Czech Republic men's national basketball team

History

1990s

In 1993, the Czech Republic national team was officially founded after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The team played their first international match on 30 May 1993 against Slovenia.

After several failed attempts at qualifying in 1993, 1995, and 1997 the Czech Republic finally clinched qualification to the EuroBasket finals tournament for the first time after independence at EuroBasket 1999. The national team got off to a quick start, as they won their first two preliminary round matches against Lithuania and Greece, before losing to Germany in their final game of group play. With a record of (2–1), the Czech Republic booked their place into the second group phase. There, the team was thoroughly dominated against Croatia and Italy, before losing a close battle against Turkey 73–78 to exit the tournament. In all, the Czech Republic finished their maiden voyage to the EuroBasket in 12th place. While national team standout Luboš Bartoň took the honor of being the second best scorer of the tournament averaging (18.7 points per game).

2000s

Throughout the 2000s for the Czech Republic, the national team suffered numerous setbacks. Failed attempts to qualify for the EuroBasket on multiple occasions were demoralising reminders that the team had to become stronger in order to compete with the best on the continental stage. However, during qualification for EuroBasket 2007, led by national team veterans Jiří Welsch, Luboš Bartoň and Petr Benda, the Czech Republic would qualify for their second overall appearance at the competition. In their first game at the 2007 tournament, the national team would lose in a classic against the Dirk Nowitzki led Germany squad in overtime 78–83. The tough loss for the team carried over into their next match, where they would suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Lithuania 95–75. With one game left in group play, and still an opportunity to advance the Czechs would come up short again, this time to Turkey 72–80 to be eliminated.

2010s

After missing out on the EuroBasket in 2011, the Czech Republic turned the page to qualify for EuroBasket 2013. Their first game of the tournament was against hosts Slovenia. However, the team would succumb in a narrowly contested game between the two sides 60–62. Although the Czechs would show resilience in their second match against Poland, behind a dominant game from big man Jan Veselý and his (23 points and 14 rebounds) to win 68–69. After the strong win for the Czech Republic, their third game of the tournament was a total calamity for the team, as they were completely mauled by the eventual champions Spain 60–39. The humbling loss for the team however, fueled them to a win in their next game against Georgia 95–79. Heading into their final match of group play, with the possibility of advancing all but gone the Czechs would fall to Croatia 70–53.

The Czech Republic entered the EuroBasket 2015, after going (4–2) during qualifying to make their fourth EuroBasket appearance. To begin their 2015 tournament run, the Czech Republic was placed into Group D. The team would easily win their first two matches of the event, before their date versus co-hosts Latvia. However, even with strong games from team captain Tomáš Satoranský (22 points and 9 assists), and center Jan Veselý (17 points and 11 rebounds), Latvia still prevailed 65–72. After the loss, the Czechs would regroup to split their final two games of the group phase to advance to the Round of 16. There, the team displayed supreme focus to defeat Croatia 59–80, to send the team into the quarter-finals of the EuroBasket for the first time. With a chance to reach the semi-finals on the line, the Czechs would fall short against Serbia 89–75. After the tough loss, the team would play two more games in the Olympic bracket qualifier to finish the tournament.

The following year, in qualification for the 2016 Olympic tournament, the Czech Republic failed to qualify after going (1–2) and being eliminated, losing to Serbia once again.

At EuroBasket 2017, the Czech Republic was drawn into Group C for their stint at the tournament. Although the team was quickly eliminated, failing to make it out of the group stage after posting a disappointing (1–4) record.

During European Qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the Czech Republic amassed an (8–4) record during qualifying to solidify their first ever trip to the World Cup finals. Heading toward the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the Czech Republic was slotted into Group E to begin the tournament. The first game for the team, however, turned out to be a loss against the heavily favoured United States 67–88. Going into their second match of the tournament, the Czechs picked up their first ever World Cup finals victory over Japan 76–89. With one game to go, and a path to advance into the second group phase, the team would pullout a solid 76–91 win versus Turkey.

Entering the second group phase, the Czech Republic continued their impressive play as the team picked up a huge victory, this time against Brazil 71–93. Although in their final match of group play, the Czechs suffered an 77–84 defeat to Greece. Even after the tough loss, the team would get the help it needed to advance into the quarter-finals, due to the United States eliminating Brazil.

In the quarter-finals, unfortunately, the tournament run for the Czechs would come to an end. The team would be eliminated 82–70 by Australia. With classification matches to determine the final positions, the team would split their two games to be awarded sixth place.

