Norway men's national basketball team

The Norway men's national basketball team (Norwegian: Norge herrelandslag i basketball) represents Norway in international basketball tournaments. The national team is administered by the Norwegian Basketball Federation.

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

Norway
FIBA ranking75 Increase 18 (15 September 2023)[1]
Joined FIBA1968
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationNBBF
CoachMatthias Eckhoff
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances2
MedalsSilver Silver: (1996, 2018)
First international
 Norway 50–63 Denmark 
(Oslo, Norway; 11 February 1967)
Biggest win
 San Marino 48–88 Norway 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 26 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Iceland 123–59 Norway 
(Reykjavík, Iceland; 15 April 1968)

Norway has never had great success on the international stage in the past. They are one of the few European countries to date to have never qualified for one of the top international basketball competitions, such as the EuroBasket or the FIBA World Cup.

History

Norway's first international match was played on 11 February 1967 in Oslo, where the team lost 50–63 to Denmark.[2] The most capped player is Torgeir Bryn, with 111 caps.

In the past, Norway has attempted to qualify for the EuroBasket several times, but have yet to reach the tournament. They have only entered the Olympic basketball qualification twice, for the 1980, and 1988 Olympic Games. Norway is one of Europe's most populous nations to have never qualified for a major international basketball competition. However, they have competed at smaller events such as the European Championship for Small Countries.

The Road to Revival (2012–2017)

In 2012, financial troubles led the Norwegian Basketball Federation to shut down both the men's and women's national teams. The federation simply did not have the funds to keep either the men's or women's teams afloat. Since then, however, the federation has come to realize just how many people from the athletes and teams, to individuals and companies care about the Norwegian basketball community and are willing to provide financial support. The federation also worked to raise money through sponsorships, and eventually signed a major sponsorship agreement with Circle K, in addition to a few smaller sponsors.[3]

Norway's return (2018–present)

In 2018, Norway made its return to FIBA competition by playing at the European Championship for Small Countries. The national team finished as the runners-up after losing 75–59 in the final against Malta.[4]

In 2021, Norway joined the EuroBasket 2025 qualification.

Competitive record

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2023
23 February 2023 Denmark  69–61  Norway Næstved, Denmark
19:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 21–15, 18–14, 12–16, 18–16
Pts: Åris, Midtgaard 13
Rebs: Åris 7
Asts: Darbo 6		 Boxscore Pts: Frey 24
Rebs: Ndow 6
Asts: Jawara 6		 Arena: Næstved Arena
Referees: Radomir Vojinović (MNE), Sergio Rodriguez (ESP), Özlem Yalman (TUR)
26 February 2023 Norway  41–79  North Macedonia Oslo, Norway
18:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 12–24, 14–21, 10–15, 5–19
Pts: Frey 10
Rebs: Jawara, Ndow 5
Asts: Jawara 4		 Boxscore Pts: Shorts 22
Rebs: Shorts 6
Asts: Shorts 5		 Arena: Nordstrand Arena
Attendance: 2,500
Referees: Ciprian Stoica (ROU), Can Mavisu (TUR), Javier Torres (ESP)
19 July 2023 Norway  86–80  Bulgaria Asker, Norway
19:00 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 22–21, 27–18, 19–8, 18–33
Pts: Frey 27
Rebs: Ndow 8
Asts: Frey 4		 Boxscore Pts: Miller-McIntyre 20
Rebs: Alipiev 7
Asts: P. Ivanov 9		 Arena: Varner Arena
Attendance: 1,950
Referees: Gatis Saliņš (LAT), Michał Proc (POL), Gvidas Gedvilas (LTU)
26 July 2023 Austria  85–66  Norway Schwechat, Austria
18:30 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 25–15, 24–12, 21–15, 15–24
Pts: Vujošević 21
Rebs: four players 6
Asts: Güttl 5		 Boxscore Pts: Ndow 21
Rebs: Kolstad 7
Asts: Espe 5		 Arena: Multiversum
Attendance: 1,350
Referees: Ademir Zurapović (BIH), Martin Vulić (CRO), Ariadna Chueca (ESP)
29 July 2023 Bulgaria  91–69  Norway Botevgrad, Bulgaria
18:00 (UTC+3) Scoring by quarter: 20–14, 30–20, 24–17, 17–18
Pts: Kostadinov 19
Rebs: Kostadinov 9
Asts: Miller-McIntyre 13		 Boxscore Pts: Kolstad 12
Rebs: Sjölund 6
Asts: Frey 8		 Arena: Arena Botevgrad
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Yener Yılmaz (TUR), Josip Jurčević (CRO), Vladimir Jevtović (SRB)
5 August 2023 Norway  84–74  Austria Asker, Norway
18:00 (UTC+2) Scoring by quarter: 22–17, 19–23, 22–18, 21–16
Pts: Ndow 29
Rebs: Berg, Ndow 9
Asts: Kolstad 4		 Boxscore Pts: Güttl 15
Rebs: Lohr 8
Asts: Ersek, Vujošević 5		 Arena: Varner Arena
Attendance: 2,100
Referees: Gatis Saliņš (LAT), Gintaras Vitkauskas (LTU), Armin Mutapčić (GER)

