Reactions Over Raptors Players Called For Canadian Olympics Basketball Team.
Canada Basketball has announced an impressive group of men who will compete to make a team heading to the Olympics for the first time since 2000.
And compete many of them must, no matter how well-known they are.
That means you, Andrew Wiggins, a one-time all-star and NBA champion. And you, Andrew Nembhard, a standout in the recent NBA playoffs. And Trey Lyles, a veteran who has played for Canada in the past and for head coach Jordi Fernandez in the NBA.
“We’re not giving any spots, regardless of how big the name is that’s coming in, that hasn’t been here,” general manager Rowan Barrett said at a Wednesday media session after the 20-man camp roster was announced.
Here” would refer to the core group that helped Canada win bronze at last year’s FIBA World Cup.
Those players are safe. The group is led by superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just finished second in NBA MVP voting, wings Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, RJ Barrett and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, big men Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell plus Jamal Murray, who has been at camp but unable to compete the previous two years.
They’ll likely comprise eight of the final 12 names heading to Paris. The 7-foot-4 Zach Edey is a wildcard (more on that later). Assuming they are healthy, Wiggins, Nembhard and Lyles should make the cut, despite what Barrett said Wednesday, though they won’t get a cookie just for showing up.
“Whoever’s coming in here, they have to try out for this team. I think Jordi has been very, very clear. You gotta try out,” Barrett said. “And so hopefully everyone will come in healthy, they’ll work as hard as they can. Why should it be any other way?”
It all felt very foreign for long-time observers of the Canadian hoops program. For many years they did everything short of beg for the best and the brightest to show up.
They’ve never had anywhere close to this many elite players want to play. And as Canada Basketball president and CEO Michael Bartlett said Wednesday, the surge of interest has carried beyond the court, too.
Corporate Canada has been stepping up considerably, trying to catch a wave Bartlett says he hopes will echo the ones Vince Carter and the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors brought about in this country.