TEHRAN – Iran basketball captain Arsalan Kazemi lauded his team’s performance in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, where Team Melli won a bronze medal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kazemi played a key role in helping Iran finish third and spoke about the importance of planning for the future success of Iran’s new generation.

Following the retirement of iconic players, namely Hamed Haddadi, Rouzbeh Arghavan, Samad Nikhkhah Bahrami, and Mehdi Kamrani, Iran face an uphill task in Asia. Nonetheless, players such as Mohammad Amini, Matin Aghajanpour, Sina Vahedi, Navid Rezaeifar, Mohammad Heydari, and Mohammad Rahimi keep Iran’s basketball hopes alive for the future.

“There is no ceiling for the current generation; everything depends on the players’ effort. They should aim higher than bronze and find the best possible clubs to avoid stagnation or reduced playing time due to foreign players. I believe that they have a bright future if they continue to work hard,” Kazemi said in an interview with Tehran Times.

On the question of whether Iran can win a more prestigious medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Kazemi said, “It’s too early to know the participating teams and predict the podium. Since the Asian Games are not governed by FIBA, eligibility and roster rules can differ, and countries are allowed to partake with several foreign players. In a previous edition’s quarterfinal, we lost to the Philippines, and the presence of multiple foreign players influenced the outcome.”

“To win gold in the 2026 Asian Games, Iran must have solid planning and not cut training short before the Games. Proper camps will help players stay in sync and achieve the best possible result in Nagoya,” he concluded.