Iran men's national basketball team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Iran women's national basketball team.

Iran

FIBA ranking	28 (26 November 2024)
Joined FIBA	1947
FIBA zone	FIBA Asia
National federation	IRIBF
Coach	Sotiris Manolopoulos
Olympic Games
Appearances	3
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	4
FIBA Asia Cup
Appearances	18
Medals	Gold: (2007, 2009, 2013) Silver: (2017) Bronze: (2015)
Home Away
First international
France 62–30 Iran (London, United Kingdom; 1 August 1948)
Biggest win
Iran 141– 29 Maldives (Medina, Saudi Arabia; 10 April 2005)
Biggest defeat
United States 120–66 Iran (Saitama, Japan; 28 July 2021)
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd FIBA Asia Cup 3 1 1 Asian Games 0 2 3 FIBA Asia Challenge 3 0 0

The Iranian men’s basketball team, is one of Asia’s most successful Federations. Since the turn of the century, they’ve won three FIBA Asia Cup and have claimed a silver and a bronze medal at the tournament. the side has also qualified for every edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup since 2010. Plus,They also participated in the (2008, 2020) Summer Olympics.

History

The Iran national basketball team was able to participate in the 1948 London Olympics for the first time.

2007 FIBA Asia Championship

Placed in the dreaded "Group of Death" alongside China, the Philippines, and Jordan, the Iranians won all three group matches to make it to the next round.

In the quarterfinals, Iran went 2–1, to make it to semifinals, following victories over Chinese Taipei and Qatar, and then routed Kazakhstan, 75–62, in the semifinals.

The Iranians then beat Lebanon 74–69, with Hamed Haddadi scoring 31 points. Not only did it avenge an 82–60 defeat in the quarterfinals, they also became the first Western Asian team to win the tournament, and thus make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games

In being crowned the 2007 Asian Champions, the Iranians qualified for the 2008 Beijing games for the first time in 60 years. The Olympic experience led to a flurry of opportunities for the Iranian players, as they traveled across the world in preparation for the games, including a visit to the US. Iran was placed in Group A, along with Lithuania, Russia, Argentina, Croatia, and Australia, suffering five defeats. The Olympic experience opened doors for players such as Hamed Haddadi, and Iranian captain Samad Nikkhah Bahrami to play in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and sign in the top French League.

Haddadi finished with averages of 16.6 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, and 2.6 blocks per game, leading the entire tournament in the latter two categories. His highlight performance was in the game against Argentina when he put up 21 points and 16 rebounds.

2009 FIBA Asia Championship

Winning the FIBA Asia Championship 2009 at Tianjin, China, was a sign on continuing progress in basketball. Iran defeated China, by a score of 70–52 in the final.

2010 FIBA World Championship

Iran's second consecutive FIBA Asia Championship gave them their first ever FIBA World Championship berth, at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The team finished 1–4 in Group B, good for 19th place

2013 FIBA Asia Championship

Winning the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship at Manila, Philippines, was a sign that the Iranian team has forgot the tragedy of their loss to Jordan in last tournament, 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, and reclaimed the top place in the FIBA Asia. Iran defeated the charged up hosts Philippines by an 85–71 win in the final. Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, who played a stellar role in Iran's triumph at the 27th FIBA Asia Championship, became the most accomplished individual player of the competition winning two awards, including that of the MVP. Iran was the only team with two awards in the All Stars with Oshin Sahakian named for the Power Forward position.

2014 FIBA World Cup

In the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Iran national basketball team was grouped with Spain, Egypt, Serbia, Brazil and France in Group A.Iran national basketball team, in its first meeting in the opening game, faced Spain, the world's second-ranked team, and succumbed to defeat.On the sixth day of the 2014 FIBA World Cup and in its last match of the preliminary stage, Iran faced the French and succumbed to defeat, and finally ranked 21st with 4 losses and one win against Egypt. Iran lost against France and Serbia with close results.

