Country-by-Country International Basketball Rankings, Post-FIBA Americas

The 2013 FIBA Americas Championship is in the books, so it's time to unveil a fresh power rankings of the top international basketball teams.

Mexico's surprising run in Caracas catapulted it to relevance for the first time in decades, as Gustavo Ayon spearheaded upsets over Argentina and Puerto Rico to claim the gold medal.

How did this unlikely outcome effect the world rankings, especially for top seeds Argentina and Puerto Rico?

Where do the top European, Asian and African squads fit into the big picture?

Find out as we break down the top 15 teams on the planet.

*Rankings are based primarily on summer 2013 success and 2014 outlook, rather than 2012 reputation or 2016 Olympic roster projections.

*Statistics gathered from FIBA.com, accurate as of September 12, 2013

15. Croatia

Notable Players: Bojan Bogdanovic, Ante Tomic, Krunoslav Simon 

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Sneaking into our top 15 power rankings is Croatia, who move one spot up from their 2012 FIBA World Ranking. 

Spain thrashed Jasmin Repesa's squad early in EuroBasket 2013, but Croatia regrouped and dispatched four straight Eastern European adversaries. It leans on a high volume of long-range shooting, boasting six different players who are unafraid to fire away at any point in the game. Bojan Bogdanovic and Krunoslav Simon in particular shoot the triple with abundant confidence.

You're not likely to find the next Toni Kukoc on this roster, however the program is back on track after some dark years. Dario Saric's development as a multi-dimensional stretch 4 could lift this team even further in 2014.

14. Dominican Republic

Notable Players: James Feldeine, Francisco Garcia, Jack Martinez

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Orlando Antigua's Dominican Republic crew started off 2013 FIBA Americas play with a roller-coaster 1-2 start, and it looked like its opening win over Argentina might have been a major fluke.

Then it proceeded to rattle off five straight wins, including blowouts against Puerto Rico and Jamaica, along with a well-rounded victory over Canada.

James Feldeine, Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez can torch anyone from deep, and low-post bruiser Jack Michael Martinez cleans up any misses while patrolling the paint. The club utilizes a curl-cut and penetration offense to create space for shooters, and it worked beautifully for much of the summer.

The Dominicans ultimately succumbed to Puerto Rico in the semifinals, but their consolation prize is a trip to Spain in 2014 to compete for the FIBA World Cup.

13. Italy

Notable Players: Marco Belinelli, Alessandro Gentile, Luigi Datome

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Danilo Gallinari's knee prevented him from playing in EuroBasket 2013, but his absence didn't prevent Italy from posting the best record in Group D. 

Much of the team's production comes from two NBA performers: San Antonio Spurs guard Marco Belinelli serves as Italy's top scorer in 2013, while incoming Detroit Pistons rookie Luigi Datome excels as a jump-shooter and strong presence on the glass.

Belinelli and Datome might be the most prominent names on the roster, but the most efficient shooters this summer are Alessandro Gentile and Pietro Aradori, both of whom are shooting better than 50 percent from three-point range.

Italy has not reached the Olympics since it won the silver medal in 2004, and it has not been to the World Championships since 2006. Belinelli's brigade seeks to end both of those droughts.

12. Slovenia

Notable Players: Goran Dragic, Dormen Lorbek, Bostjan Nachbar

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Upsetting Spain wasn't enough to send Slovenia into the top 10, but the Dragic brothers are on everyone's radar.

Goran Dragic is the unquestioned leader on the floor, and he runs a system built to find early triple tries. Domen Lorbek is feasting off these opportunities, but no one else in the lineup is shooting the ball with much consistency.

The Slovenians have had some impressive defensive outings while hosting EuroBasket, but they risked shortening games up and making them too close for comfort against inferior opponents.

Will Dragic's creativity and the squad's size be enough to keep it relevant for the next couple years? Or is this top 15 appearance the highlight of the decade?

11. Angola

Notable Players: Carlos Morais, Reggie Moore, Eduardo Mingas

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

With a dominating championship run in the FIBA AfroBasket 2013 tournament, Carlos Morais and the Angola national team find themselves back in the hunt for an Olympic berth.

The eleven-time African champions regained their top status on the continent after placing second in AfroBasket 2011.

