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Kosovo men's national basketball team

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

Kosovo
FIBA ranking74 Increase 5 (15 August 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA2015
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationFederata e Basketbollit të Kosovës (FBK)
CoachChristos Marmarinos
Nickname(s)Dardanët (Dardanians)
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
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)

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

History

Pre-independence

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 national teams.

After independence

Kosovo were 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 took part in EuroBasket qualification for the first time in 2017.[3] On 31 August 2016, Kosovo played their first official international match against Slovenia during the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers.[4]

A year later, the national team achieved their first ever win on 2 August 2017 by defeating Macedonia 72–68 in their first match during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers.[5] After the win, Kosovo would pick up one more victory during the Pre-Qualifiers, against Estonia 75–69 to finish with a (2–2) record to advance to the first round of World Cup qualifying.[6] In the next round, Kosovo would eventually see their World Cup hopes vanish, as the team went winless before being eliminated.[7]

After missing out on reaching the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Kosovo went through Pre-Qualifiers in order to reach EuroBasket 2022. However, the team would only compile a (2–8) record during the pre-qualifying process to be unable to advance.[8]

Competitive record

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2021

18 February 2021 Kosovo  89–99  Luxembourg Pristina, Kosovo* [note 1]
19:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–32, 23–23, 24–20, 19–24
Pts: Myles 21
Rebs: Hajrizi, Myles 7
Asts: Berisha 6 		Boxscore Pts: Rugg 22
Rebs: Rugg 17
Asts: Melcher 9 		Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referees: Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Nikolaos Somos (GRE), Sergio Rodríguez (ESP)
20 February 2021 Kosovo  73–77  Slovakia Pristina, Kosovo* [note 1]
19:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–15, 14–20, 17–20, 19–22
Pts: Berisha 24
Rebs: Hajrizi 9
Asts: Myles 6 		Boxscore Pts: Brodziansky 28
Rebs: Brodziansky 18
Asts: Krajčovič 5 		Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referees: Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Semen Ovinov (RUS), Ali Şakacı (TUR)
25 November 2021 Norway  86–77  Kosovo Bergen, Norway
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 17–22, 25–11, 27–19, 17–25
Pts: Ndow 21
Rebs: Ndow 8
Asts: Jawara 7 		Boxscore Pts: Berisha 18
Rebs: Berisha 7
Asts: Berisha 4 		Arena: Haukelandshallen
Attendance: 2,143
Referees: Vilius Mačiulaitis (LTU), Mart Uuehendrik (EST), James Dominique (GIB)
28 November 2021 Kosovo  78–73  Denmark Pristina, Kosovo
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 18–17, 20–16, 22–13, 18–27
Pts: Berisha 16
Rebs: three players 5
Asts: Berisha 5 		Boxscore Pts: Mortensen 24
Rebs: Midtgaard 10
Asts: three players 4 		Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Attendance: 550
Referees: Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Ali Şakacı (TUR), Pavel Fúska (SVK)

2022

27 February 2022 Kosovo  92–950(OT)  Norway Mitrovica, Kosovo
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 27–15, 19–16, 18–25, 17–25, Overtime: 11–14
Pts: Berisha 27
Rebs: Bamforth 8
Asts: Bamforth 5 		Boxscore Pts: Frey 38
Rebs: Ndow 10
Asts: Jawara 4 		Arena: Minatori Sports Hall
Attendance: 1,500
Referees: Stoica Ciprian (ROU), Zoran Mitrovski (MKD), Stylianos Simeonidis (GRE)
30 June 2022 Denmark  vs.  Kosovo
Boxscore

Team

Current roster

The following is the Kosovo roster called up for the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers match against  Norway, on 27 February 2022.[10]

Kosovo men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
C 0 Dion Sheqiri 18 – (2003-08-25)25 August 2003 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Trieste Italy
SG 1 Arti Hajdari 28 – (1993-05-12)12 May 1993 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Prizreni-16 Kosovo
SG 3 Scott Bamforth 32 – (1989-08-12)12 August 1989 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Le Mans France
SG 5 Erjon Kastrati 27 – (1994-12-30)30 December 1994 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Ylli Kosovo
PF 6 Gëzim Morina 29 – (1992-12-12)12 December 1992 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Ylli Kosovo
F/C 7 Fisnik Rugova 32 – (1989-08-26)26 August 1989 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Rahoveci Kosovo
SG 11 Dardan Berisha (C) 33 – (1988-11-15)15 November 1988 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Peja Kosovo
PF 12 Drilon Hajrizi 31 – (1991-01-17)17 January 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Trepça Kosovo
SG 18 Mikaile Tmušić 29 – (1993-01-06)6 January 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Ylli Kosovo
F 21 Samir Zekiqi 27 – (1995-01-23)23 January 1995 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Trepça Kosovo
SF 22 Meriton Ismaili 21 – (2000-04-03)3 April 2000 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Prishtina Kosovo
F 23 Muhamedali Janjeva 24 – (1998-01-28)28 January 1998 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Prishtina Kosovo
PG 66 Valon Bunjaku 24 – (1998-02-02)2 February 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bashkimi Prizren Kosovo
Head coach
  • Greece Christos Marmarinos
Assistant coach(es)
  • Kosovo Bujar Loci
  • Kosovo Gyltekin Selimi
  • Kosovo Dritëro Sefaja
  • Kosovo Illmen Bajra
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 18 November 2021

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Urim Zenelaj Valon Bunjaku Dion Sheqiri
PF Fisnik Rugova Alban Veseli
SF Drilon Hajrizi Samir Zekiqi Meriton Ismaili
SG Dardan Berisha Erjon Kastrati Denis Zenelaj
PG Divine Myles Mikaile Tmušić

Head coach history

Retired numbers

No. Player Position Tenure Date of retirement Ref
15 Gazmend Sinani Center 2016–2018 25 June 2018 (2018-06-25) [11]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches in the November 2020 and February 2021 windows were played behind closed doors in select host cities.[9]

References

  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  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. ^ "Kosovo during the EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ^ "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)
  6. ^ "Kosovo during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Kosovo during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Kosovo during the EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Statement regarding the November 2020 and February 2021 Qualifiers". Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Marmarinos shpall listën për ndeshjen me Norvegjinë" [Marmarinos announces the list for the match with Norway] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 19 February 2022.
  11. ^ "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
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