Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki might’ve gone head-to-head on the court, but their rivalry was never about trash talk—it was about respect rooted in greatness. On 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo co-signed Blake Griffin’s take that guarding Dirk felt “disrespectful,” not because it was dirty, but because it was unstoppable. That high-arcing jumper? You could contest it perfectly and still end up shaking your head. Melo lived it—especially during that cold-blooded buzzer-beater at MSG in 2014. And now, that same mutual fire is set to reignite—this time on a very different stage in Qatar.

“All roads lead to Doha,” they said. And this time, it’s not just a tagline—it’s the truth. For the first time ever, it’s all happening in one place. No more jumping time zones, no more scattered host cities—in 2027, the entire basketball world is heading to one destination: Doha. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is pulling out all the stops, and this one’s not just another tournament. It’s history. This will be the first World Cup ever where all teams play in the same city. Let that sink in. No disconnect. Just pure, uninterrupted basketball.

The excitement around the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup is palpable, especially with Dirk Nowitzki stepping in as a major figure. Recently, FIBA shared a story on Instagram, tagging Nowitzki as he presented the Naismith Trophy, proudly representing Germany as the reigning World Champion. “The Naismith Trophy is here. Thanks for the assist @SWISH41,” the post read, a reminder that Germany’s basketball glory has grown, with Nowitzki at the heart of it all.

Reflecting on his journey with the German national team, Dirk shared his thoughts on the tournament’s growth. “When I started playing for the German national team in the late 90s, we would have never thought this was possible,” he said. Nowitzki recalled his time in the World Cup, especially 2002, where Germany fell just short in the semi-finals but earned a bronze. “I wish I won it when I played but we weren’t quite good enough.” Nowitzki’s journey with Germany shows just how far the sport has come—and how it’s now anything but out of reach for the next generation.

Germany made history in 2023, claiming their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title with a gritty 83-77 win over Serbia in a thrilling final. The game was a battle of two European powerhouses, with Germany pulling away in the third quarter thanks to the Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, who helped spark a 22-10 run. The win marked the first all-European final since 2006, and Germany made sure to finish strong, holding onto their lead through some tense moments in the fourth.

Germany’s best player was Dennis Schroder, who scored a game-high 28 points, much more than his typical 17.9 per game. He led the charge when Serbia attempted a late-game comeback, and his outstanding effort earned him the tournament MVP award. Despite a few close calls, including a late free throw from Serbia that cut the lead to just two, Germany held firm, securing their historic win. It was a dream come true for Germany, becoming the first team since Spain in 2006 to win the World Cup in their debut appearance.

But Dirk shared the stage with Melo, who was there representing the USA, and he expressed all his hope for Team USA to come out on top this time.

Carmelo Anthony’s prediction for 2027 World Cup

Melo had some interesting thoughts on the 2027 FIBA World Cup, especially about the importance of the qualifiers. He said, “The journey starts in the qualifiers. If you have high ambition to win it and there should be a lot of teams that think they have the chance to win. It starts with qualifying.” He stressed how challenging the road to Qatar will be, pointing out that teams will need talent, a great staff, and some luck on their side. The road might be long, but that’s what makes the tournament in 2027 so exciting and worth looking forward to.

Though Anthony is clearly passionate about the competition, he didn’t shy away from his bias toward Team USA. “You have to take your hat off to Germany. I mean, Germany, they are the champs right, so you have to go take it from them,” he said, showing respect for the reigning champions. But when it comes to Team USA, he’s hopeful, predicting, “I think we will be intentional on who we bring over to the World Cup in 2027,” he warned. Carmelo’s optimism shines through, adding, “I’m a little biased to Team USA, but it’s still enjoyable to watch.” His loyalty is clear, and he’s hopeful that the U.S. will bring home the title in 2027.

Even though Nowitzki and Anthony were there to represent their own countries, it was clear they had a deep mutual respect for each other. Dirk gave Melo major props, saying, “Melo knows he’s one of the purest scorers this game has seen because he’s a combination of speed, strength, and skill.” Melo returned the love, sharing how he looked up to Dirk growing up, saying, “He was somebody that I always kind of watched and kinda catered some of my game in the mid-post around him.” Their rivalry was intense, but the way they speak about each other shows just how much they respect each other’s game.

The 2027 FIBA World Cup promises to be a revolutionary tournament. This tournament will go down in history since all of the teams are coming to Doha for the first time. As teams from all over the world compete for supremacy, the drama, excitement, and emotion of the spectators and superstars like Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony will create an event that will never be forgotten