The 1959 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1959, was the eleventh

FIBA EuroBasket EuroBasket, also commonly referred to as the European Basketball Championship, is the main international basketball competition that is contested quadrennially, by the senior men's national teams that are governed by FIBA Europe, which is the E ...

regional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

championship, held by

FIBA Europe FIBA Europe is the administrative body for basketball in Europe, within the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which includes all 50 national European basketball federations. In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIBA Euro ...

. The tournament, which was hosted by

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

, began on 21 May 1959 and concluded with the final on 31 May 1959. Seventeen national teams affiliated with the

International Basketball Federation The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. Originally known as the (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word ''amateur'' from its na ...

(FIBA) entered the competition. Mithat Paşa Stadium,

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

was the location of the event. The

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

claimed their fifth EuroBasket title, while

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

captured the silver, and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

the bronze.

Results

First round

In the preliminary round, the 17 teams were split up into four groups. One of the groups had five teams, with the other three having four each. The top two teams in each group advanced to the final round, while the other nine teams were relegated to classification play.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Classification round 1

The first classification round was played in three round-robin groups. The first place from each group advanced to the second round to define the 9th–11th places, the second from each group, the 12th–14th and the remaining teams, the 14–17th places in the final standings.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Classification round 2

Group 1 (9th–11th Place)

Group 2 (12th–14th Place)

Group 3 (15th–17th Place)

Semi-Final round

The Semi-Final round consisted of two round-robin groups, where the top two from each one advanced to the Final Round to decide the first four places in the final standings, and the remaining teams, the 5th–8th places.

Group 1

Group 2

Final round

*Two groups of four teams determined the 1st–8th places. Results from matches between teams that shared a group in Semi-Final round were carried over to this round (i.e. Soviet Union vs. Hungary, France vs. Czechoslovakia, etc.).

Group 1 (1st–4th Place)

Group 2 (5th–8th Place)

Final standings

Team rosters

1. Soviet Union:

Jānis Krūmiņš Jānis Krūmiņš (30 January 1930 – 20 November 1994) was a Soviet- Latvian professional basketball player. Helped by his height (about 220 cm, or 7'3"), he was the first giant center that dominated under European baskets, for years. As ...

Gennadi Volnov Gennadi Georgievich Volnov (russian: Геннадий Георгиевич Вольнов, November 28, 1939 – July 15, 2008) was a Russian basketball player who played for the senior Soviet Union national basketball team from the late 1950 ...

Maigonis Valdmanis Maigonis Valdmanis (September 8, 1933 – October 30, 1999) was a Soviet and Latvian basketball player and coach. He was born in Riga. He played for Rīgas ASK and won three Euroleague titles (1958, 1959, 1960) and four Soviet national league c ...

Valdis Muižnieks Valdis Muižnieks (February 22, 1935 – November 29, 2013) was a Latvian basketball player. Muižnieks was born in Riga. He played for Rīgas ASK and won 3 Euroleague titles (1958, 1959, 1960) and 4 Soviet national championships (1955, 1956 ...

Viktor Zubkov Viktor Alekseyevich Zubkov ( rus, Ви́ктор Алексе́евич Зубко́в, p=ˈvʲiktər ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ zʊpˈkof; born 15 September 1941) is a Russian civil servant, politician and businessman who served as the 36th Pr ...

Arkady Bochkarov Arkady (russian: Арка́дий, Arkadiy) is a Slavic masculine given name, ultimately derived from the Greek name Αρκάδιος, meaning “from Arcadia”. The Latin equivalent is Arcadius. Notable people with the name include: People: *Ar ...

Yuri Korneev Yuri Korneev (March 26, 1937 in Moscow, Soviet Union – June 17, 2002), was a Russian basketball player.

Guram Minashvili Guram Minashvili ( ka, გურამ მინაშვილი; 25 November 1936 – 1 March 2015) was a Georgian basketball player who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpic ...

, Mikhail Semyonov, Aleksandr Petrov,

Vladimir Torban Vladimir Aleksandrovich Torban (russian: Владимир Александрович Торбан; 10 December 1932 – 19 August 2011) was a Soviet basketball player. He trained as a tennis player in the 1940s and only in the 1950s started playin ...