2019 FIBA World Cup

In the 2019 FIBA World Cup of China, which was held in Asia for the first time, the iran team was grouped in Group C with the teams of Spain, Puerto Rico and Tunisia.The iran team lost all three games and competed with the Angolan and Philippine teams to rank 17-32 (for the first time in this period, 32 teams participated) and won both matches, and thanks to the goal difference, they are better than China, which had lost against Nigeria, went to the Tokyo Olympics as the best Asian team.

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

Iran national team in 2021, during a time out in a friendly against Spain.

Iran is in group A of the competitions along with USA, France, and Czech.Iranian men’s basketball team conceded a 78-84 defeat against Czech at the opening match of the basketball competitions of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.In their second game at the Olympics, Iranian basketball players lost to the USA 66-120.Iran’s national basketball team finished the campaign in the 2020 Olympics with a 79-62 loss against France at Saitama Super Arena.Iran, in its three appearance at the Olympics, conceded three defeats in Group A.

2023 FIBA World Cup

Iran was only one of three teams at the World Cup 2023 to go home without a win. Finishing bottom in Group G after resounding defeats to Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire and Spain. Further disappointment was to follow in the classification games against France and Lebanon. After the final play of their campaign, one man took centre stage, Hamed Haddadi, bidding a final farewell after 4 consecutive World Cup runs with Iran. At the other end of his career is Mohammad Amini. The 18-years-old who plays for AS Monaco Basket, played 30 minutes a game and was Iran's top tournament scorer.

Tournament records

Summer Olympics

Summer Olympic Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	L
1936	Did not enter
1948	13th place match	14th place	7	2	5
1952	Did not enter
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980	Boycotted the event
1984
1988	Did not enter
1992	Did not qualify
1996
2000
2004
2008	Preliminary round	11th place	5	0	5
2012	Did not qualify
2016
2020	Preliminary round	12th place	3	0	3
2024	Did not qualify
2028	Future events
2032
Total	3/20		15	2	13

World Cup

FIBA World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	L
1950	Did not enter
1954
1959
1963
1967
1970
1974	Did not qualify
1978	Did not enter
1982	Did not qualify
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010	Preliminary round	19th of 24	5	1	4
2014	Preliminary round	20th of 24	5	1	4
2019	17th–32nd Classification	23rd of 32	5	2	3
2023	17th–32nd Classification	31st of 32	5	0	5
2027	To be determined
Total	4/20		20	4	16

FIBA Asia Cup

Main article: FIBA Asia Cup

Year	Position	Pld	W	L
1960	Did not enter
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973	5th place	10	4	6
1975	Did not enter
1977
1979
1981	8th place	7	3	4
1983	5th place	6	5	1
1985	8th place	6	2	4
1987	Did not enter
1989	5th place	7	4	3
1991	6th place	8	4	4
1993	4th place	6	4	2
1995	10th place	8	5	3
1997	8th place	7	3	4
1999	Did not qualify
2001
2003	5th place	7	4	3
2005	6th place	8	4	4
2007	Champions	8	7	1
2009	Champions	9	9	0
2011	5th place	9	8	1
2013	Champions	9	9	0
2015	3rd place	9	7	2
2017	Runners-up	6	5	1
2022	5th place	4	3	1
2025	To be determined
Total	18/31	134	90	44

Asian Games

Main article: Basketball at the Asian Games

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1951	3rd place	4	2	2
1954	Did not enter
1958
1962
1966	7th place	7	3	4
1970	7th place	8	6	2
1974	6th place	7	3	4
1978	Did not enter
1982
1986
1990	7th place	6	3	3
1994	8th place	6	2	4
1998	7th place	6	2	4
2002	Did not enter
2006	3rd place	8	5	3
2010	3rd place	8	6	2
2014	Runners-up	7	6	1
2018	Runners-up	4	3	1
2022	5th place	6	5	1
2026	Future events
2030
2034
Total	12/19	77	46	31

FIBA Asia Challenge

Main article: FIBA Asia Challenge

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
2004	Qualified but withdrew
2008
2010	6th place (B)	7	3	4
2012	Champions	7	7	0
2014	Champions	7	6	1
2016	Champions	8	8	0
Total	4/6	29	24	5