2020s

In June 2021, the Czech Republic entered a qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympic Games, which was delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After splitting their first two matches in the preliminary round (1–1), the Czechs advanced into the semi-finals, and upset the hosts Canada in overtime 101–103. In the final, the Czech Republic dominated Greece 97–72, to qualify to the Olympics for the first time. At the competition placed in Group A, the Czech Republic won the first match of the event against Iran 78–84. Following the win, the Czechs would suffer two heavy losses in their final two games of the group stage to be eliminated.

Heading toward EuroBasket 2022, the Czech Republic was named as one of four co-hosts for the competition. Entering the tournament drawn into Group D, after losing their first two matches in the event, the Czechs earned their first win against the Netherlands 88–80. Following the victory, the Czech Republic failed to carry the momentum from their previous match, as they lost to Finland 98–88. In their final game of the group stage, with a win needed against Israel to advance into the Round of 16, captain Tomáš Satoranský's near triple-double (14 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists) propelled the Czechs to the knockout stage 88–77. There, the Czech Republic would fall short in a hard-fought defeat against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece 94–88.

The Czech Republic then pivoted toward European Qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where they went on to eventually complete their campaign at an underwhelming (3–9) record to miss the tournament. Following the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup, the Czech Republic's participation in the 2024 Olympic pre-qualifying tournament ended with a preliminary round exit.

After an inconsistent qualifying period for the Czech Republic, they managed to book their seventh appearance on the continental stage at EuroBasket 2025. However, following being drawn into Group A at the tournament, the Czechs displayed dismal performances throughout the group stage, losing all five of their matches to be eliminated. In the aftermath of the Czechs poor showing at the Euros, head coach Diego Ocampo stepped down from his position, and was replaced with former national team star Luboš Bartoň.

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

Olympic Games

EuroBasket

Results and fixtures

2025

Dāv. Bertāns 20

2026

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers matches on 28 November and 1 December 2025 against Sweden and Estonia.

• CZE Luboš Bartoň
• ESP Salvador Camps
• CZE Jan Pavlík
• (C) Team captain
• Club – describes last club before the competition
• Age – describes age on 28 November 2025

Depth chart

Head coach history

• CZE Zdeněk Hummel – (1993–2000)
• CZE Michal Ježdík – (2001–2006)
• CZE Zdeněk Hummel – (2006–2007)
• CZE Michal Ježdík – (2008–2009)
• CZE Pavel Budinský – (2010–2013)
• ISR/CZE Ronen Ginzburg – (2013–2023)
• ESP Diego Ocampo – (2023–2025)
• CZE Luboš Bartoň – (2025–present)

Past rosters

1999 EuroBasket: finished 12th among 16 teams

4 Petr Czudek, 5 Petr Welsch, 6 Vladan Vahala, 7 Marek Stuchlý, 8 Jiří Welsch, 9 David Klapetek, 10 Jiří Okáč, 11 Luboš Bartoň, 12 Petr Treml, 13 Martin Ides, 14 Kamil Novák, 15 Pavel Bečka (Coach: Zdeněk Hummel)

2007 EuroBasket: finished 15th among 16 teams

4 Štěpán Vrubl, 5 Pavel Beneš, 6 Maurice Whitfield, 7 Michal Křemen, 8 Lukáš Kraus, 9 Jiří Welsch, 10 Ladislav Sokolovský, 11 Luboš Bartoň, 12 Radek Nečas, 13 Petr Benda, 14 Jakub Houška, 15 Ondřej Starosta (Coach: Zdeněk Hummel)

2013 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 24 teams

4 Petr Benda (C), 5 Ondřej Balvín 6 Pavel Pumprla, 7 Vojtěch Hruban, 8 Tomáš Satoranský, 9 Jiří Welsch, 10 Pavel Houška, 11 Luboš Bartoň, 12 David Jelínek, 13 Jakub Kudláček, 14 Kamil Švrdlík, 15 Jan Veselý (Coach: Pavel Budínský)

2015 EuroBasket: finished 7th among 24 teams

4 Petr Benda, 5 Patrik Auda, 6 Pavel Pumprla, 7 Vojtěch Hruban, 8 Tomáš Satoranský (C), 9 Jiří Welsch, 10 Pavel Houška, 11 Luboš Bartoň, 12 David Jelínek, 13 Jakub Šiřina, 14 Blake Schilb, 24 Jan Veselý (Coach: Ronen Ginzburg)

