Norway men's national basketball team

The Norway men's national basketball team (Norwegian: Norge herrelandslag i basketball) represents Norway in international basketball tournaments. The national team is administered by the Norwegian Basketball Federation.

Norway
FIBA ranking95 6 (7 December 2021)[1]
Joined FIBA1968
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationNorges Basketballforbund (NBBF)
CoachMatthias Eckhoff
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances2
Medals Silver: (1996, 2018)
First international
  Switzerland 91–64 Norway 
(Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; 4 April 1979)
Biggest win
 San Marino 48–88 Norway 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 26 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Netherlands 93–47 Norway 
(Kavadarci, Macedonia; 24 May 1995)

Norway has never had great success on the international stage in the past. They are one of the few European countries to date to have never qualified for one of the top international basketball competitions, such as the EuroBasket or the FIBA World Cup.

History

Norway's first match (unofficial) was played in 1966, when the national team lost 74–39 to Iceland. The most capped player is Torgeir Bryn, with 111 caps.

In the past, Norway has attempted to qualify for the EuroBasket several times, but have yet to reach the tournament. They have only entered the Olympic basketball qualification twice, for the 1980, and 1988 Olympic Games. Norway is one of Europe's most populous nations to have never qualified for a major international basketball competition. However, they have competed at smaller events such as the European Championship for Small Countries.

The Road to Revival (2012-2017)

In 2012 financial troubles led the Norwegian Basketball Federation to shut down both the men's and women's national teams. The federation simply did not have the funds to keep either the men's or women's teams afloat. Since then, however, the federation has come to realize just how many people from the athletes and teams, to individuals and companies care about the Norwegian basketball community and are willing to provide financial support. The federation also worked to raise money through sponsorships, and eventually signed a major sponsorship agreement with Circle K, in addition to a few smaller sponsors.[2]

In 2018, Norway made its return to FIBA competition by playing at the European Championship for Small Countries. The national team finished as the runners-up after losing 75–59 in the final against Malta.[3]

In 2021, Norway joined the EuroBasket 2025 qualification.

Competitive record

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2021

25 November 2021 Norway  8677  Kosovo Bergen, Norway
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 17–22, 25–11, 27–19, 17–25
Pts: Ndow 21
Rebs: Ndow 8
Asts: Jawara 7
Boxscore Pts: Berisha 18
Rebs: Berisha 7
Asts: Berisha 4
Arena: Haukelandshallen
Referees: Vilius Mačiulaitis (LTU), Mart Uuehendrik (EST), James Dominique (GIB)

2022

Team

Current roster

Roster for the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers match on 25 November 2021 against Kosovo.[4]

Norway men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G/F 0 Jørgen Odfjell 21 – (2000-08-03)3 August 2000 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Gimle
PG 3 Lars Espe 23 – (1998-09-26)26 September 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Gimle
F 5 Chris-Ebou Ndow 27 – (1993-12-10)10 December 1993 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Boulazac
PG 7 Harald Frey 24 – (1997-05-27)27 May 1997 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Oviedo
G/F 8 Bouna Ndiaye 29 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Þór Akureyri
F 10 Karamo Jawara 30 – (1991-06-25)25 June 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Girona
G 11 Stian Mjøs (C) 32 – (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bærum
G 12 Mikkel Kolstad 26 – (1995-05-03)3 May 1995 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Gimle
F/C 14 Johannes Dolven 25 – (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Centrum Tigers
F 22 Sjur Berg 25 – (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Bærum
F 24 Torgrim Sommerfeldt 32 – (1989-06-26)26 June 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Kongsberg Miners
G 33 Nikolas Skouen 31 – (1990-01-29)29 January 1990 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Fyllingen
Head coach
  • Matthias Eckhoff
Assistant coach(es)
  • Audun Eskeland
  • Jeanine Hauan Flaaten
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 25 November 2021

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Marcus Larsson Johannes Dolven Haji Jawara Erik Borg
PF Karamo Jawara Kristian Sjolund Aksel Bolin Sjur Berg
SF Chris-Ebou Ndow Bouna Ndiaye Mikal Gjerde Magne Fivelstad
SG Mikkel Kolstad Nikolas Skouen Tobias Rotegard Andrija Blatancic
PG Harald Frey Stian Mjøs Sigurd Lorange Eivind Lamo

Head coach position

  • Matthias Eckhoff – (2018 – present)

Notable players

  • Torgeir Bryn - the first Scandinavian, and the only Norwegian who has played in the NBA; and the most capped player for the Norway national basketball team with 111 matches.

Past rosters

2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 2nd among 7 teams[5]

Norway men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 4 Magnus Midtvedt 28 – (1990-04-07)7 April 1990 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Centrum
PG 5 Harald Frey 21 – (1997-05-27)27 May 1997 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Montana State
G 6 Stian Berg 27 – (1991-04-04)4 April 1991 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Asker
PG 7 Lars Espe 19 – (1998-09-26)26 September 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Barry Buccaneers
G/F 8 Bouna Ndiaye 25 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) GET Vosges
G 9 Nikolas Skouen 28 – (1990-01-29)29 January 1990 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Frøya
F 10 Karamo Jawara 27 – (1991-06-25)25 June 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Palma
G 11 Stian Mjøs 29 – (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bærum
G/F 12 Eivind Lamo 21 – (1996-10-23)23 October 1996 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Gimle
G/F 13 Alex Dakin 25 – (1993-01-02)2 January 1993 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Bærum
F 14 Sjur Berg 22 – (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Alaska Anchorage
F/C 15 Johannes Dolven 22 – (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Barry Buccaneers
Head coach
  • Matthias Eckhoff
Assistant coach(es)
  • Audun Eskeland
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 26 June 2018

See also

References

  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. "Norway returns to international basketball". norwegianamerican.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. "Norway at the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  4. "Norway during the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in Nov. 2021". Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. "Norway at the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
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