
SG 24 Saba Lobjanidze 26 – (1993-08-17)17 August 1993 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Rustavi
PG 25 Thad McFadden 32 – (1987-05-29)29 May 1987 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Burgos
PF 99 Ilia Londaridze 30 – (1989-09-15)15 September 1989 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Rustavi
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 20 February 2020

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C Giorgi Shermadini Giorgi Turdziladze
PF Beka Burjanadze George Korsantia
SF Duda Sanadze Mikheil Berishvili
SG Thad McFadden Merab Bokolishvili
PG Giorgi Tsintsadze Rati Andronikashvili

Head coach history
Name Years active
Besik Liparteliani 1995–1997
Levan Moseshvili 1997–1999
Zurab Tomaradze 1999–2001
Dražen Brajković 2001–2005
Gordon Herbert 2005–2007
Ken Shields 2007–2008
Igor Kokoškov 2008–2015
Ilias Zouros 2016–

Past rosters

2011 EuroBasket: finished 11th among 24 teams

4 Giorgi Gamqrelidze, 5 Vladimir Boisa, 6 Anatoli Boisa, 7 Zaza Pachulia, 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Lasha Parghalava, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 MarQuez Haynes, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 14 Tornike Shengelia, 15 Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Coach: Igor Kokoškov)

2013 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 24 teams

4 Nika Metreveli, 5 Otar Pkhakadze, 6 Duda Sanadze, 7 Beka Burjanadze, 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Ricky Hickman, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 Levan Patsatsia, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 14 Besik Lezhava, 15 Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Coach: Igor Kokoškov)

2015 EuroBasket: finished 15th among 24 teams

0 Jacob Pullen, 4 Nika Metreveli, 7 Zaza Pachulia (C), 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 Levan Patsatsia, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 15 Beka Burjanadze, 23 Tornike Shengelia, 25 Besik Lezhava (Coach: Igor Kokoškov)

2017 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 24 teams

3 Michael Dixon, 4 Giorgi Gamqrelidze, 6 Anatoli Boisa, 7 Zaza Pachulia (C), 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 17 Mikheil Berishvili, 23 Tornike Shengelia, 35 Goga Bitadze, 99 Ilia Londaridze (Coach: Ilias Zouros)

Head-to-head record

Kit

Manufacturer

2015-present: Spalding[10]

2015: Natakhtari[10]

2019: Georgian Railway

See also

References
  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. "Montenegro, Georgia promoted to Division A - TalkBasket.net". TalkBasket.net. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  3. "Georgia | EuroBasket (2011) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  4. "Georgia | EuroBasket (2013) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  5. "Georgia - Croatia | EuroBasket (2015) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. "Lithuania - Georgia | EuroBasket (2015) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  7. "Montenegro v Georgia - 17 Sep - FIBA.com". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  8. "Georgia to build a new sports complex for European Basketball Championship". Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  9. "Georgia during the EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Feb. 2020". Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. Georgia | EuroBasket 2015 - PHOTO GALLERY Archived 23 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, eurobasket2015.org, Retrieved 22 Oct 2015.
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