FIBA Diamond Ball

FIBA Diamond Ball Record
Year	Position	Pld	W	L
2000	did not participate
2004	did not participate
2008	4th place	3	1	2
Total		3	1	2

West Asian Championship

Main article: WABA Championship

Year	Rank	Pld	W	L
1999	4th place	4	1	3
2000	4th place	4	2	2
2001	3rd place	4	2	2
2002	Runners-up	4	3	1
2004	Champions	4	4	0
2005	Champions	4	4	0
2008	Did not enter
2010	Champions (B)	3	3	0
2011	Champions	3	3	0
2012	Runners-up	5	4	1
2013	Champions	3	3	0
2014	Runners-up (U18)	5	4	1
2015	Did not enter
2016	Champions	4	4	0
2017	Runners-up	5	4	1
Total	13/15	52	41	11

Other tournaments

• EuroBasket
  • 1959 - 17th place
• 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Turin
  • 2016 - 5th plaace
• FIBA Stanković Continental Champions' Cup
  • 2010 - 4th place
• Islamic Solidarity Games
  • 2005 – 3rd place
• William Jones Cup
  • 2009 – Champions
  • 2010 – Champions
  • 2011 – Champions
  • 2013 – Champions
  • 2015 – Champions

Honours

Medals Record

Games	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
FIBA Asia Cup	3	1	1	5
Asian Games	0	2	3	5
FIBA Asia Challenge	3	0	0	3
Totals	6	3	4	13

Individual Awards

• FIBA Asia Cup Most Valuable Player
  • Hamed Haddadi – 2007, 2009, 2013, 2017
• FIBA Asia Cup All-Tournament Team
  • Hamed Haddadi - 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017
  • Samad Nikkhah Bahrami - 2009, 2011, 2015
  • Oshin Sahakian - 2013
  • Mohammad Jamshidi - 2017
• FIBA Asia Challenge MVP
  • Hamed Haddadi - 2014, 2016
  • Samad Nikkhah Bahrami - 2012

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Iran men's national basketball team – 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G 3 Mohammad Sina Vahedi 22 – (2001-01-08)8 January 2001 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Kalleh C 4 Meisam Mirzaei 31 – (1992-04-16)16 April 1992 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Kalleh G 5 Sajjad Mashayekhi 29 – (1994-02-23)23 February 1994 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Zob Ahan Isfahan F 6 Mohammad Amini 18 – (2005-04-26)26 April 2005 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Nancy SF 7 Navid Rezaeifar 27 – (1996-08-23)23 August 1996 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Palayesh Naft Abadan PG 8 Behnam Yakhchali 28 – (1995-07-12)12 July 1995 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Gladiators Treves SF 10 Piter Girgoorian 21 – (2002-02-27)27 February 2002 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Mahram Tehran PF 14 Arsalan Kazemi 33 – (1990-04-22)22 April 1990 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Zob Ahan Isfahan C 15 Hamed Haddadi (C) 38 – (1985-05-19)19 May 1985 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) Sichuan Blue Whales SG 17 Matin Aghajanpour 22 – (2001-03-14)14 March 2001 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Kalleh PF 30 Jalal Aghamiri 22 – (2001-01-29)29 January 2001 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Kalleh C 32 Hasan Aliakbari 27 – (1996-07-07)7 July 1996 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) Parsa	Head coach Hakan Demir Assistant coach(es) Ali Arezoomandi Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 25 August 2023

Past Rosters

Olympic Games

1948 London Ashtari, Ehsasi, Esfandiary, Hashemi, Karandish, Mohtadi, Rafati, Sadeghi, Salabi, Shademan, Soroudi, Soudipour, Zadegan, All. Kazem Rambari

2008 Beijing 4 Doraghi, 5 Amini, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Davarpanah, 9 Zandi, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Sahakian, 13 Nabipour, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Rajko Toroman

2020 Paris 4 Vahedi, 5 Jalalpoor, 7 Hassanzadeh, 8 Davarpanah, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Nikkhah Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, 17 Rezaeifar, 20 Rostampour, 23 Geramipoor, 41 Kazemi, 88 Yakhchali, All. Mehran Shahintab

