Netherlands national basketball team

Netherlands Nederland
FIBA ranking	88 (T)[1] (8 December 2014)
Joined FIBA	1946
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	NBB
Coach	Toon van Helfteren
Nickname(s)	Oranje (Orange)
Olympic Games
Appearances	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	1 (1986)
Medals	None
Eurobasket
Appearances	15 (1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2015)
Medals	None
Uniforms
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The Dutch national basketball team is the basketball side that represents the Netherlands in international competitions. It is administrated by the Netherlands Basketball Federation.^[2] (Dutch: Nederlandse Basketballbond)

When it qualified for the Eurobasket, team Netherlands played quite competitive at some of the tournaments. The team reached the Final Four once and proceeded to the playoffs several times. However, its last appearance dates back to 1989 when it finished 8th. Since 1991, the team has known some tough years, overshadowed by the lack of money and support of fans and media attention. In the 2015 tournament they will make their first appearance in 25 years, only two years after the initially dissolvement of the team.

History

1946–1991: Early years

The Netherlands, playing at EuroBasket 1959

The Netherlands were one of the teams that played at the 1946, 1947, 1949 and 1951 Eurobasket tournaments. The 5th place in 1949 was the best performance of the team.

1961–1991: EuroBasket appearances and success

Oranje qualified for three EuroBaskets in a row from 1961 till 1967. After two missed tournaments, the Netherlands had another 3-EuroBasket appearances streak. In 1977, the Netherlands' star player Kees Akerboom, Sr. shined during the tournament. He was the topscorer of EuroBasket and got a place in the All-Tournament Team.

In 1983, the Netherlands booked its biggest succes in history: the team got the fourth place at the EuroBasket tournament. In the third-place game it lost to the Soviet-Union.

1991–2012: Long mediocre period

Francisco Elson was the face of the team for a long time

From 1991 till 2012, the Netherlands didn't qualify for a EuroBasket-tournament. Star player Francisco Elson, former NBA-champion, represented the team on various occasions but the team never came close to qualifying. To go along in this period, notable Dutch players like Dan Gadzuric weren't willing to play for the team. Home games were usually played at the Topsportcentrum in Almere and usually got little to nothing media attention and fan support in the Netherlands.

2012–present: Rising from ashes

Toon van Helfteren coached the team to it first EuroBasket tournament in 25 years

In December 2012, it was announced the Netherlands team would be dissolved for 2 years, because the national federation NBB wasn't willing to invest money in it. After a campaign by Dutch player who played in the Dutch Basketball League, the national team was eventually saved. Sports broadcaster Sport1 became main sponsor and DBL-teams investend in the team, which started playing again.^[3]

During August 2013, the Netherlands was on its way to qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2015, but lost two games 20–0 because the team played with two players – Mohamed Kherrazi and Sean Cunningham – who were identified as foreign players by the FIBA.^[4] The NBB believed that both were eligible players, and was upset that the attention came up after the Netherlands already won 2 games.^[5]

"Miracle of 2014"

At the start of the second 2015-qualification round, things looked bad for Oranje. The DBL-teams didn't have any more money to invest in the team and the NBB wasn't ready to take the team back. Head coach Toon van Helfteren, who worked as volunteer, still did prepare for the qualifying games. He invited 42 players to play for the national team,^[6] but after most (notable) players rejected the offer, he started his first training with 7 players. The team eventually shocked the world, by beating heavy favorite Montengro in the group to get the second place in the group. On 27 August 2014, the Dutch national team qualified for EuroBasket for the first time in 25 years.^[7]

Roster

As of August 28, 2014

The team that played during the second round of the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 qualification.

Netherlands roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Age - DOB Ht. Club 5.0 !C 13 Bleeker, Kevin – 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Canisius Golden Griffins USA ! 1.0 !PG 8 Hope, Dexter – 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Aris Leeuwarden NED ! 2.0 !SG 6 de Jong, Worthy – 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden NED ! 4.0 !PF 9 Kherrazi, Mohamed – 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden NED ! 5.0 !C 11 Koenis, Thomas – 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Donar (basketball club) NED ! 5.0 !C 14 Oudendag, Nick – 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Matrixx Magixx NED ! 4.0 !PF 10 de Pagter, Ralf – 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) SPM Shoeters Den Bosch NED ! 4.0 !PF 21 Schaftenaar, Roeland – 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) CB Breogán ESP ! 1.5 !G 4 Slagter, Arvin – 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) SPM Shoeters Den Bosch NED ! 3.5 !F 7 van Sauers, Julius – 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) BC Apollo NED ! 1.0 !PG 5 Williams, Leon – 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Landstede Basketbal NED !	Head coach Toon van Helfteren Assistant coach(es) Sam Jones Peter van Noord Legend (C) Team captain

Competitive record

EuroBasket FIBA EuroBasket Year Position Pld W L 1935–1939 Did not qualify 1946 6th Place 3 1 2 1947 11th Place 6 2 4 1949 5th Place 6 2 4 1951 10th Place 9 5 4 1953–1959 Did not qualify 1961 15th Place 6 3 3 1963 16th Place 9 1 8 1965 Did not qualify 1967 16th Place 9 0 9 1969–1973 Did not qualify 1975 10th Place 7 2 5 1977 7th Place 7 3 4 1979 10th Place 8 4 4 1981 Did not qualify 1983 Fourth place 7 3 4 1985 12th Place 7 1 6 1987 10th Place 7 2 5 1989 8th Place 5 0 5 1991–2013 Did not qualify 2015 Qualified Total 14/38 96 29 67

World Cup FIBA World Cup Year Position Pld W L 1986 14th Place 5 2 3 Total 5 2 3

Notable rosters

Scroll down to see more.

Squads that played on a EuroBasket tournament are included, as well as other important teams.

References

External links

• Official website
• FIBA profile
• EuroBasket.com – Dutch Men National Team
• Archived records of Netherlands team participations

National sports teams of Netherlands A1 GP Archery Athletics Bandy Baseball M W M U/19 Basketball M W Beach handball M W Beach soccer Cricket M W U/19 Cycling Field hockey M W Football M W M U/21 M Olympic M U/17 Futsal M W Goalball M W Golf Gridiron Handball (team version) M W Ice hockey M W M U/20 Inline hockey International rules M W Korfball Lacrosse M Indoor W Netball Roller derby Roller hockey M W Rowing Rugby league M W Rugby union M W M7 W7 Sailing Softball M W Speedway Squash M W Swim Tennis M W Hopman Cup Volleyball M W Water polo M W Wheelchair basketball M W Wheelchair rugby Olympics Paralympics European Games

International men's basketball FIBA National teams Olympics World Cup Universiade U21 World Championship U19 World Championship U17 World Championship World Rankings Africa FIBA Africa – FIBA Africa Championship U-18 U-16 Americas FIBA Americas – FIBA Americas Championship U-18 U-16 Asia FIBA Asia – FIBA Asia Championship U-18 U-16 Europe FIBA Europe – FIBA EuroBasket U-20 U-18 U-16 Oceania FIBA Oceania – FIBA Oceania Championship U-18 U-16 Other tournaments Acropolis Tournament Adecco Cup Albert Schweitzer Tournament All-Africa Games Asian Games Commonwealth Games Diamond Ball FIBA Asia Cup FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Lusophony Games Marchand Cup Mediterranean Games Stanković Cup Pan American Games Pan Arab Games TBF International Under-16 Tournament William Jones Cup World Cup (Turkey) Note: The Under-21 Championship is no longer held.