G-League champions Rio Grande Valley Vipers are among the teams traveling to Spain for the annual competition.
Four champion teams from around the world will play in the Canary Islands this weekend for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023, streamed live on the NBA app!
The tournament, which will be held Friday through Sunday on the Spanish island of Tenerife, will feature G-League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Basketball Africa League winner US Monastir, FIBA Basketball Champions League winner Lenovo Tenerife, and São Paulo, winner of the BCL for the Americas.
The competition has been held annually since 1966.
After a series of format changes over the years, the G-League champion has been a part of the tournament since 2018.
So far no one has won the tournament. Should the Vipers prevail, they would become the first American team to win the competition since 1974 when the Maryland Terrapins took home the trophy.
A slew of talents, some with NBA backgrounds, others who have made names for themselves overseas, will compete in this year’s cup.
The Vipers include former 2021 Slam Dunk contestant Cassius Stanley and NBA veteran Willie Cauley-Stein. Former Laker Marcelo Huertas plays for Lenovo Tenerife, which won the cup last year.
US Monastir features Radhouane Slimane and Ater Majok, both of whom made the 2020 All-BAL first team. They are the second Basketball Africa League champions to attend the event.
The Vipers play São Paulo in the first round, while Tenerife meet US Monastir. The games for the championship and third place will be played on Sunday.
“The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is a perfect opportunity to keep building winning habits and playing at a high level,” Vipers coach Kevin Burleson told FIBA.com.
