There are many descriptive studies about the physiological, anthropometrical and neuromuscular profile of top level basketball players. These articles describe players from different countries with tradition in basketball, Serbian, French players and also from countries where basketball is not a traditional sport, such as Indian players. However, there is no scientific data comparing players from different countries with different level of performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the differences between two teams of top level basketball one month before starting either the European or the World Championship, in relation to discriminate physiological, antropometrical and neuromuscular capacities. Subjects: 27 senior male basketball players [Croatia nacional team (Cro), n=14 and Japan national team (Jap), n=13] were volunteered for the study. Methods: All measurements were performed with the same equipment. Antropometric characteristics [(Weight (W); Height (H); Body fat: Jackson, et al. (1980)]], Neuromuscular capacities [Countermovement Jump test (CMJ); Abalakov Jump (AB) and Squat Jump (SJ), Max Speed test (MST), Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2 máx)] and Flexibility (FX) were measured. Results: We have found significant differences between teams in H [Cro: 2.01 ± 0.8 cm vs. Jap: 1.91 ± 0.8 cm; (p<0.05)], and in W (Cro: 102.94 ± 13.5 kg vs. Jap: 88.00 ± 13.2 kg; (p<0.05)]. Equally, the statistical analysis described significant differences between groups in the neuromuscular capacities [(CMJ) (Cro: 36.30 ± 3.9 cm vs. Jap: 33.60 ± 4.3 cm; (p<0.01)], [(AB) (Cro: 61.73 ± 5.7 cm vs. Jap: 57.31 ± 4.4 cm; (p<0.05)], [(SJ) (Cro: 47 ± 2.3 cm vs. Jap: 44.6 ± 3.8 cm; (NS)] and MST (Cro: 17.04 ± 1.4 m/sg vs. Jap: 18.19 ± 1.4 m/sg; (p<0.1)]. Cro presented higher values in neuromuscular capacities (CMJ, AB and MST). [(FX) (Cro: 17.1 ± 3.2 cm vs. Jap: 18.3 ± 4.4 cm; (NS)]. No significant differences between teams were found in VO2 máx, SJ and FX. Conclusion: The Croatian players are higher and heavier than the Japanese, as well as explosive and fast with highest values in neuromuscular variables. There was no difference between groups, either in aerobic capacity or the flexibility test.
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