A Guide to the Dominican Republic Men’s Basketball Team
The Dominican Republic men’s basketball team made their third consecutive appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the 2023 edition. Since the turn of the century, they’ve also claimed a bronze medal at the FIBA AmeriCup and seven Centrobasket medals, including two golds. Will they be able to qualify for their first-ever Summer Olympic Games?
Discover more about the Dominican Republic men’s basketball team with this in-depth guide from the experts at Courtside 1891. Read on to discover the side’s best performances, former legends and current stars.
2024 Olympics - Men's Basketball
The Dominican Republic men's basketball team are confirmed as one of the 24 nations that will compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024, which you can stream live with Courtside 1891. The tournaments are currently scheduled for July 2-7 2024.
Los Quisqueyanos won't have it easy as they pack their backs with Athens as a destination, where they will lock horns with hosts Greece and Egypt before hopefully moving on to the Semifinal, where one of Slovenia, New Zealand, and Croatia will be waiting for them.
How Did The Dominican Republic Do At The FIBA World Cup 2023?
Here are the top stats from the Dominican Republic's FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign:
- → Final Standing: 14th
- → Results: Played 5 Won 3 Lost 2
- → Top Points Scorer: Karl-Anthony Towns 82 PTS (24.4 PPG)
- → Top Assist Provider: Andres Felix / Jean Montero 24 AST (4.8 APG)
- → Most Efficient Player: Karl-Anthony Towns 23 EPG
Having won their opening three games, the Dominican Republic departed the World Cup disappointed to not make the Quarter-Finals. Back-to-back defeats against rivals Puerto Rico and Finalists Serbia in Group Phase Two coupled with two victories for Italy spelled the end of the road for Karl Anthony-Towns and co.
KAT clearly enjoyed his time with the DOM national team and there is an expectation he will suit up during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next Summer, if his NBA commitments allow for it. Recording a double-double in 3 games, there are not many players in the world that can hang with him. Check out his 24 PTS 11 REB winning performance against Italy below.
Italy v Dominican Republic - 5-min Game
Dominican Republic FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments - how did they qualify
The Dominican Republic basketball team, nicknamed “Los Quisqueyanos” which means people of Dominican descent, or “The Dominicans”, qualified thanks to their performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Group A, where they stunned Italy after beating hosts Philippines 87-81.
The Dominicans ended the group on a perfect 3-0 as they defeated Angola in the closing game. Although their hopes got shattered by Serbia and Puerto Rico in the second round, Los Quisqueyanos finished 14th at FIBA's flagship tournament, enough for a ticket to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
The Dominican Republic would pull off a majestic upset were they to succeed in coming out on top of the Athens OQT, but Néstor García is used to be underdog and will put out a competitive team ready to surprise the world once more.
Current Star Players
We are still waiting for the Dominican Republic's roster to be announced, but the name everyone is waiting for is the one of Karl Anthony Towns.
KAT rebounded from an injury-plagued season by staying healthy for the Minnesota Timberwolves and playing a total of 78 games (postseason included) as the Wolves went all the way to the Western Conference finals, before bowing out to the Dallas Mavericks.
KAT entered the NBA in 2015, when he was selected by the Timberwolves with the number one pick in the draft. He’s since been named as the NBA Rookie of the Year, has been voted as an All-Star three times and has made two All-NBA Third Team appearances.
Néstor García should be counting on Andrés Feliz from Badalona and Eloy Vargas from Flamengo, who were stars in World Cup qualifying. Another exciting name that could make the roster is Lester Quiñones, who has a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Legends of the Team
Karl-Anthony Towns is the current basketball star causing a buzz in the Dominican Republic, but many fans of the national team will tell you that one man currently stands above all others in the country: Francisco García.
A swingman who was selected with the 23rd pick in the NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, García spent a decade in the league with the Kings and the Houston Rockets. He also helped the national team claim bronze at the FIBA AmeriCup in 2011 and appeared at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Historical World Cup Performance
The Dominican Republic basketball team have made three appearances at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They made their debut back in 1978 and have also qualified for the tournament in 2014 and 2019. As a result, 2023 marks the side’s third consecutive appearance.
Technically, their best finish to date on paper remains 12th, which the team achieved in 1978. However, only 14 teams took part in the tournament and the Dominican Republic lost every game in their group. In both 2014 and 2019, the team played well and got past the initial group stage. They finished 13th and 16th, respectively.
Previous Successes and Tournament Wins
Basketball Dominican Republic has never made an appearance at the Olympic Games, which could change in 2024 with four places still available. However, the side regularly competes at the FIBA AmeriCup, where they grabbed a bronze medal in 2011. They also won a silver at the Pan American Games in 2003.
The Dominican Republic have enjoyed continued success at the Centrobasket Championship, where they’ve been perennial contenders since the mid-1990s. Since then, they’ve claimed 10 medals, including two golds.
How to Watch the Dominican Republic Men's Basketball
With Courtside 1891, worldwide fans can watch the Dominican Republic compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (FOQTs) 2024. We stream every game of FIBA international tournaments as well as other competitions from around the world.
As FIBA’s premium streaming partner for the World Cup, Courtside 1891 provided access to every 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup game! Watch the competition's biggest games and best moments on-demand on our FIBA Basketball World Cup page.
The best way to make sure that you never miss a single second of the upcoming action is to download our app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play, or sign up to our website platform. Please be aware that, due to broadcasting rights and restrictions, access to some games might be restricted depending on your location. See our where-to-watch page for full details of upcoming competitions.
Looking for the latest results from the world of basketball? Head over to the Courtside 1891 Game Center. Here you’ll also find matchup times in your country as well as easy-to-access game highlights you can watch when you register with Courtside 1891.