Mikhail Studenetski Mikhail Vladimirovich Studenetsky (russian: Михаил Владимирович Студенецкий; 6 March 1934 – 1 March 2021) was a Soviet basketball player. Biography Studenetsky was a point guard of the Soviet team between 1954 and ...

(Coach:

Stepan Spandaryan Stepan Surenovich Spandaryan ( hy, Ստեփան Սուրենի Սպանդարյան, russian: Степан Суренович Спандарян; April 2, 1906, Moscow - 1987, Moscow) was a Soviet-Armenian basketball player, coach, one of the founde ...

) 2. Czechoslovakia:

Jiří Baumruk Jiří Baumruk (27 June 1930 – 23 November 1989) was a Czech professional basketball player and coach. Club career Baumruk spent his club career playing with Slavia Prague (1952–1953), and namely with Sparta Prague (1950–1951, 1954–1964 ...

František Konvička František Konvička (born August 11, 1938 in Okříšky, Czechoslovakia) is a former Czech professional basketball player and coach. At 6'3 " tall (1.92 m), he played at the small forward position. Playing career Club career Konvička spent his ...

, Bohumil Tomášek,

Miroslav Škeřík Miroslav Škeřík (14 October 1924 – 11 January 2013) was a Czech professional basketball player. At 6'5 " (1.97 m) tall, he played the center position. He was the top scorer of EuroBasket 1955, averaging 19.1 points per game. Club playing ca ...

Jaroslav Šíp Jaroslav Šíp (24 November 1930 – 6 November 2014) was a Czech basketball player and coach. He was voted to the Czechoslovakian 20th Century Team in 2001. Playing career Club career During his club playing career, Šíp won five Czecho ...

Boris Lukášik Boris Lukášik (born 24 February 1935) is a Slovak basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII ...

, Jaroslav Křivý,

Dušan Lukášik Dušan Lukášik (28 May 1932 – 3 September 2010) was a Slovak basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics. See also *Czechoslovak Basketball League career stats leaders Czechoslovak Basketball Lea ...

, Zdeněk Rylich, Jiří Šťastný,

Jaroslav Tetiva Jaroslav Tetiva (alternate spelling: Tětiva; 4 February 1932 – 2 March 2021) was a Czech basketball player. He was voted to the List of the best Czech basketball players of the 20th century, Czechoslovakian 20th Century Team in 2001. With th ...

, Bohuslav Rylich (Coach: Gustáv Herrmann) 3. France:

Henri Grange Henri Grange (born 14 September 1934) is a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially know ...

Robert Monclar Robert Monclar (13 August 1930 – 4 December 2012) was a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics, the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Gioc ...

Maxime Dorigo Maxime Dorigo (born 2 September 1936) is a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Ol ...

Philippe Baillet Philippe Baillet (6 October 1940 – 5 January 2015) was a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics. References

1940 births 2015 deaths French men's basketball players Olympic baske ...

Christian Baltzer Christian Baltzer (born 5 July 1936) is a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known ...

, Andre Chavet, Jerome Christ,

Jean-Claude Lefebvre Jean-Claude Lefebvre (11 January 1933 – 14 October 2014) was a French bicycle racing, racing cyclist. He rode in the 1959 Tour de France. References

1933 births 2014 deaths French male cyclists Place of birth missing {{France-cycl ...

Bernard Mayeur Bernard Eugène Mayeur (23 February 1938 – 11 January 2004) was a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially know ...

, Michel Rat,

Lucien Sedat Lucien is a male given name. It is the French form of Luciano or Latin ''Lucianus'', patronymic of Lucius. Lucien, Saint Lucien, or Saint-Lucien may also refer to: People Given name * Lucien of Beauvais, Christian saint *Lucien, a band member ...

Henri Villecourt Henri Villecourt (born 19 March 1938) is a French basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics. References

1938 births Living people French men's basketball players Olympic basketball players for ...

