2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was the 15th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's teams. The tournament was hosted by Japan and held from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Japan Basketball Association (JABBA) and the 2006 Organizing Committee.
| 2006FIBA世界選手権 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tournament details | |
| Host country | Japan |
| Dates | August 19 – September 3 |
| Teams | 24 |
| Venue(s) | 5 (in 5 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Spain (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Greece |
| Third place |  United States |
| Fourth place |  Argentina |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 80 |
| MVP | Pau Gasol |
| Top scorer |  Yao Ming (25.3 points per game) |
For the first time since 1986, the World Championship was contested by 24 nations, eight more than in 2002. As a result, group rounds were conducted in four cities, with the knockout rounds being hosted by Saitama City.
The tournament was won by Spain, who, in the championship final, beat Greece, 70–47, to finish the tournament having won all nine games played. For Spain, it was a record breaking performance at the FIBA World Championship and something the country had never seen before. It was the first time Spain had won Gold in the FIBA World Championship along with it being the first time Spain had won a medal at the FIBA world championship. Pau Gasol also became the first Spaniard to win the MVP award. It was the first time a country has won all nine of its games since 1994 when the United States won all nine games and took the gold medal home. The bronze medal was won by the United States, who defeated Argentina, 96–81, in the third place game, after a crushing loss by Greece. Up to 2014, including the 2014 tournament, it has been the only tournament where neither Yugoslavia or the USA have reached the final until 2019. The 2006 tournament marked the final appearance of Serbia and Montenegro as they broke up into the independent nations of Serbia and Montenegro after a successful independence referendum in Montenegro in May.
Venues
| Hamamatsu | Sapporo | |
| Hamamatsu Arena Capacity: 5,100 |
Sapporo Arena Capacity: 6,400 | |
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| Hiroshima | Saitama | Sendai |
| Hiroshima Green Arena Capacity: 6,900 |
Saitama Super Arena Capacity: 21,000 |
Sendai Gymnasium Capacity: 6,100 |
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Squads
At the start of tournament, all 24 participating countries had 12 players on their roster.
Competing nations
The following national teams competed:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
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Japan qualified as the host country, and Italy, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey gained FIBA wild-card invitations.[1] Argentina qualified as the champion of the 2004 Olympics. The remaining 18 countries qualified through their continents' qualifying tournaments (six from Europe, four from the Americas, three from each of Asia and Africa and two from Oceania).
The draw for the 2006 World Championship was held in Tokyo on 15 January 2006. In the preliminary rounds, Group A played at Sendai, Group B at Hiroshima, Group C at Hamamatsu and Group D at Sapporo. The Medal Rounds were played at Saitama.
Preliminary rounds
Group A (Sendai)
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff | First Tiebreaker Classification for Tied Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 464 | 339 | +125 | |
 France |
8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 353 | 329 | +24 | |
 Nigeria |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 371 | 393 | −22 | 2W–0L |
%253B_Flag_of_Serbia_and_Montenegro_(2003%E2%80%932006).svg.png.webp){kind=small} Serbia and Montenegro |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 409 | 352 | +57 | 1W–1L |
 Lebanon |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 357 | 451 | −94 | 0W–2L |
 Venezuela |
6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 336 | 426 | −90 |
August 19, 2006
| Venezuela |
72–82 | Lebanon |
