The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
The first round of the FIBA World Cup 2023 is over, and Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is leading the way, as expected.
Doncic, regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time, averaged 30.0 ppg, 8 rpg, and 7 apg in 31.2 minutes per game as he led Slovenia to a perfect 3-0 record in the first round.
A former NBA Rookie of the Year and four-time NBA All Star, the 6-7 Doncic finished with 37 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Slovenia’s 100-82 win over Venezuela last Aug 26 in Okinawa Arena.
He followed it up with 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in their 88-67 victory over Georgia last Aug 28; and 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in their 92-77 triumph over Cape Verde last Aug 30.
Former Talk N Text player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of Jordan is second only to Doncic as he tallied 27.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.3 apg in 37.6 minutes per game.
Hollis-Jefferson, who played for the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Portland Trailblazers in the NBA from 2015-2021, recorded 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 71-92 loss against Greece last Aug 26.
The 6-6 small forward had 39 points, nine rebounds and four assists but Jordan dropped an 87-95 decision to New Zealand last Aug 28. Then he came through with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a losing 62-110 effort against the five-time champion USA last Aug 30.
A close third behind Doncic and Hollis-Jefferson is NBA “Sixth Man of the Year” awardee, Jordan Clarkson of the Philippines with averages of 24 ppg, 6.7 apg, 5.7 rpg in 36.8 minutes per game.
The 6-5 guard from Utah Jazz, tallied 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in their 81-87 loss to world No. 23 Dominican Republic before a record-breaking crowd at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan during the opener last Aug. 25.
Against world No. 41 Angola, Clarkson finished with 21 points, seven assists and three rebounds in 70-80 setback last Aug 27.
Clarkson wrapped up the Filipinos’ three-game stand with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Filipinos; 83-90 setback to world No. 10 Italy.
Completing the top five performers were Joshua Hawkinson of Japan and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, of Canada.
Hawkinson paced Japan with 23.3 ppg, 12 rpg and 1 apg in 33.0 minutes .
He also led Japan’s historic 98-88 win over Finland last Aug 27, finishing with a double-double performance with 28 points and 19 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
The 28-year-old, who went undrafted in the NBA last 2017 draft scored only nine points and 10 rebounds against Germany last Aug 25 and 33 points and seven rebounds over Australia last Aug 29.
Gilgeous-Alexander, averaged 22 ppg, 8 rpg and 5.7 apg in 25.2 minutes per game for Canada, which also had a clean record with 3-0.
The 6t-6 guard made 27 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against France last Aug 25, and 12 points, five rebounds and five assists against Lebanon last Aug 27. He tallied 27 points, six rebounds and six assists over Latvia last Aug 29.