Kosovo men's national basketball team

Represents Kosovo in international basketball

Kosovo
FIBA ranking79 Decrease 2 (1 March 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA2015
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationFederata e Basketbollit të Kosovës (FBK)
CoachRami Hadar
Nickname(s)Dardanët (Dardanians)
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
First international
 Slovenia 113–68 Kosovo 
(Ljubljana, Slovenia; 31 August 2016)
Biggest win
 Kosovo 76–49 Switzerland 
(Prizren, Kosovo; 19 July 2023)
Biggest defeat
 Lithuania 106–50 Kosovo 
(Klaipėda, Lithuania; 26 February 2018)

The Kosovo men's national basketball team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e basketbollit të meshkujve të Kosovës, Serbian: Кошаркашкa репрезентација Косова, romanized: Košarkaška reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international basketball. They are controlled by the Basketball Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for basketball in Kosovo. Kosovo has been a member of FIBA since 13 March 2015.[2]

History

Pre-independence

The Basketball Federation of Kosovo was founded in 1991. During the Yugoslavian era, Kosovo had its own Superleague and lower divisions, in both genders. In the 1990s, Kosovo declared political and sports independence from the Yugoslav system, organising its own league, based on different teams from seven major cities of Kosovo. Some basketball players from Kosovo, especially Kosovo Serbs and Gorani, participated as part of the Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia national teams.

After independence

Kosovo were not allowed to play international matches, not even friendlies by FIBA, until 2015, when the Basketball Federation of Kosovo became an official member of FIBA and FIBA Europe. Kosovo took part in EuroBasket qualification for the first time in 2017.[3] On 31 August 2016, Kosovo played their first official international match against Slovenia during the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers.[4]

A year later, the national team achieved their first ever win on 2 August 2017 by defeating Macedonia 72–68 in their first match during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers.[5] After the win, Kosovo would pick up one more victory during the Pre-Qualifiers, against Estonia 75–69 to finish with a (2–2) record to advance to the first round of World Cup qualifying.[6] In the next round, Kosovo would eventually see their World Cup hopes vanish, as the team went winless before being eliminated.[7] Despite all of that they maintain to reach the second qualifying round in their debut participation, reaching the round of 32 best Basketball teams in Europe.[8]

After missing out on reaching the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Kosovo went through pre-qualifiers in order to reach EuroBasket 2022. However, the team would only compile a (2–8) record during the pre-qualifying process to be unable to advance.[9]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

FIBA World Cup Qualification
Year Pos Pld W L Year Pld W L
Argentina 1950 to Argentina 1990 Part of  Yugoslavia
Canada 1994 to Japan 2006 Part of  Serbia and Montenegro
Turkey 2010 Not a FIBA member
Spain 2014
China 2019 Did not qualify 2019 10 2 8
PhilippinesJapanIndonesia 2023 2023 6 2 4
Qatar 2027 To be determined 2027 To be determined
Total 0/2 0 0 0 Total 16 4 12

Olympic Games

Olympic Games Qualifying
Year Pos Pld W L Pld W L
Germany 1936 to South Korea 1988 Part of  Yugoslavia
Spain 1992 to Greece 2004 Part of  Serbia and Montenegro
China 2008 Not an IOC member
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016 Could not enter
Japan 2020
France 2024
United States 2028 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/2 0 0 0 0 0 0

EuroBasket

EuroBasket Qualification
Year Pos Pld W L Year Pld W L
Switzerland 1935 to Italy 1991 Part of  Yugoslavia
Germany 1993 to Spain 2007 Part of  Serbia and Montenegro
Poland 2009 Not a FIBA Europe member
Lithuania 2011
Slovenia 2013
FranceCroatiaGermanyLatvia 2015 Could not enter
FinlandIsraelRomaniaTurkey 2017 Did not qualify 2017 6 0 6
Czech RepublicGeorgia (country)ItalyGermany 2022 2022 8 1 7
CyprusFinlandPolandLatvia 2025 2025 8 3 5
Total 0/3 0 0 0 Total 22 4 18

