After announcing themselves on the world stage last year by beating Team USA in the men’s FIBA World Cup, Team Canada is having its best run in program history. With Canada winning its first medal at the World Cup, it guaranteed its spot at the Olympics in France. Making it the first Olympics Canada has qualified for in over twenty years. Team Canada has already punched its ticket to the quarterfinals with the Olympics underway after their win yesterday over Australia and improving to 2-0 in group play. If Team Canada makes it past the quarterfinals, it would guarantee the program’s best finish at the Olympics since 1936.
Entering The Golden Age of Canadian Basketball
Like Farther Like Son
RJ Barrett has been a staple of the Canadian national team since childhood. His father, Rowan Barrett, played for Canada 24 years ago at the Sydney Olympic Games, wearing number nine. RJ Barrett has built his own legacy with Team Canada, going back to his time with the U19 team. Barrett led Canada’s team to gold in the U19 World Cup in 2019, winning tournament MVP.
Now, all these years later, RJ Barrett is wearing his dad’s number as he helps lead Team Canada in France. Barrett has spoken about how much it means to him to be able to wear his dad’s number and represent his country. Barrett has represented Canada well, scoring 47 points on 27 shots in his first two games.
New Wave Of Canadian Stars
Canada has begun to enter a golden age in the development of its national team, with the country finally being able to attract its top-end talent. It started in 2022, with players having to make a three-year commitment to the team. The long-term commitment helped to attract players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, and Dillon Brooks. All of whom had been away from the program for years. The ask for long-term commitment came after Canada failed to qualify for the Toyko Olympics. A few players could not make the commitment, including Andrew Wiggins and Zach Edey. However, with Canada making the Olympics, both players were offered a chance to make the roster. Unfortunately, Wiggins is not with the team because the Warriors withheld him from playing.
There are more Canadians in the NBA currently than ever before. In addition to the players already with the national team, many budding young Canadian stars are in the NBA. Zach Edey made the three-year commitment to Canada’s national team, but with him being drafted this year, he chose not to compete in France. Edey went ninth to the Grizzlies and dominated the College game the past two seasons. Edey’s presence would have been helpful for Canada’s frontcourt size.
More Canadians have gone in the lottery recently, with Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe selected sixth and seventh in 2022. Both have played for Team Canada, with Mathurin for the Canadian U19 team and Sharpe for the U16 team. With 28 Canadian NBA players, an MVP-caliber player in SGA Team Canada should be a threat on the global stage for years.
