Kosovo men's national basketball team

The Kosovo men's national basketball team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e basketbollit të meshkujve të Kosovës, Serbian: Мушкарци кошаркашкa репрезентација Косова, romanized: Muškarci košarkaška reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international men's basketball. It is controlled by the Basketball Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for basketball in Kosovo. They have been a member of FIBA since 13 March 2015.[2]

Kosovo

FIBA ranking	69 (3 March 2020)[1]
Joined FIBA	2015
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	Federata e Basketbollit e Kosovës (FBK)
Coach	Christos Marmarinos
Nickname(s)	Dardanët (Dardanians)
Olympic Games
Appearances	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	None
EuroBasket
Appearances	None
Home Away
First international
Slovenia 113–68 Kosovo  (Ljubljana, Slovenia; 31 August 2016)
Biggest win
Kosovo 109–88 Luxembourg  (Pristina, Kosovo; 14 August 2019)
Biggest defeat
Lithuania 106–50 Kosovo  (Klaipėda, Lithuania; 26 February 2018)

History

The Basketball Federation of Kosovo was founded in 1991. During the Yugoslavian era, Kosovo had its own Superleague and lower divisions, in both genders. In the 1990s, Kosovo declared political and sports independence from the Yugoslav system, organising its own league, based on different teams from seven major cities of Kosovo. Some basketball players from Kosovo, especially Kosovo Serbs, Gorani and other non-Albanians, participated as part of the Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.

Kosovo was not allowed to play international matches, not even friendlies by FIBA, until 2015, when the Basketball Federation of Kosovo, became an official member of FIBA and FIBA Europe. Kosovo will be part of EuroBasket qualifications for the first time, as they will compete in the EuroBasket 2017 qualification.[3] FIBA is about to allow a lot of Kosovan players, that have already played for other national teams to play for their own country.

On 2 August 2017. Kosovo achieved their first win ever by defeating Macedonia 72–68 in the first match of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup pre-qualifications.[4]

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	L	Squad
1936 to 2004	Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro
2008 to 2012	Not an IOC member
2016	Could not enter
2020	Did not qualify
2024	To be determined
2028
Total	—	0/22	0	0	0	—

FIBA World Cup

FIBA World Cup record								Qualifications record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	L	Squad		Year	Pld	W	L
1950 to 2006	Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro							—
2002 to 2014	Not a FIBA member							Not a FIBA member
2019	Did not qualify							2019	10	2	8
2023	To be determined							2023	2	2	0
Total	—	0/18	0	0	0	—		Total	12	4	8

EuroBasket

EuroBasket record								Qualifications record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	L	Squad		Year	Pld	W	L	Squad
1935 to 2007	Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia							—
2009 to 2013	Not a FIBA Europe member							Not a FIBA Europe member
2015	Could not enter							Could not enter
2017	Did not qualify							2017	6	0	6	Squad
2021	Did not qualify							2021	8	1	7	N/A
Total	—	0/41	0	0	0	—		Total	14	1	13	—

Team

Current roster

The following is the Kosovo roster were called up for the first round of 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup pre-qualifications matches against  Iceland and  Luxembourg, on 20 and 23 February 2020.[5]

Kosovo national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G/F 4 Azemi, Edmond 39 – (1980-09-10)10 September 1980 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Prishtina SG 5 Kastrati, Erjon 25 – (1994-12-30)30 December 1994 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Egis Körmend PF 6 Morina, Gëzim 27 – (1992-12-12)12 December 1992 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Helios Suns F/C 7 Rugova, Fisnik 30 – (1989-08-26)26 August 1989 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Prishtina SG 11 Berisha, Dardan (C) 31 – (1988-11-15)15 November 1988 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Peja F 12 Hajrizi, Drilon 29 – (1991-01-17)17 January 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Peja C 14 Zenelaj, Urim 28 – (1991-06-17)17 June 1991 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Ponte Prizreni SG 18 Tmušić, Mikaile 27 – (1993-01-06)6 January 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Podgorica F 21 Zekiqi, Samir 25 – (1995-01-23)23 January 1995 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Ylli SF 23 Ismaili, Meriton 19 – (2000-04-03)3 April 2000 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Prishtina PG 55 Morina, Altin 27 – (1992-06-19)19 June 1992 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Rahoveci PG 66 Bunjaku, Valon 22 – (1998-02-02)2 February 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Ylli	Head coach Christos Marmarinos Assistant coach(es) Bujar Loci Gyltekin Selimi Dritëro Sefaja Illmen Bajra Legend (C) Team captain Age – describes age, on 21 February 2020

Retired numbers

No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Date of retirement	Ref
15	Gazmend Sinani	Center	2016 2018	25 June 2018 (2018-06-25)	[6]

References

1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
2. "Kosovo becomes 215th National Member Federation of FIBA". FIBA. 13 March 2015.
3. "Kosova në kualifikimet për Eurobasket 2017" [Kosovo in qualifications for Eurobasket 2017] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 22 October 2015.
4. "Fitore e madhe e Kosovës ndaj Maqedonisë" [Biggest win of Kosovo against Macedonia] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 3 August 2017. Kosova të mërkurën mbrëma në Pallatin e Rinisë dhe Sporteve në Prishtinë para rreth 2000 shikuesve e ka mposhtur Maqedoninë me rezultat 72:68 (23:11, 17:9, 15:23, 17:25)
5. "12-shja e Kosovës përballë Islandës dhe Luksemburgut" [Kosovo's 12th against Iceland and Luxembourg] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 20 February 2020.
6. "Fanella me numër 15 e Përfaqësueses së Kosovës pensionohet me emrin e Gazmend Sinanit" [Kit with number 15 of Kosovo national team retired with name of Gazmend Sinani] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 25 June 2018. Fanella me numër 15 e Përfaqësueses së Kosovës në basketboll do të pensionohet me emrin e basketbollistit Gazmend Sinani, i cili e humbi jetën në një aksident rrugor në orët e hershme të mëngjesit të së shtunës në Gjakovë

External links

• Official website (in Albanian, English, and Serbian)
• Kosovo at EuroBasket