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2023

Kosovo  v   Switzerland
19 July Kosovo  76–49   Switzerland Prizren, Kosovo
20:45 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 18–16, 23–8, 27–14, 8–11
Pts: Berisha 20
Rebs: Hajrizi 12
Asts: Artis 6 		Boxscore Pts: Rocak 12
Rebs: Tutonda 7
Asts: Fofana 3 		Arena: Sezai Surroi Sports Hall
Attendance: 1,700
Referees: Paulo Marques (POR), Beniamino Attard (ITA), Franko Gracin (CRO)
Denmark  v  Kosovo
26 July Denmark  82–75  Kosovo Næstved, Denmark
18:00 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 27–16, 17–27, 25–22, 13–10
Pts: Lundberg 20
Rebs: Dibba 9
Asts: Jukić 7 		Boxscore Pts: Artis 23
Rebs: Berisha, Shoshi 6
Asts: Artis 4 		Arena: Næstved Arena
Attendance: 930
Referees: Geert Jacobs (BEL), Sergii Zashchuk (UKR), Javier Torres (ESP)
Switzerland  v  Kosovo
29 July Switzerland  72–76  Kosovo Fribourg, Switzerland
17:30 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 21–20, 18–15, 22–21, 11–20
Pts: Tutonda 15
Rebs: Fofana 10
Asts: Fofana 7 		Boxscore Pts: Artis 22
Rebs: Hajrizi 8
Asts: Artis 4 		Arena: Salle Saint-Lèonard
Attendance: 840
Referees: Gintaras Vitkauskas (LTU), Alexandre Deman (FRA), Valentin Oliot (FRA)
Kosovo  v  Denmark
5 August Kosovo  63–88  Denmark Prizren, Kosovo
20:45 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 17–24, 11–23, 17–21, 18–20
Pts: Artis, Janjeva 11
Rebs: Hajrizi 6
Asts: Hajrizi 3 		Boxscore Pts: Lundberg 28
Rebs: Zohore 9
Asts: Lundberg 5 		Arena: Sezai Surroi Sports Hall
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Yener Yılmaz (TUR), Gellért Kapitány (HUN), Mehmet Şahin (TUR)

2024

Kosovo  v  Ireland
22 February
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Kosovo  83–76  Ireland Pristina, Kosovo
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 22–17, 23–21, 20–19, 18–19
Pts: Hajrizi 20
Rebs: Hajrizi 9
Asts: Tmušić 6 		Boxscore Pts: Blount 27
Rebs: Blount 13
Asts: Badmus 4 		Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Attendance: 2,500
Referees: Ali Şakacı (TUR), Jan Baloun (CZE), Edgard Ceccarelli (FRA)
Azerbaijan  v  Kosovo
25 February
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Azerbaijan  87–77  Kosovo Baku, Azerbaijan
14:00 (UTC+4) Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 24–25, 16–16, 28–17
Pts: Aydın 27
Rebs: Hall 14
Asts: Shirzadov 6 		Boxscore Pts: Berisha 20
Rebs: Kapiti 6
Asts: Mala 6 		Arena: Sarkhadchi Sport Center
Referees: Andžej Urbanovič (LTU), Ritvars Helmšteins (LAT), Viktor Nagy (HUN)
Switzerland  v  Kosovo
21 November
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Switzerland  vs.  Kosovo Switzerland
Boxscore
Ireland  v  Kosovo
24 November
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Ireland  vs.  Kosovo Ireland
Boxscore

2025

Kosovo  v  Azerbaijan
20 February
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Kosovo  vs.  Azerbaijan Kosovo
Boxscore
Kosovo  v   Switzerland
23 February
2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers first round
 Kosovo  vs.   Switzerland Kosovo
Boxscore

Team

Current roster

The following is the Kosovo roster called up for the 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers first round matches against Ireland and Azerbaijan, on 22 and 25 February 2024.[10]

