Azerbaijan men's national basketball team

In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of Azerbaijan men's national basketball team, exploring its many facets and its impact on different aspects of life. From its influence in history to its relevance today, Azerbaijan men's national basketball team has left an indelible mark on society and continues to generate debate and reflection. Along these lines, we will analyze its evolution over time, its connection with other relevant elements and the experiences of those who have been touched by its presence. Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery and learning about Azerbaijan men's national basketball team, an entity that has captured the attention of individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

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

Azerbaijan
FIBA ranking113 Increase 3 (25 February 2025)[1]
Joined FIBA1994
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationAzerbaijan Basketball Federation
CoachTahir Bakhshiyev
Nickname(s)Milli komanda
(The National Team)
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances4
MedalsGold Gold: (2006, 2008)
First international
 Belarus 121–50 Azerbaijan 
(Minsk, Belarus; 2 June 2001)
Biggest win
 Somalia 29–106 Azerbaijan 
(Medina, Saudi Arabia; 9 April 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Belarus 121–50 Azerbaijan 
(Minsk, Belarus; 2 June 2001)

The Azerbaijan men's national basketball team (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan milli basketbol komandası) is the national basketball team of Azerbaijan. The team is controlled by the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation.

Since becoming members of FIBA in 1994, Azerbaijan has mostly taken part in smaller competitions such as the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, winning it twice, in 2006 and 2008. The national team also won a title at the Islamic Solidarity Games in their lone appearance in 2005.

History

After Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation was founded in 1993, and became members of FIBA in 1994. During Azerbaijan's early years, the national team did not appear in any international competition until they entered EuroBasket 2003 qualifiers.[2]

Following Azerbaijan's failed qualification process for EuroBasket 2003, the national team entered their first international tournament at the 2004 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Azerbaijan would complete the event at a (2–2) record, for a fourth place finish.[3] A year later, the national team entered the 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games, where Azerbaijan finished the competition winning the gold medal.[4]

In 2006, Azerbaijan participated in the 2006 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, in which the team went (4–1), and reached the final to defeat Albania 66–57 to win the title.[5] At the event in 2008, Azerbaijan repeated as champions, this time in an 78–80 victory over Moldova.[6] After the tournament, Azerbaijan did not appear at an international event until EuroBasket 2013 qualifiers. However, Azerbaijan would eventually be eliminated from qualifying following a (4–4) record.[7]

Ten years after Azerbaijan competed in their last international competition, the national team made its return at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Azerbaijan went on to close out the tournament in fourth place.[8]

Competitive record

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2024

22 February 2024 Switzerland  72–53  Azerbaijan Fribourg, Switzerland
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 10–20, 19–8, 21–15, 22–10
Pts: Fofana 19
Rebs: Nzege 10
Asts: Fofana, Zinn 5 		Boxscore Pts: LeDay 22
Rebs: Donat, LeDay 6
Asts: K. Mammadov 4 		Arena: Salle Saint-Lèonard
Attendance: 1,150
Referees: Stylianos Simeonidis (GRE), Joaquin García (ESP), Alessandro Perciavalle (ITA)
25 February 2024 Azerbaijan  87–77  Kosovo Baku, Azerbaijan
14:00 (UTC+4) Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 24–25, 16–16, 28–17
Pts: Aydın 27
Rebs: Hall 14
Asts: S. Shirzadov 6 		Boxscore Pts: Berisha 20
Rebs: Kapiti 6
Asts: Mala 6 		Arena: Sarkhadchi Sport Center
Attendance: 2,400
Referees: Andžej Urbanovič (LTU), Ritvars Helmšteins (LAT), Viktor Nagy (HUN)
21 November 2024 Ireland  91–67  Azerbaijan Dublin, Ireland
17:00 (UTC±0) Scoring by quarter: 25–12, 23–13, 23–20, 20–22
Pts: Flood 28
Rebs: Blount 12
Asts: Blount 9 		Boxscore Pts: Davis 25
Rebs: Aydın, Davis 8
Asts: Aydın 4 		Arena: National Basketball Arena
Attendance: 900
Referees: Iain MacDonald (GBR), Ioannis Tsimpouris (GRE), Davíð Tómasson (ISL)
24 November 2024 Azerbaijan  55–85   Switzerland Baku, Azerbaijan
14:00 (UTC+4) Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 15–22, 8–24, 12–24
Pts: Aydın 15
Rebs: Aydın 12
Asts: K. Mammadov 5 		Boxscore Pts: Ročak 19
Rebs: Granvorka 7
Asts: Fofana 11 		Arena: Baku Sports Palace
Attendance: 1,300
Referees: Tolga Edis (TUR), Kirile Tvauri (GEO), Vlad-Theodor Cotrobas-Dascălu (ROU)

