Norway men's national basketball team

The Norway national basketball team (Norwegian: Norge herrelandslag i basketball) represents Norway in men's international basketball tournaments. The national team is controlled by the Norwegian Basketball Association.

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

Norway
FIBA ranking85 1 (3 March 2020)[1]
Joined FIBA1968
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationNorges Basketballforbund (NBBF)
CoachMatthias Eckhoff
Olympic Games
AppearancesNone
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances2
Medals Silver: (1996, 2018)
First international
  Switzerland 91–64 Norway
(Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; 4 April 1979)
Biggest win
 San Marino 48–88 Norway
(Serravalle, San Marino; 26 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Netherlands 93–47 Norway
(Kavadarci, Macedonia; 24 May 1995)

Norway has never had great success on the international stage in the past. As they are one of the few European countries to date to have never qualified for one of the top international basketball competitions such as the EuroBasket or the FIBA World Cup.

History

Norway's first match was played in 1966, when the national team lost 74-39 to Iceland. The most capped player is Torgeir Bryn, with 111 caps.

In the past, Norway has attempted to qualify for the Eurobasket several times, but have yet to reach the tournament. They have only entered the Olympic basketball qualification twice, for the 1980, and 1988 Olympic Games. Norway is one of Europe's most populous nations to have never qualified for a major international basketball tournament. However, they have qualified for smaller competitions such as the European Championship for Small Countries.

The Road to Revival (2012-2017)

In 2012 financial troubles led the Norwegian Basketball Association to shut down both the men's and women's national teams. The association simply did not have the funds to keep either the men's or women's teams afloat. Since then, however, the association has come to realize just how many people from the athletes and teams, to individuals and companies care about the Norwegian basketball community and are willing to provide financial support. The association also worked to raise money through sponsorships, and has now signed a major sponsorship agreement with Circle K, in addition to a few smaller sponsors.[2]

In 2018, Norway made its return to FIBA competition by playing at the European Championship for Small Countries. The national team finished as the runners-up after losing 75–59 in the final against Malta.[3]

Competitive record

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries[4]

Norway national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G 4 Magnus Midtvedt 28 – (1990-04-07)7 April 1990 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Centrum Tigers
G 5 Harald Frey 21 – (1997-05-27)27 May 1997 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Montana State Bobcats
G 6 Stian Berg 27 – (1991-04-04)4 April 1991 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Asker Aliens
G 7 Lars Espe 19 – (1998-09-26)26 September 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Barry Buccaneers
G 8 Bouna Ndiaye 25 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) GET Vosges
G 9 Nikolas Skouen 28 – (1990-01-29)29 January 1990 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Frøya Ambassadors
F 10 Karamo Jawara 27 – (1991-06-25)25 June 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) CB Bahía San Agustín
G 11 Stian Mjos 29 – (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bærum Basket
G 12 Eivind Lamo 21 – (1996-10-23)23 October 1996 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Gimle Basket
G 13 Alex Dakin 25 – (1993-01-02)2 January 1993 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Bærum Basket
F 14 Sjur Berg 22 – (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Alaska Anchorage Seawolves
F 15 Johannes Dolven 22 – (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Barry Buccaneers
Head coach
  • Matthias Eckhoff
Assistant coach(es)
  • Audun Eskeland
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 26 June 2018

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Marcus Larsson Johannes Dolven Haji Jawara Jonas Perkis
PF Karamo Jawara Kristian Sjolund Sjur Berg Aly Hudgins
SF Chris Ebou-Ndow Bouna Ndiaye Mikal Gjerde Espen Fjaerestad
SG Mikkel Kolstad Nikolas Skouen Magne Fivelstad Tobias Rotegard
PG Harald Frey Stian Mjos Sigurd Lorange Eivind Lamo

Head coach position
  • Matthias Eckhoff – (2018 - present)

Notable players
  • Torgeir Bryn - the first Scandinavian, and the only Norwegian who has played in the NBA; and the most capped player for the Norway national basketball team with 111 matches.
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See also

References
  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  2. "Norway returns to international basketball". norwegianamerican.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. "Norway - FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  4. "Norway at the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 26 June 2018.
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