| Serbia and Montenegro |
75–82 | Nigeria |
| Argentina |
80–70 | France |
August 20, 2006
| Nigeria |
77–84 | Venezuela |
| Lebanon |
72–107 | Argentina |
| France |
65–61 | Serbia and Montenegro |
August 21, 2006
| Argentina |
96–54 | Venezuela |
| Serbia and Montenegro |
104–57 | Lebanon |
| France |
64–53 | Nigeria |
August 23, 2006
| Nigeria |
64–98 | Argentina |
| Venezuela |
65–90 | Serbia and Montenegro |
| Lebanon |
74–73 | France |
August 24, 2006
| Serbia and Montenegro |
79–83 | Argentina |
| Lebanon |
72–95 | Nigeria |
| France |
81–61 | Venezuela |
Group B (Hiroshima)
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain |
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 476 | 336 | +140 |
 Germany |
9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 421 | 384 | +37 |
 Angola |
8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 451 | 406 | +45 |
 New Zealand |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 345 | 393 | −48 |
 Japan |
6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 322 | 393 | −71 |
 Panama |
5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 326 | 429 | −103 |
August 19, 2006
| Germany |
81–70 | Japan |
| Angola |
83–70 | Panama |
| Spain |
86–70 | New Zealand |
August 20, 2006
| Japan |
62–87 | Angola |
| New Zealand |
56–80 | Germany |
| Panama |
57–101 | Spain |
August 21, 2006
| Angola |
95–73 | New Zealand |
| Germany |
71–92 | Spain |
| Japan |
78–61 | Panama |
August 23, 2006
| Spain |
93–83 | Angola |
| Panama |
63–81 | Germany |
| New Zealand |
60–57 | Japan |
August 24, 2006
| Angola |
103–108 (3OT) | Germany |
| New Zealand |
86–75 | Panama |
| Japan |
55–104 | Spain |
Group C (Hamamatsu)
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece |
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 404 | 358 | +46 |
 Turkey |
9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 370 | 358 | +12 |
 Lithuania |
8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 413 | 353 | +60 |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 370 | 349 | +21 |
 Brazil |
6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 399 | 392 | +7 |
 Qatar |
5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 310 | 456 | −146 |
August 19, 2006
| Brazil |
77–83 | Australia |
| Greece |
84–64 | Qatar |
| Turkey |
76–74 | Lithuania |
August 20, 2006
| Qatar |
66–97 | Brazil |
| Australia |
68–76 | Turkey |
| Lithuania |
76–81(OT) | Greece |
August 22, 2006
| Lithuania |
106–65 | Qatar |
| Greece |
72–69 | Australia |
| Turkey |
73–71 | Brazil |
August 23, 2006
| Australia |
57–78 | Lithuania |
| Qatar |
69–76 | Turkey |
| Brazil |
80–91 | Greece |
August 24, 2006
| Australia |
93–46 | Qatar |
| Lithuania |
79–74 | Brazil |
| Greece |
76–69 | Turkey |
Group D (Sapporo)
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff | First Tiebreaker Classification for Tied Teams |
Second Tiebreaker Basket Average for Tied Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States |
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 543 | 428 | +115 | ||
 Italy |
9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 386 | 367 | +19 | ||
 Slovenia |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 434 | 433 | +1 | 1W–1L | (167/160, 1.0438) |
| China |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 424 | 455 | −31 | 1W–1L | (165/167, 0.9880) |
 Puerto Rico |
7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 432 | 440 | −8 | 1W–1L | (172/177, 0.9718) |
 Senegal |
5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 355 | 451 | −96 |
August 19, 2006
| Puerto Rico |
100–111 | United States |
| Slovenia |
96–79 | Senegal |
| China |
69–84 | Italy |
August 20, 2006
| Senegal |
79–88 | Puerto Rico |
| Italy |
80–76 | Slovenia |
| United States |
121–90 | China |
August 22, 2006
| Puerto Rico |
90–87 (OT) | China |
| Italy |
64–56 | Senegal |
| Slovenia |
95–114 | United States |
August 23, 2006
| Senegal |
83–100 | China |
| Puerto Rico |
82–90 | Slovenia |
| United States |
94–85 | Italy |
August 24, 2006
| Slovenia |
77–78 | China |
| Italy |
73–72 | Puerto Rico |
| United States |
103–58 | Senegal |
Knockout stage
- All times are local (UTC +9).
