Georgia men's national basketball team

History

Soviet era

Until 1991, Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union, with players born in Georgia playing for the Soviet Union national team. Notable players born in Georgia who played for the Soviet Union and won medals at the Olympic Games, FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket include: Nodar Dzhordzhikiya, Otar Korkia, Guram Minashvili, Vladimer Ugrekhelidze, Levan Moseshvili, Zurab Sakandelidze, Mikheil Korkia and Nikolay Deryugin.

Independent Georgia

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, on several occasions the Georgian national team unsuccessfully tried to qualify for the EuroBasket, Europe's biggest basketball competition and major tournament. Although the national team did play on the EuroBasket Division B level three times and gained promotion in 2009 after defeating Belarus in play-offs. However, after the expansion of the EuroBasket in 2011 from 16 to 24 teams, Georgia qualified to the competition for the first time.

EuroBasket 2011

Main article: EuroBasket 2011

The national team played five matches in Group D. They finished their preliminary group with an 2–3 record, with wins against Belgium and Ukraine, to advance. In their second round group phase, Georgia lost all five of their matches to finish their maiden voyage to the EuroBasket in 11th place.

EuroBasket 2013

Main article: EuroBasket 2013

After finishing second in qualifying group, Georgia qualified for its second EuroBasket tournament. After a comfortable 84–67 victory in the opening match over Poland, Georgia lost their four remaining matches and finished the tournament with an 1–4 record. To that point, the Eurobasket 2013 was the only tournament in which Georgia could not win more than one match.

EuroBasket 2015

Main article: EuroBasket 2015

Georgia qualified to the EuroBasket for the third successive time in 2015. After three consecutive losses to start the tournament, the national team finally earned their first win in group play against Macedonia 90–75. They followed it up with another victory to end the opening phase of the event against Croatia, 71–58 to move on to the knockout stages for the first time. There they suffered a narrow hard fought defeat to the tournament favourites, and eventual silver medalist Lithuania 81–85.

EuroBasket 2017

Main article: EuroBasket 2017

During the EuroBasket 2017 qualification Georgia topped its group after an 90–84 victory over Montenegro, and qualified to EuroBasket for the fourth successive time. Once the competition began, the national team got off to a quick start, avenging their EuroBasket 2015 knockout stage defeat to Lithuania 79–77. The rest of the group stage didn't go as well for the Georgian side though. As the team could only manage to pullout one more victory against Israel, before falling to Italy to finish the tournament with an 2–3 record and being eliminated.

EuroBasket 2022

Main article: EuroBasket 2022

Georgia was the co-host the EuroBasket 2022, and they automatically qualified for the 2022 finals tournament. This was the fifth successive time that Georgia qualified for the event overall. Tbilisi was one of the host cities, and was used for Group A matches at the brand new Tbilisi Basketball Arena.

2023 FIBA World Cup

Main article: 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

In February 2023, Georgia was qualified for the finals tournament of 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by earning 3rd place in qualifiers. This was the first time that Georgia qualified for the event overall. They lost to Iceland 80-77 in the final Europe Region qualifying game for both teams. However, Iceland needed to win by four points or more to win a tiebreaker over Georgia for the World Cup berth. Both teams finished qualifying with 5-5 records, with the tiebreaker going to Georgia by the slimmest of margins.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-cape-verde-georgia-bulldogs-iceland-5f0d41d238e8b23ccb754de648f442a8|title= Georgia loses game, and wins a FIBA World Cup berth anyway|last1=Reynolds|first1=Tim|publisher=AP|date=27 February 2023|accessdate=6 September 2025}} “Amazing. I’m so happy, man,” said Georgia’s Thaddus McFadden, a Michigan-born guard.

In August 2023, Georgia kept their dream run alive as the debutants booked a trip to the Second Round of the World Cup by dashing the hopes of Venezuela, 70-59 at the Okinawa Arena, Japan. They lost successive matches to both Germany and Austria and ended the journey in World Cup.

EuroBasket 2025

Main article: EuroBasket 2025

On 7 September 2025, Georgia advanced to the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2025 for the first time in history, with a dominant 80-70 win against France in Riga Arena, Latvia. France was runner-up at EuroBasket 2022 and the 2024 Summer Olympics. After their history victory, national team veteran Giorgi Shermadini said “Unbelievable. I’m really happy, congrats to my teammates, everyone, all our fans in Georgia and here. France are amazing, but today we played better in defense and offense.”{{Cite web|url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/basket/championnats-d-europe/guerschon-yabusele-cible-la-chose-qui-a-cause-l-elimination-de-l-equipe-de-france-a-l-euro-basket_AV-202509070255.html|title= Guerschon Yabusele cible la chose qui a causé l'élimination de l'équipe de France à l'EuroBasket|publisher=RMC Sport|date=7 September 2025|accessdate=7 September 2025|lang=french}}

The Foundation

The core of the national team that has consistently qualified to Europe's biggest basketball competition consisted of captain Zaza Pachulia, Viktor Sanikidze, Manuchar Markoishvili, Tornike Shengelia, Giorgi Tsintsadze and Giorgi Shermadini. These pioneers in the Georgian basketball community have set the standard for future generations of the national team to build upon, and maintain.

