The Canadian team finalizes the squad for the FIBA World Cup 2023: The NBA champion is present
The Canadian men's basketball team has just announced the roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Notably, the appearance of NBA champion, Jamal Murray.
Murray withdrew from the list of competitions in China four years ago, but is guaranteed to participate in the journey in three Asian countries, despite having just gone through a long season.
In the past NBA Playoffs, Jamal Murray shone with an average of 26.1 points and 7.1 assists, along with Nikola Jokic leading the Denver Nuggets to the first championship in the club's history.
Along with Murray on the national team is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Oklahoma City Thunder star just had a phenomenal season averaging 31.4 points per game and was on the All-NBA first team.
The rest of the Canadian team also includes many talented players such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oshae Brissett of the Boston Celtics and RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks. Alongside them are defensive expert Luguentz Dort of the Thunder and Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets.
The North American rep will also need the valuable experience of veterans like Kelly Olynyk, Cory Joseph and Dwight Powell. They even have the best American Student Player of the year 2023 Zach Edey, the 2.24m tall Purdue University striker.
In addition, the Canadian squad also has some Canadian players playing well abroad including Kevin Pangos, Kassius Robertson, brothers Philip and Thomas Scrubb. This summer could be an opportunity for them to score points in the eyes of NBA scouts.
Leading the Canadian team is a familiar face for Jamal Murray: coach Jordi Fernandez. Nick Nurse's successor worked as an assistant coach with Spain from 2017-2019, then assisted coach Mike Brown with Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics, and was assistant coach Denver Nuggets for 6 years, before docked at the Sacramento Kings.
With a quality squad, the Canadian team is expected to improve its performance of ranking 21 in China four years ago, thereby competing for tickets to the Paris Olympics. The North American representative has not left much of an impression on the international scene since winning 7th place at the 2000 Olympics, and this year's young squad has the opportunity to change that face.
The world ranked 15th team will reduce the preliminary list to 12 players when the World Cup kicks off on August 25. They will participate in Group H, competing for the next place with France, Lebanon and Latvia in matches in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Canada Preliminary List for the 2023 FIBA World Cup: Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Oshae Brissett, RJ Barrett, Luguentz Dort, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Cory Joseph, Dwight Powell, Zach Edey, Kevin Pangos, Kassius Robertson, Philip Scrubb, Thomas Scrubb
