After returning to EuroBasket two years ago, the Dutch National Team sets their goal of making it to the FIBA World Cup in 2019. Netherlands coach Toon van Helfteren expressed his excitement in meeting his country's players and coaching them towards their world cup goals.
According to a report from FIBA, the 65-year old former Dutch League player turned coach said that they are excited to participate, especially with the new format that the organization had established. The 65-year old former Dutch League MVP, however, said that playing in the European Pre-Qualifying tournament in August is something that his team needs to take seriously if they wanted to play against the best of the world.
"If we don't qualify, then we're out of international competition for the next two or three years," said van Helfteren. "We are taking this very, very seriously."
Composed of players playing all across Europe, Oranje competed in the EuroBasket 2017 last year and stunned powerhouse Germany, 75-71. Big man Nicolas De Jong scored 20 points in over 32 minutes on the floor. Reports from the team's official website, they are set to fly in Macedonia for a four-nation tournament in preparation for this year's qualifiers, and as well for the World Cup that will be held in China two years from now.
The Lions will be joining the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will now be led by Denver Nuggets' center Jusuf Nurkić and veteran Mirza Teletovic, the host country Macedonia with their naturalized forward Romeo Travis, LeBron James' childhood friend, and Portugal.
Netherlands will now rely on Worthy De Jong, a combo guard who led the team in their previous stint in the last year's tournament. He averaged a team-high 13.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Their 6-11 center Roeland Schaftenaar and Nicolas De Jong is expected to provide the ceiling for the Lions, whose line-up has no players under 6-foot-2.
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