New Zealand’s national basketball team, the “Tall Blacks,” will have its hands full at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
In order to win a “last chance” qualification to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, New Zealand will need to first get through Luka Doncic’s Slovenia team and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece squad — talk about a tall order. So, does the underdog have any chance to reach Paris?
In a word, yes. The “Tall Blacks” actually held double-digit leads against the United States and Greece during the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year. So, while it has been two decades since New Zealand played in the Olympics, it has the talent to get there.
Interested in watching the “Tall Blacks” battle for their chance to make it to Paris? Let’s get you prepped with New Zealand’s full schedule and roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
WATCH: Olympic Qualifying Tournaments on Courtside 1891
When are the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments?
- Dates: Tuesday, July 2-Sunday, July 7
Each country participating in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) will tip off with group play during the week. Then, the two top teams in each group will face off in the semifinals. The teams that advance past the semis will face each other in the final round, with the winner punching its ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Eight men’s hoops teams have already qualified for the Olympics. The four OQTs serve as a “last chance” for other teams to qualify. The four winning teams of the OQTs — in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico and Spain — will join the eight teams already set to compete in Paris.
New Zealand schedule at FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament
New Zealand is a member of Group A in the Greece OQT with Croatia and Slovenia. If New Zealand advances past the semifinals, it will face the winner of Group B. That group consists of the Dominican Republic, Egypt and Greece.
You can find New Zealand’s schedule for the Greece OQT below:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| July 3 | vs. Croatia | 10:30 a.m. |
| July 4 | vs. Slovenia | 10:30 a.m. |
| July 6* | TBD (semis) | TBD |
| July 7* | TBD (final) | TBD |
*If qualified
New Zealand roster for FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament
| No. | Player | Position |
| 1 | Reuben Te Rangi | Forward |
| 2 | Izayah Le’afa | Point Guard |
| 3 | Finn Delany | Power Forward |
| 5 | Yannick Wetzell | Power Forward |
| 8 | Sam Mennenga | Power Forward |
| 9 | Corey Webster | Shooting Guard |
| 11 | Flynn Cameron | Point Guard |
| 12 | Ethan Stuart Marsters Rusbatch | Shooting Guard |
| 15 | Thomas James Vodanovich | Power Forward |
| 20 | Jordan Ngatai | Small Forward |
| 24 | Tyrell Harrison | Center |
| 51 | Shea Ili | Point Guard |
Where to watch FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments
- Dates: Tuesday, July 2-Sunday, July 7
- Live stream: Courtside 1891 on DAZN
Games featuring New Zealand and all other FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament action can be streamed on Courtside 1891 through DAZN.
FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Greece 2024 groups
Group A
- Croatia
- New Zealand
- Slovenia
Group B
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Greece