2017 EuroBasket: finished 20th among 24 teams

1 Patrik Auda, 7 Vojtěch Hruban, 8 Tomáš Satoranský (C), 9 Jiří Welsch, 11 Lukáš Palyza, 13 Jakub Šiřina, 14 Kamil Švrdlík, 15 Martin Peterka, 17 Jaromir Bohačík, 23 Adam Pecháček, 31 Martin Kříž, 71 Tomáš Kyzlink (Coach: Ronen Ginzburg)

2019 FIBA World Cup: finished 6th among 32 teams

1 Patrik Auda, 4 Tomáš Vyoral, 6 Pavel Pumprla, 7 Vojtěch Hruban, 8 Tomáš Satoranský (C), 11 Blake Schilb, 12 Ondřej Balvín, 13 Jakub Šiřina, 15 Martin Peterka, 17 Jaromír Bohačík, 23 Lukáš Palyza, 31 Martin Kříž (Coach: Ronen Ginzburg)

2020 Olympic Games: finished 9th among 12 teams

1 Patrik Auda, 4 Tomáš Vyoral, 8 Tomáš Satoranský (C), 11 Blake Schilb, 12 Ondřej Balvín, 13 Jakub Šiřina, 15 Martin Peterka, 17 Jaromír Bohačík, 19 Ondřej Sehnal, 23 Lukáš Palyza, 24 Jan Veselý, 25 David Jelínek (Coach: Ronen Ginzburg)

2022 EuroBasket: finished 16th among 24 teams

1 Patrik Auda, 7 Vojtěch Hruban, 8 Tomáš Satoranský (C), 12 Ondřej Balvín, 15 Martin Peterka, 17 Jaromír Bohačík, 19 Ondřej Sehnal, 24 Jan Veselý, 25 David Jelínek, 27 Vít Krejčí, 31 Martin Kříž, 77 Tomáš Kyzlink (Coach: Ronen Ginzburg)

2025 EuroBasket: finished 23rd among 24 teams

5 Jan Zídek, 7 Vojtěch Hruban (C), 11 Adam Kejval, 15 Martin Peterka, 17 Jaromír Bohačík, 19 Ondřej Sehnal, 21 Petr Křivánek, 27 Vít Krejčí, 31 Martin Kříž, 32 Richard Bálint, 71 Martin Svoboda, 77 Tomáš Kyzlink (Coach: Diego Ocampo)

References

References

1. "European Championship for Men - Semi-Final Round". fiba.basketball.
2. (19 February 2007). "Czech Republic at the EuroBasket 1999". archive.fiba.com.
3. (19 February 2007). "EuroBasket 1999 player statistics". archive.fiba.com.
4. (3 September 2007). "Czech Republic v Germany game results". archive.fiba.com.
5. (5 September 2013). "Poland v Czech Republic game results". archive.fiba.com.
6. (8 September 2013). "Czech Republic v Georgia game results". archive.fiba.com.
7. (7 September 2015). "Czech Republic v Latvia game results". archive.fiba.com.
8. "Czechs dump Croatia, make EuroBasket history".
9. (13 September 2015). "Croatia v Czech Republic game results". archive.fiba.com.
10. (16 September 2015). "Serbia v Czech Republic game results". archive.fiba.com.
11. "Czech Republic at the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament".
12. "Czech Republic at the EuroBasket 2017".
13. "Czechs clinch first-ever trip to World Cup following tough win over Bosnia and Herzegovina".
14. "Czech Republic during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers".
15. "Czech Republic open account with vital win over Japan".
16. "Czech Republic reach Second Round after upset win over Turkey".
17. "Czech Republic boost their quarter-finals hopes in massive win over Brazil".
18. "Czech Republic at the 2019 FIBA World Cup".
19. "Czech Republic upset host Canada in overtime thriller".
20. "Czech It! Dominant win over Greece propel Czech Republic to first Olympics".
21. "Ticket to Tokyo! Czech basketball team qualifies for Olympics for first time". Expats.cz.
22. "Czech Republic beat Iran as basketball begins in Tokyo". Inquirer.net.
23. "Czech Republic at the 2020 men's Olympic Basketball Tournament".
24. "Czechs squander big lead but still hold off Dutch for first win in Prague".
25. "Czech Republic soar over Israel, claim last ticket to Berlin".
26. "Giannis steps up as Greece escape upset-minded Czechs".
27. "Czech Republic at the EuroBasket 2022".
28. "Czech Republic during the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers".
29. "Czech Republic at the 2024 Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament".
30. "Czechia secure spot at FIBA EuroBasket 2025".
31. "Czech Republic at the EuroBasket 2025".
32. "Reprezentaci povede Luboš Bartoň". cz.basketball.
33. "Czech Republic during the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers in November 2025".