Kosovo national basketball team

Kosovo
FIBA ranking	83
Joined FIBA	2015
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	FBK
Coach	Arben Krasniqi
Nickname(s)	Dardanët (Dardanians), Djelmoshat e Artë (Golden Boys)
Olympic Games
Appearances	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	None
EuroBasket
Appearances	None
Uniforms
Light Dark
First international
Slovenia 113–68 Kosovo (Ljubljana, Slovenia; 31 August 2016)
Biggest defeat
Slovenia 113–68 Kosovo (Ljubljana, Slovenia; 31 August 2016)

The Kosovo national basketball team (Albanian: Kombëtarja Kosovare e basketbollit, Serbian: Кошаркашка репрезентација Косова / Košarkaška reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo internationally in basketball. The Kosovan national basketball team is run by the Basketball Federation of Kosovo , the governing body of basketball in Kosovo, which was created in 1991, and joined FIBA in 2015. Prior to 1991, Kosovo was under the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia.

History

The Kosovo Basketball Federation 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 Yugoslavian system, organising its own league, based on different teams from seven major cities of Kosovo. Some basketball players from Kosovo, especially Kosovo Serbs, participated as part of the Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia national basketball teams.

Kosovo was not allowed to play international matches, not even friendlies by FIBA, until 2015, when the Kosovo Basketball Federation became an official member of FIBA and FIBA Europe. Kosovo will be part of FIBA EuroBasket qualifications for the first time, as they will compete in the FIBA EuroBasket 2017's qualification tournament.^[1] FIBA is about to allow a lot of Kosovan players, that have already played for other national teams to play for their own country. Some of those players include: Dardan Berisha (Poland), Kenan Sipahi (Turkey), Ulug Kacaniku (Turkey), Edon Maxhuni (Finland), Gezim Morina (Slovenia), and Erjon Kastrati (Slovenia).

Youth teams

Kosovo began to participate in youth competitions in 2015. It competed in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B, where it finished in the 14th position out of 18 teams,^[2] and the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship Division C, finishing as runner-up, after being defeated by San Marino, by a score of 59–76 in the final.^[3]

Kosovo youth basketball current tiers:

• FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B
• FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division C
• FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship Division B

Current Roster

Roster for EuroBasket 2017 qualification.

Kosovo National Basketball Team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Age – Date of birth Ht. Club Ctr. G 4 Azemi, Edmond 35 – September 10, 1980 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Sigal Prishtina PF 5 Doellman, Justin 31 – March 2, 1985 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) FC Barcelona Lassa G 6 Ahmetbašić, Mirza 28 – November 23, 1987 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) KB Peja F 7 Kaçaniku, Yll 31 – May 31, 1985 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Istanbulspor F 8 Veseli, Alban 26 – January 10, 1990 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) KB Peja SG 9 Rugova, Granit 30 – September 13, 1985 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Sigal Prishtina SG 11 Berisha, Dardan 27 – November 15, 1988 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Sigal Prishtina SF 12 Hajrizi, Drilon 25 – January 17, 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Sigal Prishtina PF 15 Sinani, Gazmend 25 – June 22, 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) KB Bashkimi PG 23 Sina, Jaren 22 – March 12, 1994 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) George Washington C 35 Rugova, Fisnik 26 – October 26, 1989 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Sigal Prishtina PG 55 Mekaj, Leonard 21 – February 27, 1995 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) KB Peja	Head coach Arben Krasniqi Assistant coach(es) Andin Rashica Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 31 August 2016

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2	Bench 3
C	Fisnik Rugova
PF	Justin Doellman
SF	Yll Kaçaniku
SG	Dardan Berisha
PG	Jaren Sina

Competitive record

At EuroBasket

FIBA EuroBasket						Qualification
Year	Pos.	Pld	W	L		Pld	W	L
2017	Did not qualify					6	0	6

References

1. "Kosova në kualifikime për EuroBasket 2017" (in Albanian). Gazeta Blic. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
2. "Final Standings at 2015 FIBA Under-20 Championships Division B". FIBA Europe.
3. "San Marino claim historic gold medal". FIBA Europe. 11 July 2015.

External links

• Basketball Federation of Kosovo
• Kosovo national basketball team at Eurobasket.com