Fiba makes changes to world basketball tournament

The men’s World Cup of Basketball will skip 2018 and be played instead in 2019, serving as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympics.

The former world basketball championship also will expand from 24 to 32 teams, basketball’s world governing body said Sunday.

Normally played every four years, the next World Cup of Basketball will be held in 2014 in Spain. It will continue to be held every four years starting with 2019.

The winner of the world championship has automatically qualified for the Olympics, but every other team besides the Olympic host had to earn its way through continental tournaments, forcing successful teams to play three consecutive years.

Fiba hopes the changed schedule will address some concerns NBA teams have about wear and tear from too much summer play.