Friday morning marked the start of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
All 32 teams are playing their three group games, and the top two from each of the eight groups will advance to a single-elimination 16-team tournament.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have five players participating in the World Cup for three countries: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort for Canada, Josh Giddey and Jack White for Australia, and Davis Bertans for Latvia.
All three teams played their first group game on Aug. 25 — and all three came out victorious in blowout wins.
Let’s look at some of the best photos from the three contests as Thunder players went 3-for-3 for their first group games.
FIBA Basketball
FIBA Basketball
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (C) makes a shot during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images)
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots as France’s Rudy Gobert (C) tries to block during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. ADEK BERRY / AFP via Getty Images
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poses with a trophy for MVP for the game after the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. ADEK BERRY / AFP via Getty Images
Canada’s Luguentz Dort (L) scores as France’s Nicolas Batum tries to block during the opening ceremony before the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Canada and France at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images
France’s Evan Fournier (R) shoots as Canada’s Luguentz Dort tries to block during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between France and Canada at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. ADEK BERRY / AFP via Getty Images
France’s Evan Fournier (L) and Canada’s Luguentz Dort vie for the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between France and Canada at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2023. ADEK BERRY / AFP via Getty Images)
OKINAWA, JAPAN – AUGUST 25: Josh Giddey #3 of Australia drives to the basket against Olivier Nkamhoua #13 of Finland during the FIBA World Cup Group E game between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena on August 25, 2023 in Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
OKINAWA, JAPAN – AUGUST 25: Josh Giddey #3 of Australia lays the ball up during the FIBA World Cup Group E game between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena on August 25, 2023 in Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
OKINAWA, JAPAN – AUGUST 25: Josh Giddey #3 of Australia drives to the basket against Miro Little #1 of Finland during the FIBA World Cup Group E game between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena on August 25, 2023 in Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
Australia’s Josh Giddey drives to the basket during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group E match between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa on August 25, 2023. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia’s Josh Giddey dribbles the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group E match between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa on August 25, 2023. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia’s Jack White dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group E match between Finland and Australia at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa on August 25, 2023. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Lebanon’s Segio El Darwich (L) lays up the ball in front of Latvia’s Davis Bertans during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group H match between Latvia and Lebanon at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on August 25, 2023. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
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