2025

20 February 2025 Kosovo  81–79  Azerbaijan Pristina, Kosovo
19:30 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 20–21, 23–20, 17–18, 21–20
Pts: Tmušić 21
Rebs: four players 5
Asts: Myles 6 		Boxscore Pts: Hall 21
Rebs: Hall 16
Asts: K. Mammadov, Turgut 5 		Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Stylianos Simeonidis (GRE), Mehmet Şahin (TUR), Mladen Lučić (MNE)
23 February 2025 Azerbaijan  64–79  Ireland Baku, Azerbaijan
17:00 (UTC+4) Scoring by quarter: 16–21, 14–20, 19–13, 15–25
Pts: S. Shirzadov 14
Rebs: Hall 12
Asts: K. Mammadov 4 		Boxscore Pts: Flood 23
Rebs: N. Quinn 9
Asts: Flood 5 		Arena: Baku Sports Palace
Attendance: 700
Referees: Zdravko Rutešić (MNE), Duhan Köyiçi (TUR), Nemanja Vlahović (SRB)

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers matches on 20 and 23 February 2025 against Kosovo and Ireland.[9]

Azerbaijan men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
PF 6 Akbar Mammadov 25 – (1999-03-06)6 March 1999 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) NTD Azerbaijan
F/C 7 Orhan Aydın 35 – (1989-10-01)1 October 1989 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) İTÜ Turkey
G/F 8 Ulaş Turgut 22 – (2003-01-31)31 January 2003 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Neftçi Azerbaijan
SG 10 Elshad Shirzadov 26 – (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) NTD Azerbaijan
G/F 11 Jabrayil Akbarov 23 – (2002-02-09)9 February 2002 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Serhedci Azerbaijan
C 14 Amil Hamzayev 34 – (1990-06-25)25 June 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Khazri Azerbaijan
PG 23 Kamran Mammadov 24 – (2000-05-03)3 May 2000 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Neftçi Azerbaijan
SG 34 Derin Berköz 17 – (2007-05-30)30 May 2007 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Türk Telekom Turkey
C 35 Saadettin Donat 24 – (2001-01-07)7 January 2001 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Ormanspor Turkey
F 41 Endar Poladkhanli 26 – (1998-10-12)12 October 1998 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Sabah Azerbaijan
C 45 Donta Hall 27 – (1997-08-07)7 August 1997 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Baskonia Spain
PG 77 Shirzad Shirzadov 24 – (2000-05-30)30 May 2000 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Sabah Azerbaijan
Head coach
  • Azerbaijan Tahir Bakhshiyev
Assistant coach(es)
  • Azerbaijan Anar Sariyev
  • Spain Alberto Blanco
  • Azerbaijan Polad Hasanov
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 20 February 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Donta Hall Saadettin Donat
PF Orhan Aydın Amil Hamzayev Akbar Mammadov
SF Ulaş Turgut Elshad Shirzadov
SG Endar Poladkhanli Jabrayil Akbarov Derin Berköz
PG Kamran Mammadov Shirzad Shirzadov

Head coach position

Past rosters

2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 4th among 6 teams[10]

Azerbaijan men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
F/C 8 Endar Poladkhanli 23 – (1998-10-12)12 October 1998 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Zirve Astara Azerbaijan
F/C 9 Akbar Mammadov 23 – (1999-03-06)6 March 1999 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Zirve Astara Azerbaijan
PF 10 Orhan Aydın 32 – (1989-10-01)1 October 1989 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Yalovaspor Turkey
G 15 Elshad Shirzadov 23 – (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Unattached
G/F 17 Ulaş Turgut 19 – (2003-01-31)31 January 2003 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) İstanbul Turkey
PG 18 Beray Taşer 19 – (2003-01-23)23 January 2003 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Kağıtspor Turkey
PG 20 Jordan Davis 25 – (1997-06-06)6 June 1997 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Murcia Spain
PG 24 Shirzad Shirzadov 22 – (2000-05-30)30 May 2000 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Khirdalan Azerbaijan
F 25 Anar Hajiyev 34 – (1988-06-02)2 June 1988 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Zirve Astara Azerbaijan
G 27 Zaur Pashayev 38 – (1983-08-31)31 August 1983 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Zirve Astara Azerbaijan
G 28 Jabrayil Akbarov 20 – (2002-02-09)9 February 2002 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Khirdalan Azerbaijan
F/C 44 Amil Hamzayev 32 – (1990-06-25)25 June 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Gence Azerbaijan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Lithuania Aurimas Jasilionis
  • Azerbaijan Tahir Bakhshiyev
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 29 June 2022

See also

References

  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ "EuroBasket 2003 qualifiers results". linguasport.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Azerbaijan at the 2004 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". fiba.basketball. 12 June 2004.
  4. ^ "Azerbaijan national basketball team became the winner of the Solidarity Games". today.az. 21 April 2005.
  5. ^ "Azerbaijan at the 2006 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". fibaeurope.com. 4 June 2006.
  6. ^ "Azerbaijan at the 2008 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". fibaeurope.com. 23 June 2008.
  7. ^ "EuroBasket 2013 qualifiers results". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Azerbaijan at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Azerbaijan during the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers in February 2025". Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Azerbaijan at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 3 July 2022.