 Rambai muchinyora ndima iyi - The Basketball World Cup yave iripo mumhando dzakasiyana-siyana mumakore ose aya, sezvo yakawedzera uye yakabvumirana pakati pezvikwata gumi kusvika makumi maviri nemana. Mutambo wokutanga, muna 1950, wakatanga nemakwikwi gumi-elimination tournament, achiteverwa nemakwikwi matanhatu-elimination round kuti asarudze shasha. Pakati pa1954 na1974, makwikwi ose akatanga nechikamu cheboka rokutanga; zvikwata zvepamusoro muboka rimwe nerimwe rokutanga zvakapfuurira kune boka rekupedzisira re round robin kuti rione shasha. Muna 1978, FIBA yakawedzera mutambo wemenduru yegoridhe pakati pevatambi vaviri vepamusoro muboka rekupedzisira uye mutambo wemenduru yendarira pakati pevatambi vechitatu neyechina. Mugore rimwe nerimwe pakati pa1959 na1982, chikwata chakatambira chakapinda muboka rekupedzisira. Pamapoka manomwe akanga aripo panguva iyi, matatu chete ndiwo akahwina menduru, pasinei nokutanga kwakanaka. Somugumisiro, FIBA yakaita kuti chikwata chinogamuchira chikwikwidzane mumutambo wokutanga kutanga muna 1986. 