FIBA Basketball World Cup

2010 turkey 4 Nabipour, 5 Davoudi, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Veisi, 9 Zandi, 10 Hassanzadeh, 11 Sahakian, 12 Kazemi, 13 Kardoust, 14 Davarpanah, 15 Haddadi, All. Veselin Matić

2014 Spain 4 Arghavan, 5 Mashayekhi, 6 Yakhchali, 7 Kamrani, 8 Kazemi, 9 Zangeneh, 10 Afagh, 11 Sahakian, 12 Kardoust, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Mehmed Bečirovič

2019 China 1 Mozafari, 4 Mirzaei, 5 Mashayekhi, 6 Hosseinzadeh, 7 Hassanzadeh, 8 Yakhchali, 12 Zangeneh, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, 20 Rostampour, 23 Geramipoor, All. Mehran Shahintab

2023 Philippines, Japan, Indonesia 3 Vahedi, 4 Mirzaei, 5 Mashayekhi, 6 Amini, 7 Rezaeifar, 8 Yakhchali, 10 Girgoorian, 14 Kazemi, 15 Haddadi, 17 Aghajanpour, 30 Agha Miri, 32 Aliakbari, All. Hakan Demir

FIBA Asia Cup

2003 China 4 Tajik, 5 Davari, 6 Veisi, 7 Kamrani, 8 S. Bahrami, 9 Zandi, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Askarnejad, 13 Ahmadian, 14 Rouzbahani, 15 Afradi, All. Mostafa Hashemi

2005 Qatar 4 Tajik, 5 A. Bahrami, 6 Amini, 7 Kamrani, 8 S. Bahrami, 9 Zandi, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Rouzbahani, 13 Shahsavand, 14 Tabeshnia, 15 Haddadi, All. Mohammad Mehdi Izadpanah

2007 Japan 4 Doraghi, 5 Amini, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 A. Bahrami, 9 Akbari, 10 Afagh, 11 Rouzbahani, 12 Sahakian, 13 Nabipour, 14 S. Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Rajko Toroman

2009 China 4 Tajik, 5 Amini, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Davoudi, 9 Akbari, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Sahakian, 13 Doraghi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Veselin Matić

2011 China 4 Davarpanah, 5 Davoudi, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Atashi, 9 Kazemi, 10 Afagh, 11 Sahakian, 12 Kardoust, 13 Sohrabnejad, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Veselin Matić

2013 Philippines 4 Jamshidi, 5 Davoudi, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Veisi, 9 Sahakian, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Kardoust, 13 Arghavan, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Mehmed Bečirovič

2015 China 4 Mashayekhi, 5 Yakhchali, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Davarpanah, 9 Hassanzadeh, 10 Afagh, 11 Sahakian, 12 Kardoust, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Dirk Bauermann

2017 Lebanon 4 Mirzaei, 5 Mashayekhi, 6 Aslani, 7 Rezaeifar, 8 Yakhchali, 9 Dalirzahan, 10 Niktash, 11 Sahakian, 12 Arghavan, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Kazemi, 15 Haddadi, All. Mehran Hatami

2022 Indonesia 1 Mozafari, 5 Mashayekhi, 7 Hassanzadeh, 8 Yakhchali, 10 Yousof Vand, 12 Zangeneh, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Kazemi, 15 Haddadi, 17 Rezaeifar, 23 Pazrofteh, 71 Aghajanpour, All. Saeed Armaghani

FIBA EuroBasket

1959 Turkey 3 Salabi, 4 Kamali, 5 Meshun, 6 Agakuzik, 7 Ufervizi, 9 Taçbehs, 10 Avendi, 11 Veisi, 12 Vafai, 13 Rezi, All. Hassan Nikli

Asian Games

1951 New Delhi Khaleghpour, Mashhoun, Masoumi, Mokhberi, Oshar, Razi, Safiyar, Salabi, Soroudi, Soudipour, All. -

2006 Doha 4 Tajik, 5 Amini, 6 Veisi, 7 Kamrani, 8 S. Bahrami, 9 Zandi, 10 Afagh, 11 Honardoust, 12 A. Bahrami, 13 Ahmadian, 14 Nabipour, 15 Haddadi, All. Fred Oniga