Venue: Saitama Super Arena
| Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
| August 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Argentina | 79 | |||||||||||||
| August 29 | ||||||||||||||
| New Zealand | 62 | |||||||||||||
| Argentina | 83 | |||||||||||||
| August 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Turkey | 58 | |||||||||||||
| Turkey | 90 | |||||||||||||
| September 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Slovenia | 84 | |||||||||||||
| Argentina | 74 | |||||||||||||
| August 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Spain | 75 | |||||||||||||
| Spain | 87 | |||||||||||||
| August 29 | ||||||||||||||
| Serbia and Montenegro | 75 | |||||||||||||
| Spain | 89 | |||||||||||||
| August 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Lithuania | 67 | |||||||||||||
| Italy | 68 | |||||||||||||
| September 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Lithuania | 71 | |||||||||||||
| Spain | 70 | |||||||||||||
| August 27 | ||||||||||||||
| Greece | 47 | |||||||||||||
| Greece | 95 | |||||||||||||
| August 30 | ||||||||||||||
| China | 64 | |||||||||||||
| Greece | 73 | |||||||||||||
| August 27 | ||||||||||||||
| France | 56 | |||||||||||||
| France | 68 | |||||||||||||
| September 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Angola | 62 | |||||||||||||
| Greece | 101 | |||||||||||||
| August 27 | ||||||||||||||
| United States | 95 | Third place | ||||||||||||
| United States | 113 | |||||||||||||
| August 30 | September 2 | |||||||||||||
| Australia | 73 | |||||||||||||
| United States | 85 | United States | 96 | |||||||||||
| August 27 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany | 65 | Argentina | 81 | |||||||||||
| Germany | 78 | |||||||||||||
| Nigeria | 77 | |||||||||||||
Fifth through eighth place
| Classification round | Fifth place | |||||
| August 31 | ||||||
| Turkey (OT) | 95 | |||||
| September 2 | ||||||
| Lithuania | 84 | |||||
| Turkey | 56 | |||||
| August 31 | ||||||
| France | 64 | |||||
| France | 75 | |||||
| Germany | 73 | |||||
| Seventh place | ||||||
| September 3 | ||||||
| Lithuania | 77 | |||||
| Germany | 62 | |||||
Final
September 3, 2006 7:30 p.m. |
| Greece |
47–70 | Spain |
| Scoring by quarter: 12–18, 11–25, 11–11, 13–16 | ||
| Pts: Michail Kakiouzis 17 Rebs: Michail Kakiouzis 9 Asts: Papaloukas, Diamantidis 3 each |
Pts: Garbajosa, Navarro 20 each Rebs: Carlos Jiménez 11 Asts: Garbajosa, Berni Rodríguez 4 each | |
Since the inaugural competition the four competing countries for the title had been either the USA, Soviet Union, Brazil or Yugoslavia. Russia returned in the final of 1994 and 1998. After the breakup, a former member of Yugoslav Republic, Serbia, has taken it's place in the final of 1998 and 2002. The 2006 final was the first (the second was in 2019 also including Spain) in which none of these four teams competed. The final was an unexpectedly one-sided affair, with Spain dominating from the beginning and limiting Greece to just 47 points, fewer than the Greeks had scored in any single game in the tournament, and less than half what Greece had scored against the US in the semifinals. Spain won despite having lost power forward Pau Gasol, who was ultimately named the tournament's most valuable player, to injury in a semifinal match against Argentina.
Final rankings
- Teams that were eliminated at the round of 16 are officially tied for 9th.
- Teams that were 5th at their preliminary rounds are officially tied for 17th.
- Teams that were 6th at their preliminary rounds are officially tied for 21st.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain |
9–0 |
| 2 | Greece |
8–1 |
| 3 | United States |
8–1 |
| 4 | Argentina |
7–2 |
| 5 | France |
6–3 |
| 6 | Turkey |
6–3 |
| 7 | Lithuania |
5–4 |
| 8 | Germany |
5–4 |
| 9 | Angola |
3–3 |
| Australia |
2–4 | |
| China |
2–4 | |
| Italy |
4–2 | |
| New Zealand |
2–4 | |
| Nigeria |
2–4 | |
| Serbia and Montenegro |
2–4 | |
| Slovenia |
2–4 | |
| 17 | Brazil |
1–4 |
| Japan |
1–4 | |
| Lebanon |
2–3 | |
| Puerto Rico |
2–3 | |
| 21 | Panama |
0–5 |
| Qatar |
0–5 | |
| Senegal |
0–5 | |
| Venezuela |
1–4 |
Awards
| 2006 World Championship Winner |
|---|
Spain First title |
| Most Valuable Player |
|---|
| Pau Gasol |
All-Tournament Team
Leading scorers
| No. | Player | Team | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yao Ming | China | ||
| Dirk Nowitzki | Germany | ||
| Pau Gasol | Spain | ||
| Carlos Arroyo | Puerto Rico | ||
| Larry Ayuso | Puerto Rico |
Referees
For the World Championship, FIBA selected 40 professional referees.
Group A
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Group B
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Group C
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Group D
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Sponsorship
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basketball World Cup 2006. |
- FIBA World Championship 2006 official website
- FIBA official website
- EuroBasket.com FIBA Basketball World Cup Page
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International men's basketball | ||
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| Africa |  | |
| Americas | ||
| Asia |
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| Europe | ||
| Oceania |
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| Other tournaments | ||
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