FIBA announces new improved world ranking system for men

With the support and mathematical expertise of the company Assist Research, FIBA has created an improved ranking model developed in line with three main objectives:

- To be simpler,

- To reflect results in a more up-to-date manner,

- To reward teams that advance to later stages in tournaments more heavily.

The new system retains the core principles of the model introduced in 2017, which was created to support FIBA's international basketball competition structure. Furthermore, by maintaining a game-based approach, rankings will continue to be updated after every qualifying window and after every major FIBA event. This will allow teams to track their progress in real time.

How does the system work?

National teams earn points for every game they play and never lose points. Both teams receive base points for the game; the winning team earns extra bonus points from various sources. Games in the later stages of tournaments earn more points.

The amount of points awarded varies according to the competition or region.

3 key changes

1- Transition from an adaptive model to a cumulative model

Previously, a total of 1,000 points in a game were shared between the winning and losing teams, and these points were then added to each team's average ranking coefficient in a weighted manner. This adaptive model has now been replaced by a cumulative model. This means that when teams play a game, they will add new points to their existing point total. Points will not be divided; they will accumulate.

2- Updated time depreciation

In the past, ranking points decreased over an eight-year period and were reduced every two years. In the new system, a standard 33 percent reduction will be applied to teams' ranking points before every major FIBA event (World Cups, Olympic Games, Continental Cups). The ranking order of the teams will not change after this adjustment.

3- Improved scoring system for tournaments

Tournament progression rewards will now be more detailed. Teams will earn more points as they advance in each round.

Regional coefficients

To ensure fairness and balance, just as in the previous system, individual coefficients will be assigned to each region (Africa, Americas, Asia (including Oceania), and Europe). However, these coefficients have now been mathematically recalibrated based on the results of all teams from each region in global events over the last four years.

Regional coefficients will continue to be recalibrated every four years to reflect the most current results of each region's teams.

Implementation

The new system will come into effect with the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, which will begin around the world on November 24. At the start of the system, current team rankings and points will remain unchanged. The implementation of the new FIBA World Ranking Men will be followed next year by updates to the FIBA World Ranking Women, Youth Men, and Youth Women systems, which are based on the same methodology.