How The Sixers Are Faring At The FIBA World Cup
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Team USA may not have any Sixers playing on it, but that is not the case for some of the other squads competing at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. In fact, there are three players currently playing in the tournament that are property of the Sixers.
Here is a quick look at how those players are doing for their respective nations as they pursue the gold.
Dario Saric: The most well known Sixers' commodity at the World Cup is Dario Saric. The Croatian prospect was one of the more intriguing names on most draft boards heading into the 2014 NBA Draft. Just days prior to the draft, he declared that he was signing a two year contract overseas thus making it clear that he was going to be a stash away player for the team that picked him.
That did not deter Sam Hinkie and the Sixers. The team traded for Saric's rights and fans can get their first live look at him during this World Cup.
Saric is representing the Sixers' interests quite well for the Croatian National Team. Saric is currently averaging 13.7 points per game to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. At 20, he is one of the youngest players competing in Spain.
The 6'10 forward has been rather consistent across the board, but he had his most effective game against Argentina in which Saric notched 16 points, nine rebounds and loss a total of six teeth. Saric showed some toughness that Philly fans should like after losing the teeth in the third quarter and returning to lead Croatia to a 90-85 win over Argentina.
Croatia is currently 2-1 and play their next game against Greece on Wednesday in Group Play.
Furkan Aldemir: The name may not be as familiar to Sixers fans as Saric, but Furkan Aldemir is another player competing at the World Cup that currently has his rights owned by the Sixers. Aldemir is a 6'9 power forward/center for Turkey.
Aldemir, 23, is not putting up the quite the numbers that Saric is. He is currently averaging five points and three rebounds per game for Turkey. However, he is only averaging nine minutes per game.
The Sixers acquired Aldemir's rights in a trade with the Houston Rockets. The Turkish National Team is currently 1-1 with a win over New Zealand and a 98-77 loss to the United States in a game that was actually a lot closer than the score makes it seem.
Arsalan Kazemi: The third player with ties to the Sixers is Arsalan Kazemi. The Sixers acquired Kazemi's rights during the 2013 NBA Draft where he was selected out of Oregon. Kazemi is playing for the Iranian National Team.
Kazemi is averaging just a notch under three points per contest to go along with three rebounds.
Rebounding and hustle are the hallmarks of Kazemi's game. He has spent time with the Sixers in Summer League action. Kazemi, 24, is a 6'7 forward. He is coming off a stronger showing in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup where he averaged 8.4 points per game and eight rebounds.
Iran is currently 0-3 in group play.
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