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

Olympic Games

EuroBasket

Results and fixtures

2025

Shermadini 6 Shengelia 10

2026

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers matches on 27 and 30 November 2025 against Ukraine and Spain.

• SRB Aleksandar Džikić
• GEO Anatoli Boisa
• ITA Marco Esposito
• (C) Team captain
• Club – describes last club before the competition
• Age – describes age on 27 November 2025

Depth chart

Head coach history

• GEO Besik Liparteliani – (1994–1997)
• GEO Levan Moseshvili – (1997–1999)
• GEO Zurab Tomaradze – (1999–2001)
• CRO Dražen Brajković – (2001–2005)
• CAN/FIN Gordon Herbert – (2005–2007)
• CAN Ken Shields – (2007–2008)
• SRB Igor Kokoškov – (2008–2015)
• GRE Ilias Zouros – (2016–2023)
• SRB Aleksandar Džikić – (2024–present)

Past rosters

2011 EuroBasket: finished 11th among 24 teams

4 Giorgi Gamqrelidze, 5 Vladimir Boisa, 6 Anatoli Boisa, 7 Zaza Pachulia (C), 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Lasha Parghalava, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 MarQuez Haynes, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 14 Tornike Shengelia, 15 Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Coach: SRB Igor Kokoškov)

2013 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 24 teams

4 Nika Metreveli, 5 Otar Pkhakadze, 6 Duda Sanadze, 7 Beka Burjanadze, 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Ricky Hickman, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 Levan Patsatsia, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 14 Besik Lezhava, 15 Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Coach: SER Igor Kokoškov)

2015 EuroBasket: finished 15th among 24 teams

0 Jacob Pullen, 4 Nika Metreveli, 7 Zaza Pachulia (C), 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 12 Levan Patsatsia, 13 Viktor Sanikidze, 15 Beka Burjanadze, 23 Tornike Shengelia, 25 Besik Lezhava (Coach: SRB Igor Kokoškov)

2017 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 24 teams

3 Michael Dixon, 4 Giorgi Gamqrelidze, 6 Anatoli Boisa, 7 Zaza Pachulia (C), 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 11 Manuchar Markoishvili, 17 Mikheil Berishvili, 23 Tornike Shengelia, 35 Goga Bitadze, 99 Ilia Londaridze (Coach: GRE Ilias Zouros)

2022 EuroBasket: finished 21st among 24 teams

4 Rati Andronikashvili, 5 Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6 Kakhaber Jintcharadze, 7 Beka Burjanadze, 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini (C), 10 Duda Sanadze, 17 Mikheil Berishvili, 18 Merab Bokolishvili, 25 Thad McFadden, 33 Beka Bekauri, 35 Goga Bitadze (Coach: GRE Ilias Zouros)

2023 FIBA World Cup: finished 16th among 32 teams

4 Rati Andronikashvili, 5 Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6 Kakhaber Jintcharadze, 7 Luka Liklikadze, 8 Giorgi Tsintsadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 11 Giorgi Turdziladze, 17 Mikheil Berishvili, 23 Tornike Shengelia (C), 25 Thad McFadden, 35 Goga Bitadze (Coach: GRE Ilias Zouros)

2025 EuroBasket: finished 8th among 24 teams

4 Rati Andronikashvili, 5 Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6 Kakhaber Jintcharadze, 7 Beka Burjanadze, 9 Giorgi Shermadini, 10 Duda Sanadze, 12 George Korsantia, 15 Aleksandre Phevadze, 23 Tornike Shengelia (C), 35 Goga Bitadze, 44 Kamar Baldwin, 77 Giorgi Ochkhikidze (Coach: SRB Aleksandar Džikić)

Head-to-head record

;Does not include unofficial closed door friendly matches

As of 30 November 2025

Record against teams at the EuroBasket

Notable results

Kit

Manufacturer

• 2015–present: Spalding

Sponsor

• 2015: Natakhtari
• 2019: Georgian Railway

References

References

1. (10 September 2009). "Montenegro, Georgia promoted to Division A - TalkBasket.net".
2. "Georgia {{!}} EuroBasket (2011) {{!}} FIBA Europe".
3. "Georgia {{!}} EuroBasket (2013) {{!}} FIBA Europe".
4. "Georgia – Croatia {{!}} EuroBasket (2015) {{!}} FIBA Europe".
5. "Lithuania – Georgia {{!}} EuroBasket (2015) {{!}} FIBA Europe".
6. "Georgia during the EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers".
7. "Georgia battle past Lithuania, exact revenge for 2015 loss".
8. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2017".
9. (1 April 2021). "FIBA Europe delegation visits Tbilisi to see progress of new arena". FIBA.
10. "Georgia to build a new sports complex for European Basketball Championship".
11. (30 August 2023). "Georgia's maiden World Cup run continues through to Second Round with win". [[FIBA]].
12. "Georgia during the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers in November 2025".
13. "1994 წლის 20 მარტი – საქართველოს კალათბურთელთა ნაკრების დაბადების დღეა / ევრობასკეტი 1997". 1tv.ge.
14. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2011". fiba.basketball.
15. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2013". fiba.basketball.
16. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2015". fiba.basketball.
17. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2017". fiba.basketball.
18. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2022". fiba.basketball.
19. "Georgia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup". fiba.basketball.
20. "Georgia at the EuroBasket 2025". fiba.basketball.
21. {{usurped