Kosovo men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
G 0 Dominic Artis Injured 30 – (1993-07-07)7 July 1993 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Çağdaş Bodrumspor Turkey
C 3 Dardan Kapiti 23 – (2000-03-22)22 March 2000 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Trepça Kosovo
G 4 Musab Malaj 27 – (1996-11-17)17 November 1996 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Peja Kosovo
C 6 Gëzim Morina 31 – (1992-12-12)12 December 1992 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Ylli Kosovo
G 7 Mikaile Tmušić 31 – (1993-01-06)6 January 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Trepça Kosovo
F 10 Arian Çallakaj 31 – (1992-07-09)9 July 1992 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Peja Kosovo
G 11 Dardan Berisha (C) 35 – (1988-11-15)15 November 1988 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Prishtina Kosovo
F 12 Drilon Hajrizi 33 – (1991-01-17)17 January 1991 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Trepça Kosovo
C 14 Shendrit Llapi 21 – (2002-10-17)17 October 2002 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Vëllaznimi Kosovo
G 17 Norik Binqe 18 – (2005-10-25)25 October 2005 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Dubrava Croatia
F 22 Meriton Ismaili 23 – (2000-04-03)3 April 2000 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Peja Kosovo
F 23 Muhamedali Janjeva 26 – (1998-01-28)28 January 1998 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Prishtina Kosovo
C 24 Lis Shoshi Injured 29 – (1994-06-29)29 June 1994 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Peja Kosovo
F 28 Erjon Kastrati Injured 29 – (1994-12-30)30 December 1994 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Trepça Kosovo
G 33 Jon Ismajli 18 – (2005-12-23)23 December 2005 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Jindřichův Hradec Czech Republic
F 41 Ardit Pepaj 24 – (1999-10-13)13 October 1999 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Vëllaznimi Kosovo
F Jan Palokaj 23 – (2000-11-05)5 November 2000 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Ylli Kosovo
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last club
    before the competition
  • Age – describes age,
    on 5 February 2024
  • Injured Injured

Depth chart

As of 30 June 2022
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Fisnik Rugova Samir Zekiqi
PF Muhamedali Janjeva Gëzim Morina
SF Drilon Hajrizi Rron Ukaj Meriton Ismaili
SG Dardan Berisha Ardit Pepaj
PG Amin Hot Altin Morina

Head coach history

No. Name Period Record
1 Kosovo Arben Krasniqi 2011–2017 0–6
2 United States Brad Greenberg 2017–2018 2–8
3 CroatiaBosnia and Herzegovina Damir Mulaomerović 2018–2019 1–7
4 Greece Christos Marmarinos 2020–2023 3–7
5 Israel Rami Hadar 2023– 3–3

Retired numbers

No. Player Position Tenure Date of retirement Ref
15 Gazmend Sinani Center 2016–2018 25 June 2018 (2018-06-25) [11]

See also

  • Sports portal

References

  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Kosovo becomes 215th National Member Federation of FIBA". FIBA. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Kosova në kualifikimet për Eurobasket 2017" [Kosovo in qualifications for Eurobasket 2017] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Kosovo during the EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Fitore e madhe e Kosovës ndaj Maqedonisë" [Biggest win of Kosovo against Macedonia] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2017. Kosova të mërkurën mbrëma në Pallatin e Rinisë dhe Sporteve në Prishtinë para rreth 2000 shikuesve e ka mposhtur Maqedoninë me rezultat 72:68 (23:11, 17:9, 15:23, 17:25)
  6. ^ "Kosovo during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Kosovo during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Federata e Basketbollit të Kosovës".
  9. ^ "Kosovo during the EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Lista e gjerë e Kosovës" [Extensive list of Kosovo] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 5 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Fanella me numër 15 e Përfaqësueses së Kosovës pensionohet me emrin e Gazmend Sinanit" [Kit with number 15 of Kosovo national team retired with name of Gazmend Sinani] (in Albanian). Basketball Federation of Kosovo. 25 June 2018. Fanella me numër 15 e Përfaqësueses së Kosovës në basketboll do të pensionohet me emrin e basketbollistit Gazmend Sinani, i cili e humbi jetën në një aksident rrugor në orët e hershme të mëngjesit të së shtunës në Gjakovë

External links

  • Official website (in Albanian, English, and Serbian)
  • Kosovo FIBA profile
  • Kosovo National Team – Men at Eurobasket.com