(Coach:

Robert Busnel Robert Busnel (19 September 1914 – 15 March 1991) was a French professional basketball player, coach, and administrator. During his playing career, the 1.92 m (6'3 ") tall Busnel, played at the power forward position. He was made an Officer of ...

) 4. Hungary:

János Greminger János Greminger (5 May 1929 – 17 October 2009) was a Hungarian basketball player. He was born in Szeged. Hungarian national team Greminger was a member of the senior men's Hungarian national basketball team. He was a part of the Hungaria ...

Tibor Zsíros Tibor Zsíros (30 June 1930 – 13 February 2013) was a Hungarian basketball player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics. A native of Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the cap ...

László Bánhegyi László Bánhegyi (17 January 1931 – 24 December 2015) was a Hungarian basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estiv ...

Tibor Czinkán Tibor Czinkán (10 August 1929 – 20 December 2013) was a Hungarian basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially kn ...

László Gabányi László Gabányi (15 May 1935 – 16 June 1981) was a Hungarian basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics. References External links

* 1935 births 1981 deat ...

János Simon János Simon (; 1 March 1929 – 31 October 2010) was a Hungarian basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and 1960 Summer Olympics. He was born in Budapest-Budafok. Simon was part of the Hungarian basketball team, whi ...

, János Bencze, Zoltán Judik, Ottó Temesvári, Miklós Boháty, Árpád Glatz, Merényi (Coach:

János Páder János or Janos may refer to: * János, male Hungarian given name, a variant of John Places * Janos Municipality, a municipality of Chihuahua ** Janos, Chihuahua, town in Mexico ** Janos Biosphere Reserve, a nature reserve in Chihuahua * Janos T ...

) 9. Yugoslavia:

Miodrag Nikolić Miodrag "Sija" Nikolić ( sr-cyr, Миодрaг "Сија" Николић; 22 August 1938 – 17 February 2005) was a Serbian professional basketball player and coach. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Pl ...

Marjan Kandus Marjan Kandus (born 23 September 1932) is a Slovenian former basketball player. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. National team career Kandus was a member of the Yugoslavia national team that competed in ...

, Branko Radović,

Slobodan Gordić Slobodan "Rica" Gordić ( sr-cyr, Слободан "Рица" Гордић; born 28 September 1937)Igor Jelnikar, Matja Dermastija,

Milutin Minja Milutin Minja ( sr-cyr, Милутин Миња) was a Yugoslav basketball player and coach. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Playing career Minja started his basketball career with Radnički Kristal from ...

Ivo Daneu Ivo Daneu (born 6 October 1937) is a retired Slovenian professional basketball player and coach. During his playing career, at a height of 1.91 m (6'3") tall, he played at the point guard and shooting guard positions. He represented the Yugoslavi ...

Nemanja Đurić Nemanja Đurić ( sr-cyr, Немања Ђурић; June 18, 1936), is a Serbian former professional basketball player and former coach. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Early life Đurić was raised in a ...

Radivoj Korać Radivoj Korać ( sr-cyrl, Радивој Кораћ; 5 November 1938 – 2 June 1969) was a Serbian and Yugoslav professional basketball player. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Korać is well-known f ...

Radovan Radović Radovan "Bata" Radović ( sr-cyr, Рaдовaн Рaдовић; 19 January 1936 – 25 August 2022) was a Serbian basketball player and coach. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Playing career Radović playe ...

Boris Kristančič Boris Kristančič (November 21, 1931 – October 29, 2015) was a Slovenian basketball player and coach. He represented the Yugoslavia national basketball team internationally. Basketball career He spent most of his career at the KK Olimpija, AŠ ...

(Coach:

Aleksandar Nikolić Aleksandar "Aca" Nikolić ( sr-cyr, Александар "Аца" Николић; 28 October 1924 – 12 March 2000) was a Serbian professional basketball player and coach. He was also a professor at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Sp ...

)

External links

EuroBasket 1959 archive.fiba.com
{{Eurobasket

1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...

1958–59 in European basketball Sports competitions in Istanbul 1959 in Turkish sport 1959 EuroBasket 1950s in Istanbul May 1959 sports events in Europe