# 1974 FIBA World Championship

The 1974 FIBA World Championship was the 7th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. It was hosted by Puerto Rico from July 3 to 14, 1974. The tournament was won by the Soviet Union.

## Venues

| Ponce | Caguas | San Juan |
| Auditorio Pachín Vicéns | Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares | Roberto Clemente Coliseum |
| Capacity: 8,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 12,000 |

## Competing nations

| Group A | Group B | Group C | Final round |
| Brazil  Central African Republic  Mexico  Soviet Union | Argentina  Philippines  Spain  United States | Australia  Canada  Cuba  Czechoslovakia | Puerto Rico – host  Yugoslavia – defending champion |

## Preliminary round
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 314 | 188 | +126 | 6 | Final round |
| 2 | Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 254 | 211 | +43 | 5 | Final round |
| 3 | Mexico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 264 | 277 | −13 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | Central African Republic | 3 | 0 | 3 | 184 | 340 | −156 | 3 | Classification round |
* July 3
| Soviet Union | 140–48 | Central African Republic |
| Scoring by half: 72-23, 68-25 |||
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
* July 3
| Mexico | 78–100 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 27-46, 51-54 |||
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
* July 4
| Mexico | 106–82 | Central African Republic |
| Scoring by half: 61-40, 45-42 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 4
| Brazil | 60–79 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 25-39, 35-40 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 5
| Brazil | 94–54 | Central African Republic |
| Scoring by half: 47-32, 47-22 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 5
| Soviet Union | 95–80 | Mexico |
| Scoring by half: 46-41, 49-39 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 358 | 242 | +116 | 6 | Final round |
| 2 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 284 | 288 | −4 | 5 | Final round |
| 3 | Argentina | 3 | 1 | 2 | 286 | 295 | −9 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | Philippines | 3 | 0 | 3 | 260 | 363 | −103 | 3 | Classification round |
* July 3 19:30
| Philippines | 85–135 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 38−57, 47−78 |||
| Pts: Jaworski 21 | | Pts: Lucas 30 |
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan Attendance: 5,000 Referees: Manny Reynoso (MEX), Obrad Belošević (YUG)
* July 3
| Spain | 96–89 | Argentina |
| Scoring by half: 44-47, 52-42 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 4 19:30
| Philippines | 90–111 | Argentina |
| Scoring by half: 48−59, 42−52 |||
| Pts: Adornado 23 | | Pts: Ghermann 27 |
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Referees: Hugh Richardson (THA), Henri M'Bahia (CAF)
* July 4
| United States | 114–71 | Spain |
| Scoring by half: 54-35, 60-36 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 5 19:30
| Spain | 117–85 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 59−41, 58−44 |||
| Pts: Brabender 37 | | Pts: Jaworski 23 |
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce Referees: Artenik Arabadjan (BUL), Isaac Grinman (BRA)
* July 5
| Argentina | 86–109 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 43-56, 43-53 |||
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 3 | 3 | 0 | 233 | 218 | +15 | 6 | Final round |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 242 | 224 | +18 | 5 | Final round |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 224 | 228 | −4 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | Australia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 232 | 261 | −29 | 3 | Classification round |
* July 3
| Australia | 69–80 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 36-40, 33-40 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 3
| Cuba | 61–60 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 26-30, 35-30 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 4
| Cuba | 92–79 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 48-44, 44-35 |||
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
* July 4
| Czechoslovakia | 75–83 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 42-40, 33-43 |||
* Auditorio Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
* July 5
| Czechoslovakia | 89–84 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 46-38, 43-46 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 5
| Cuba | 80–79 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 42-46, 38-33 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan

## Classification round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 9 | Mexico | 5 | 5 | 0 | 482 | 428 | +54 | 10 |
| 10 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 518 | 451 | +67 | 9 |
| 11 | Argentina | 5 | 2 | 3 | 517 | 471 | +46 | 7 |
| 12 | Australia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 466 | 442 | +24 | 7 |
| 13 | Philippines | 5 | 2 | 3 | 474 | 517 | −43 | 7 |
| 14 | Central African Republic | 5 | 0 | 5 | 375 | 523 | −148 | 5 |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Argentina 1–1 (1.10 GAvg), Australia 1–1 (1.01 GAvg), Philippines 1–1 (0.91 GAvg)
* July 7 14:00
| Czechoslovakia | 84–94 | Mexico |
| Scoring by half: 44-49, 40-45 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 8 21:30
| Philippines | 101–100 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 50−50, 51−50 |||
| Pts: Adornado 20 | | Pts: Palubinskas 39 |
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Referees: Mario Quintero (CUB), Carlos Bagué (ESP)
* July 8
| Central African Republic | 70–121 | Argentina |
| Scoring by half: 42-59, 28-62 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 9 21:30
| Mexico | 101–84 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 44−42, 57−42 |||
| Pts: Raga 38 | | Pts: Adornado 17 |
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Referees: David Davidian (USSR), José Baldrich (PUR)
* July 9
| Australia | 102–100 | Argentina |
| Scoring by half: 53-48, 49-52 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 9
| Central African Republic | 70–113 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 32-65, 38-48 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 11
| Australia | 96–67 | Central African Republic |
| Scoring by half: 45-21, 51-46 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 11 11:30
| Philippines | 112–119 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 46−59, 66−60 |||
| Pts: Arnaiz 25 | | Pts: Brabenec 29 |
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Referees: Isaac Grinman (BRA), Obrad Belošević (YUG)
* July 11
| Argentina | 94–96 | Mexico |
| Scoring by half: 46-56, 48-40 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 12
| Mexico | 85–84 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 45-48, 40-36 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 12
| Argentina | 91–113 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 46-65, 45-48 |||
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
* July 12 21:30
| Philippines | 87–86 | Central African Republic |
| Scoring by half: 41−49, 46−37 |||
| Pts: Adornado 22 | | Pts: Gambor 24 |
* Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Referees: Ron Foxcroft (CAN), Manny Reynoso (MEX)