2010 Guangzhou 4 Amini, 5 Davoudi, 6 Davari, 7 Kamrani, 8 Davarpanah, 9 Sahakian, 10 Afagh, 11 Sohrabnejad, 12 Jamshidi, 13 Kardoust, 14 Bahrami, 15 Doraghi, All. Veselin Matić

2014 Incheon 4 Arghavan, 5 Mashayekhi, 6 Yakhchali, 7 Kamrani, 8 Zangeneh, 9 Aslani, 10 Afagh, 11 Sahakian, 12 Kardoust, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, All. Mehmed Bečirovič

2018 Jakarta 4 Mirzaei, 5 Mashayekhi, 7 Davoudi, 8 Yakhchali, 10 Dalirzahan, 12 Arghavan, 13 Jamshidi, 14 Bahrami, 15 Haddadi, 17 Rezaeifar, 41 Kazemi, 77 Hassanzadeh, All. Mehran Hatami

2022 Hangzhou 1 Shahrian, 3 Vahedi, 4 Mirzaei, 5 Mashayekhi, 7 Rezaeifar, 10 Girgoorian, 11 Gholizadeh, 14 Kazemi, 17 Aghajanpour, 21 Torabi, 23 Pazirofteh, 32 Aliakbari, All. Hakan Demir

Head coaches

Note: The following list may not be complete

• Kazem Rahbari (1948)
• Hossein Soudipour (1966)
• George Chiraleu (1974)
• Mohammad Hassan Zolfaghari (1981)
• Enayatollah Atashi (1983)
• Reza Esmaeili (1985)
• Majid Towfigh (1989)
• Asadollah Kabir (1990)
• Valery Lunichkin (1991)
• Asadollah Kabir (1993)
• Vitali Zastakhov (1994)
• Manouchehr Shahamatnejad (1995)
• Ahmad Reza Elliin (1996)
• Saeid Fathi (1997)
• Enayatollah Atashi (1998)
• Gary LeMoine (2000–2001)
• Saeid Armaghani (2001–2002)
• Mehran Shahintab (2002)
• Nenad Trajković (2003)
• Mostafa Hashemi (2003)
• Vladimir Bošnjak (2004–2005)
• Mohammad Mehdi Izadpanah (2005)
• Fred Oniga (2006)
• Rajko Toroman (2007–2008)
• Veselin Matić (2009–2011)
• Memi Bečirovič (2012–2014)
• Dirk Bauermann (2015–2017)
• Mehran Hatami (2017)
• Mehran Shahintab (2018–2021)
• Mostafa Hashemi (2021–2022)
• Saeed Armaghani (2022–2023)
• Hakan Demir (2023–2024)
• Sotiris Manolopoulos (2024-Present)

Legends Of The Team

Haddadi playing for Iran in 2010

Legends of Iranian basketball don’t get any bigger than center Hamed Haddadi, who was the first Iranian to play in the NBA. Although he went undrafted in 2004, Haddadi signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008. He then went on to appear in more than 150 NBA games for the Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns. Haddadi was also a force on the international stage, where he won medals at the FIBA Asia Cup, the Asian Games and the FIBA Asia Challenge. He delivered his greatest achievements during the FIBA Asia Cup, where he has won five medals, including three golds. Haddadi is one of only three players to win the FIBA Asia Cup MVP award since 2007 and that is because he’s taken home four of the seven MVP trophies during that run! Now aged 38, Haddadi made his final World Cup bow at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. He was named in the Iranian squad in 2010, 2014 and 2019 and has been named in Iran’s extended roster for 2023.

Kit supplier

Manufacturer

2008-2009: Merooj

2010–present: Peak

See also

• Iran men's national under-19 basketball team
• Iran men's national under-17 basketball team
• Iran men's national 3x3 team
• Iran women's national basketball team
• Iran women's national under-16 basketball team
• Iran women's national 3x3 team
• Iranian Basketball Super League

External links

• Official website (in Persian)
• FIBA profile