2024
25 February 2024 Luxembourg  vs.  Norway Luxembourg
Boxscore
21 November 2024 Norway  vs.  Romania Norway
Boxscore

2025
20 February 2025 Norway  vs.  Luxembourg Norway
Boxscore
23 February 2025 Romania  vs.  Norway Romania
Boxscore

Team

Current roster

Roster for the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers matches in July/August 2023 against Bulgaria and Austria.[5][6]

Norway men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G/F 0 Jørgen Odfjell 22 – (2000-08-03)3 August 2000 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Leeuwarden Netherlands
PG 3 Lars Espe 23 – (1998-09-26)26 September 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Gimle Norway
F 5 Chris-Ebou Ndow 29 – (1993-12-10)10 December 1993 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Den Bosch Netherlands
PG 7 Harald Frey 26 – (1997-05-27)27 May 1997 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bonn Germany
G 11 Stian Mjøs (C) 34 – (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Bærum Norway
G 12 Mikkel Kolstad 28 – (1995-05-03)3 May 1995 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Gimle Norway
F/C 14 Johannes Dolven 27 – (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Centrum Tigers Norway
F/C 18 Erik Borg 21 – (2001-10-06)6 October 2001 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Kongsberg Miners Norway
F 22 Sjur Berg 27 – (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Bærum Norway
F 25 Hallvard Staff 21 – (2002-06-18)18 June 2002 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Tromsø Norway
F 32 Kristian Sjölund 23 – (1999-09-10)10 September 1999 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Bayreuth Germany
G/F 33 Tobias Rotegård 22 – (2000-05-08)8 May 2000 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Ehingen Germany
F 40 Axel Borg 19 – (2004-04-10)10 April 2004 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Zentro Spain
Head coach
  • Norway Matthias Eckhoff
Assistant coach(es)
  • Croatia Milovan Savić
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 19 July 2023

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Sjur Berg Erik Borg Marcus Larsson
PF Karamo Jawara Johannes Dolven Axel Borg
SF Chris-Ebou Ndow Kristian Sjølund Jørgen Odfjell
SG Bouna Ndiaye Mikkel Kolstad Tobias Rotegård
PG Harald Frey Stian Mjøs Lars Espe

Head coach position
  • Norway Matthias Eckhoff – (2018–present)

Notable players
  • Torgeir Bryn – the first Scandinavian, and the only Norwegian who has played in the NBA; and the most capped player for the Norway national basketball team with 111 matches.

Past rosters

2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 2nd Silver among 7 teams[7]

Norway men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 4 Magnus Midtvedt 28 – (1990-04-07)7 April 1990 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Centrum Norway
PG 5 Harald Frey 21 – (1997-05-27)27 May 1997 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Montana State United States
G 6 Stian Berg 27 – (1991-04-04)4 April 1991 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Asker Norway
PG 7 Lars Espe 19 – (1998-09-26)26 September 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Barry Buccaneers United States
G/F 8 Bouna Ndiaye 25 – (1992-10-20)20 October 1992 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) GET Vosges France
G 9 Nikolas Skouen 28 – (1990-01-29)29 January 1990 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Frøya Norway
F 10 Karamo Jawara 27 – (1991-06-25)25 June 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Palma Spain
G 11 Stian Mjøs 29 – (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Bærum Norway
G/F 12 Eivind Lamo 21 – (1996-10-23)23 October 1996 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Gimle Norway
G/F 13 Alex Dakin 25 – (1993-01-02)2 January 1993 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Bærum Norway
F 14 Sjur Berg 22 – (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Alaska Anchorage United States
F/C 15 Johannes Dolven 22 – (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Barry Buccaneers United States
Head coach
  • Norway Matthias Eckhoff
Assistant coach(es)
  • Norway Audun Eskeland
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 26 June 2018

See also

References
  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. "55-årsjubileum mot Danmark". basket.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  3. "Norway returns to international basketball". norwegianamerican.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. "Norway at the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  5. "På lag igjen etter åtte år". basket.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  6. "Norway during the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in July/August 2023". Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. "Norway at the 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
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