## Final round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Soviet Union (C) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 625 | 509 | +116 | 13 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 629 | 568 | +61 | 13 |
| 3 | United States | 7 | 6 | 1 | 694 | 587 | +107 | 13 |
| 4 | Cuba | 7 | 3 | 4 | 565 | 599 | −34 | 10 |
| 5 | Spain | 7 | 2 | 5 | 556 | 640 | −84 | 9 |
| 6 | Brazil | 7 | 2 | 5 | 522 | 586 | −64 | 9 |
| 7 | Puerto Rico (H) | 7 | 2 | 5 | 568 | 620 | −52 | 9 |
| 8 | Canada | 7 | 1 | 6 | 566 | 616 | −50 | 8 |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Soviet Union 1–1 (1.05 GAvg), Yugoslavia 1–1 (1.00 GAvg), United States 1–1 (0.96 GAvg)
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Spain 2–0, Brazil 1–1, Puerto Rico 0–2
* July 7
| Spain | 71–100 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 37-45, 34-55 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 7
| Brazil | 60–84 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 31-35, 29-49 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 7
| Puerto Rico | 76–94 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 22-52, 54-42 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 8
| Cuba | 83–101 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 44-54, 39-47 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 8
| Canada | 94–115 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 37-55, 57-60 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 8
| Puerto Rico | 86–102 | Spain |
| Scoring by half: 43-50, 43-52 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 9
| Canada | 86–73 | Spain |
| Scoring by half: 52-41, 34-32 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 9
| Yugoslavia | 82–79 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 45-46, 37-33 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 9
| Cuba | 70–83 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 41-47, 29-36 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 9
| Brazil | 73–68 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 34-33, 39-35 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 11
| Canada | 74–75 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 28-32, 46-43 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 11
| Cuba | 66–83 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 36-41, 30-42 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 11
| Yugoslavia | 93–85 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 41-31, 52-54 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 12
| Yugoslavia | 102–99 (OT) | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 53-39, 37-51 Overtime: 12-9 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 12
| Cuba | 84–75 | Spain |
| Scoring by half: 39-38, 45-37 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 12
| United States | 103–83 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 45-32, 58-51 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 12
| Soviet Union | 87–76 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 44-39, 43-37 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 13
| Spain | 93–91 (OT) | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 44-37, 37-44 Overtime: 12-10 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 13
| United States | 91–88 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 41-50, 50-38 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 13
| Soviet Union | 92–60 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 47-29, 45-31 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 13
| Cuba | 97–98 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 43-34, 54-64 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 14
| Spain | 71–79 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 35-37, 36-42 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 14
| Soviet Union | 105–94 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 55-55, 50-39 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 14
| Cuba | 85–80 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 33-54, 52-26 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
* July 14
| Puerto Rico | 79–74 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 37-29, 42-45 |||
* Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
Each team played the other seven once. Since the Soviets, the Americans and the Yugoslavian team each finished with records of 6-1, the medals were "decided on the goal average in the three games among each other." In those three games (Yugoslavia 82, U.S.S.R. 79; U.S. 91, Yugoslavia 88; and USSR 105, U.S. 94), the USSR had outscored its opponents 184 to 176, Yugoslavia was even at 170 for and 170 against, and the U.S. had been outscored 185 to 193.

## Awards

* 1974 World Championship winner
* Soviet Union Second title
* Most Valuable Player
* Dragan Kićanović

## Final standings

| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 8–1 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 6–1 |
| 3 | United States | 8–1 |
| 4 | Cuba | 5–4 |
| 5 | Spain | 4–5 |
| 6 | Brazil | 4–5 |
| 7 | Puerto Rico | 2–5 |
| 8 | Canada | 3–6 |
| 9 | Mexico | 5–2 |
| 10 | Czechoslovakia | 4–3 |
| 11 | Argentina | 2–5 |
| 12 | Australia | 2–5 |
| 13 | Philippines | 2–5 |
| 14 | Central African Republic | 0–7 |

## All-Tournament Team

* Alexander Belov
* Vinko Jelovac
* Wayne Brabender
* Alejandro Urgelles
* Alexander Salnikov

## Top scorers (ppg)

* Arturo Guerrero (Mexico) 27.0
* Manuel Raga (Mexico) 26.1
* Eddie Palubinskas (Australia) 24.8
* Wayne Brabender (Spain) 23.0
* Ernesto Gehrmann (Argentina) 22.3
* Luther Burden (United States) 20.2
* John Lucas (United States) 20.2
* Dragan Kićanović (Yugoslavia) 19.8
* Alejandro Urgelles (Cuba) 19.3
* William Adornado (Philippines) 18.0