FIBA zone FIBA Europe Nickname(s) Oranje (Orange) Appearances 1 (1986) Coach Toon van Helfteren | National federation NBB Appearances None Medals None Location Netherlands Joined FIBA 1946 | |
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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 NMT, an organisation solely for the national team.
Contents
- 19461991 Early years
- 19611991 EuroBasket appearances and success
- 19912012 Long mediocre period
- Rising from Ashes 20122015
- Miracle of 2014
- Return to EuroBasket 2015present
- Current roster
- References
When it qualified for the FIBA 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.
1946–1991: Early years
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 top scorer of EuroBasket and got a place in the All-Tournament Team.
In 1983, the Netherlands booked its biggest success 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
From 1991 until 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.
Rising from Ashes (2012–2015)
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.
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. The NBB believed that both were eligible players, and was upset that the attention came up after the Netherlands already won 2 games.
"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, 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 Montenegro 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.
Return to EuroBasket (2015–present)
The national team left the NBB and FEB, from 2015 the team was run by the NMT. Van Helfteren extended his contract with the national team. In contrast to the summer of 2014, big name players from foreign leagues applied to play for the national team.
In the first game at EuroBasket 2015, the Dutch beat Georgia 73–72 behind Charlon Kloof's 22 and Worthy de Jong's 16 points. The Netherlands remaining four games, but lost single digits to power houses as Croatia and Greece.
Current roster
Roster for the EuroBasket 2015.