1950 FIBA World Championship explained

Tourney Name:	World Basketball Championship
Year:	1950
Other Titles:	FIBA Campeonato Mundial de Basquetebol Masculino de 1950
City:	Buenos Aires
Country:	Argentina
Dates:	22 October – 3 November
Opened:	Juan Perón
Num Teams:	10
Venues:	Luna Park Stadium
Champion:	Argentina
Count:	1
Second:	United States
Second-Flagvar:	1912
Third:	Chile
Fourth:	Brazil
Fourth-Flagvar:	1889
Games:	31
Mvp:	Oscar Furlong
Top Scorer:	Álvaro Salvadores (13.8 points per game)
Nextseason:	1954

The 1950 FIBA World Championship, also called the 1st World Basketball Championship – 1950, was the inaugural edition of the World Cup basketball tournament for men's national teams. It was held by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), from 22 October to 3 November 1950. Argentina hosted the competition at Luna Park in Buenos Aires, where ten nations participated in the event.

Argentina claimed the gold medal, by beating the United States 64–50 in the decisive game of the final round. After winning the tournament, Argentinian fans celebrated by burning newspapers which became known as the "Night of the Torches".^[1]

Host and venue

In the aftermath of World War II, Argentina was chosen as host of the inaugural World Cup partly because of its neutrality during the war.

Competing nations

FIBA determined the requirements to qualify for the World Championship to be as follows:

The top three teams in the previous Olympic tournament (the United States, France and Brazil).
The top two teams from the previous South American Championship (Uruguay and Chile).
The winner of EuroBasket 1949 (Egypt).
The top team in Asia (South Korea).
The host country (Argentina).

Prior to the Championship, South Korea withdrew due to logistical and financial difficulties in travelling to Argentina, while Uruguay withdrew after Argentinian immigration officials refused the team visas to enter the country.

Subsequently, FIBA extended invitations to Ecuador, Yugoslavia, Spain, and Peru.

Preliminary rounds

First phase

Egypt and Peru advance to the second preliminary phase.
Ecuador and Yugoslavia advance to the first repass round.

Second phase

Argentina, Brazil, Egypt and USA advance to the final round.
Chile and France advance to the first repass round
Peru and Spain advance to the second repass round.

Repass rounds

First phase

Chile and France advance to the second phase.
Ecuador and Yugoslavia are relegated to the classification round.

Second phase

Chile and France advance to the final round.
Peru and Spain are relegated to the classification round.

Awards

Argentina won its first-ever World Cup, and Oscar Furlong was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Furlong averaged a team-high and 11.2 points during the tournament, fourth highest of all players.

All-Tournament Team