Orlando, FL - The 2023 FIBA World Cup will tip off on Friday, and it will be a treat for Magic fans.

The Orlando Magic employ some of the best basketball players in the world, some of whom will face off against each other in this tournament. Five current Magic players will represent four different countries in this year’s international classic, and two more countries will have a beloved former Magic player on their roster. 

Not sure who to root for? If you’re a Magic fan, you can support at least one of your favorite team’s players. Here’s who’s playing, and whose colors they will wear over the next few weeks:

Paolo Banchero: United States

The Magic’s brightest young star will play for the country universally favored to win the tournament. After declining to play for Team Italy in the tournament, Paolo Banchero chose to don red, white and blue and join NBA all-stars Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram and Jaren Jackson Jr. on this star-studded stars-and-stripes squad.

Banchero was drafted to the Magic first overall in 2022, and he has since proven himself to have one of basketball’s highest ceilings. In his rookie season, he averaged 20 points on 42.7% shooting as the team’s primary scoring option, which was good enough for him to take home the Rookie of the Year award.

The United States will play in Group C and make their World Cup debut on Saturday against New Zealand at 8:40 a.m. They will face off against Greece on Monday at 8:40 a.m. and, if you live in the United States and can’t sleep on Wednesday, you can watch them face off against Jordan at 4:40 a.m. ESPN2 will broadcast all three games.

Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner: Germany

Basketball’s best brotherly bond (at least according to Magic fans) will team up together in Germany, the only country with multiple Magic players. Together, they will lead a very underrated Germany squad along with Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis.

Born in Berlin, both Wagner brothers played professionally for Alba Berlin before ever living in the United States. Upon moving across the Atlantic, Moritz became a star at the University of Michigan, and Franz followed his older brother’s footsteps and played there as well. The Magic picked up the then-free agent Moritz off of waivers in 2021, and he has since been a key contributor the team’s frontcourt depth and energy. A few months later, Orlando drafted Franz with the 8th overall pick, and he finished his first NBA season as a member of the All-Rookie First Team.

Team Germany will face off in a very talented Group E, starting with Japan at 8:10 a.m. on Friday. You can continue to watch your favorite siblings on ESPN+ when they play Australia at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday and Finland at 3:30 a.m on Tuesday. Just don’t wake anyone up when you do. 

Australia: Joe Ingles

The newest Orlando Magic member will co-captain a very loaded Team Australia. Joe Ingles will join Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green and more on a Boomers team that looks to make serious noise in this tournament.

Ingles was known throughout his career as a sharpshooter, and he was a big part of those playoff Utah Jazz teams in the late-2010s. But he was an even bigger part of the Australian National Team, as he played in the FIBA World Cup for the Boomers every year since 2010.

You can watch Joe Ingles and the Boomers play Finland at 4 a.m. Friday on ESPN+ to kick off Group E’s festivities. From there, they will play the Wagner brothers and Germany at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday and Japan at 7:10 a.m. on Tuesday. Both games will also be on ESPN+.

Georgia: Goga Bitadze

In its first-ever FIBA World Cup appearance, Team Georgia will have Goga Bitadze wear their uniform. Bitadze will play alongside Georgia legends Tornike Shengelia Giorgi Shermadini, along with San Antonio Spur Sandro Mamukelashvili.

The Magic acquired Bitadze in 2023, after he was cut by the Indiana Pacers. He assumed the role of backup center for the Magic, averaging 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. Orlando exercised their option on Bitadze this summer, keeping him in pinstripes for at least next season.

Bitadze and Georgia will make their World Cup debut against Cape Verde on Saturday at 4 a.m. as a member of Group F. They will then play Luka Doncic and Slovenia on Monday at 7:30 a.m. and Venezuela at 4:00 a.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier: Montenegro and France, respectively

Fans tuning into Montenegro’s World Cup run might see a familiar face. Nikola Vucevic will lead his country in this year’s tournament, just like he led the Magic for nine seasons and two playoff appearances, earning two all-star nods in the process. The Group D team will tip off on Friday against Mexico at 4:45 a.m., and they will face off against Egypt on Sunday at 4:45 a.m. and then Lithuania on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Team France will play a number of NBA veterans, including Evan Fournier. Fournier played for the Magic for seven seasons and was one of the team’s most important scorers in his tenure. Team France will play in Group H against Canada on Friday at 9:30 a.m., Latvia at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and Lebanon at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

*Note: all times listed in this article are in Eastern Time