Contributions from power forward Reggie Moore and point guard Armando Costa give the Black Antelopes a balanced effort, but it's the heroics of Morais that make the team so potent. He can drive and finish above the rim with strength and athleticism or burn foes from long distance.

Moving forward, can Angola be more than just a representative of Africa? Can it make a deep run in the 2014 FIBA World Cup?

10. Mexico

Notable Players: Gustavo Ayon, Orlando Mendez, Lorenzo Mata, Paul Stoll

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

For the first time since 1974, Mexico's national basketball outfit has qualified for the World Championships (World Cup).

Gustavo Ayon and Co. were the darlings of the 2013 FIBA Americas tournament. Their second-round win over Puerto Rico sent them to the semifinals (thus giving them one of the four bids to the 2014 World Cup). Then they upended Argentina in the semis and Puerto Rico in the title game to earn the gold medal.

Aiding Ayon, the tournament MVP, was a cast of clutch role players. Paul Stoll used his speed to keep defenses on their heels, while sharpshooters Orlando Mendez and Hector Hernandez drilled triple-tries. In the post, Ayon was supported by Lorenzo Mata, whose defensive awareness and nose for the ball were critical in Mexico's Cinderella run.

If coach Sergio Valdeolmillos can keep this team together for 2014 and beyond, it can do special things, and it probably won't be considered so much of a long shot anymore.

9. Serbia

Notable Players: Nenad Krstic, Rasko Katic, Milos Teodosic, Nemanja Nedovic

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Serbia's attack features a fast pace and NBA-caliber talent in the post and perimeter.

Veteran coach Dusan Ivkovic loves to elevate the tempo of the game, and he makes it work because his bigs can run the floor. Both Nenad Krstic and Rasko Katic move well from end to end and are active in all phases of the game.

The budding star of the group is Golden State Warriors draftee Nemanja Nedovic (pictured), who uses his athleticism and passing skills to run the break.

Shooting consistency has been an issue for the Eagles, and some teams opt to play zone against them to neutralize the inside game. More accuracy from distance and a healthy Milos Teodosic would make Serbia a legitimate European contender.

8. Iran

Notable Players: Hamed Haddadi, Samad Bahrami, Mahdi Kamrany

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

The unstoppable interior work of 7'2" Hamed Haddadi and hot shooting of Samad Bahrami and Hamed Afagh makes Iran the best squad in the world's biggest continent.

Asia isn't known for having too many basketball powerhouses, but Iran's gold medal run through the FIBA Asia Championship in the Philipines is nonetheless impressive. Haddadi owned the paint, grabbing 35 offensive boards throughout the tournament and scoring 18.8 points per game.

On the perimeter, Bahrami and Afagh are always ready to catch and shoot, and they did so with tremendous accuracy during the 2013 FIBA Asia competition. They combined for 27-of-59 (46 percent) shooting from beyond the arc during the nine-game tourney.

Ultra-efficient distributor Mahdi Kamrany is the quarterback who makes everything run smoothly: He dished 59 dimes in the Philipines while committing just 11 turnovers.

7. Australia

Notable Players: Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova

2012 Olympics Result: 7th place (Lost to USA in quarterfinals)

Although much of their NBA talent (Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes) wasn't present for the 2013 FIBA Oceania games, the Australian Boomers are still one of the best non-European squads in the world.

Fueling their attack is electrifying speedster Patty Mills, who is a master at finding the cracks in the defense to drive, shoot or pass the Aussies to victory. He's aided by cagey, skilled southpaw Joe Ingles and bulldog-tough point guard Matthew Dellavedova.

Australia like to establish good ball movement on each possession, utilizing plenty of baseline screens followed by post-ups. On defense, they like to mix in zone when applicable and feast off Mills' quickness.

If Bogut and Baynes return for 2014 play, the Boomers could rank even higher than seventh.

6. Argentina

Notable Players: Luis Scola, Facundo Campazzo, Juan Gutierrez

2012 Olympics Result: 4th (lost to Russia in Bronze Medal Game)

Julio Lamas' Argentinian crew salvaged a bronze medal at the 2013 FIBA Americas championships, but it doesn't resemble the group that competed for Olympic medals over the past decade.

Without veterans Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino, Argentina lacked the scoring versatility necessary to dominate in Caracas.

Fortunately, it had someone to replace Pablo Prigioni: Facundo Campazzo, the shifty playmaker whose 31 points and 11 assists carried the squad past the Dominican Republic in the bronze medal game.

Luis Scola is a familiar face who still thrives in international play with a soft touch around the rim, but he needs help in the rebounding department.

Even if Ginobili returns in 2014, Argentina won't automatically be handed its elite place in the basketball food chain.

5. Puerto Rico

Notable Players: Carlos Arroyo, J.J. Barea, Renaldo Balkman

2012 Olympics Result: Did not qualify

Puerto Rico fell short of the 2013 FIBA Americas crown, but it still had a strong showing this summer and qualified for the 2014 World Cup.

After winning the Tuto Continental Cup championship, J.J. Barea's bunch brought its high-scoring attack to Caracas, where it earned the FIBA Americas silver medal.

Either Barea or Carlos Arroyo is at the controls at all times, so Puerto Rico can constantly knife through defenses and create havoc on every possession. When the two guards aren't breaking free for shots of their own, they're setting up power forward Renaldo Balkman or swingmen Larry Ayuso and John Holland.

Despite the loss to Mexico, Paco Olmos' club is still arguably the best non-USA team in the Americas field and a dangerous wild card entering next summer's competition.

4. France

Notable Players: Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Mickael Gelabale

2012 Olympics Result: 6th place (Lost to Spain in quarterfinals)

France's national team is bestowed with NBA talent (six NBA players on the current roster), including superstar Tony Parker, so it has more than enough ammo to crack the top 10.

Coach Vincent Collet is fortunate to have Parker and top-tier role players on the squad. But oftentimes, France ends up relying on Parker too much, and when he has an off day, it's difficult to win.

Smart utility players like Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw are great defenders, rebounders, cutters and passers. Unfortunately, they struggle to consistently create offense off the dribble and put pressure on elite foes.

France owns size in the post and experience on the wings, but ultimately, it goes as Parker goes.

3. Lithuania

Notable Players: Mantas Kalnietis, Jonas Valanciunas, Linas Kleiza

2012 Olympics Result: 8th place (Lost to Russia in quarterfinals)

When Lithuania is clicking, it lives up to the old medal-caliber Lithuanian squads.

Shortly following the 2012 Olympics, the team lost several core players to retirement, most notably Sarunas Jasikevicius and coach Kestutis Kemzura. Fortunately for reinstated head coach Jonas Kazlauskas, Lithuania is built for sustained success.

Playmaking floor general Mantas Kalnietis is a dual-threat point guard who leads a system predicated on working the ball to the inside, and then hitting timely outside shots.

Lithuania has an exciting mix of athleticism, long-range shooting and strong post play. With skilled wings like Martynas Pocius and Linas Kleiza, and quickly developing bigs like Jonas Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas, the club is primed to make a deep run in the 2014 World Cup.

2. Spain

Notable Players: Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol

2012 Olympics Result: Silver Medal

Spain may have some tough competition in EuroBasket 2013, but it's still the top squad in Europe and the biggest threat to Team USA's throne. 

Even though Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka aren't locks to join the group in 2014, coach Juan Antonio Orenga has loads of proven talent at his disposal.

The core of the team has been together for multiple Olympic runs. Ricky Rubio and Jose Calderon are experienced international floor generals, and they distribute the ball to weapons such as Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Victor Claver. In the post, Marc Gasol serves as a offensive anchor and consistent defender.

Spain was tripped up by Slovenia early in EuroBasket 2013, but regained its footing in ensuing games and reminded everyone why it's the premiere European program.

1. United States of America

Notable Players: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook

2012 Olympics Result: Gold Medal

Nothing changed at the top of the mountain, as Team USA remains the clear-cut team to beat on Planet Earth.

Although Mike Krzyzewski's club didn't compete in international tournaments in 2013, we know that an electric group of young playmakers will join mainstays like Kevin Durant and Kevin Love in 2014 and beyond. The mid-summer mini-camp was an exciting primer for the World Cup roster, as young guns like Kyrie Irving and Paul George showcased their gifts.

As long as the Americans can muster enough manpower in the post, the rest will take care of itself. There's plenty of point guard speed and swingman versatility to go around, so the chief task for Team USA is to secure commitment from players like DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond.