Team Profile: Canada hopeful that NBA stars will lift them to first ever podium finish

JAKARTA (Indonesia) - Of the 32 teams competing at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, there may not be a team with more hype, excitement, and expectations surrounding it than Canada.

At past World Cups, some of Canada's top talents were absent and the team suffered because of it, yet that has changed this summer.

The Roster

Canada have a star-studded preliminary list, one that includes All-NBA First Team guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks star RJ Barrett.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

There are five other NBA players - for a total of seven out of the 15 - including Minnesota Timberwolves' Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks, Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder teammate Luguentz Dort, Utah Jazz's Kelly Olynyk and Dallas Mavericks' Dwight Powell.

Outstanding players in Europe and loyal servants to the national team that were members of the 2019 World Cup team like Melvin Ejim, Kevin Pangos, Phil Scrubb, and Thomas Scrubb are also on the preliminary roster.

With the playmaking and scoring of Gilgeous-Alexander and the all-round, powerful game of Barrett, Canada have arguably the most electrifying, most explosive duo of stars at the World Cup.

The Question

Will Canada at long last reach their full potential at a World Cup now that they have a full complement of top-level talent?

Seeing it in action in preparation games against Germany, New Zealand, China (if they face in the Basketball Super Cup), Spain, and the Dominican Republic, and how all the players mesh together will be the first step on this journey.

Canada did not disappoint in Hamburg, winning the SuperCup Final in overtime against Germany. RJ Barrett poured in 31 points with an amazing 13-14 field-goal shooting display.

The Hope

Canada's players find the chemistry needed to perform at their best, that the stars shine but the rest of the players also reach their full potential. Opponents will devise schemes in a bid to limit the contributions of Gilgeous-Alexander and Barrett, although with these two on the court at the same time, such strategies will be harder to execute.

Other players will have to step up and play quality minutes in a long, hard competitive tournament, like the Scrubb brothers. If Canada play hard, smart and together, they can capitalize on their dream of reaching the podium for the first time. The country has never finished better than sixth at the World Cup, something that happened in 1978 and 1982.

The talent headed to Jakarta will fuel Canada's hopes of not only advancing to the Final Phase but challenging for the title in the Philippines.

The Fear

The pressure of performing on the world stage and particularly in a "group of death," Group H, with France, Latvia, and Lebanon, could prevent Canada from showing their best face. Even with all the talent, Canada may struggle to finish in the top two of Group L and put their bid of reaching the Quarter-Finals in danger. This would leave the country playing in the 17th-32nd Classification Games. A big dream and opportunity would be wasted.

The friendly games are crucial for Canada to gather as much chemistry as possible before the start of the World Cup.

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2022	FIBA AmeriCup	Recife (BRA)	4th
2019	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Beijing (CHN)	21st
2017	FIBA AmeriCup	ARG, COL, URU	8th
2015	FIBA AmeriCup	Mexico City (MEX)	3rd
2013	FIBA AmeriCup	Caracas (VEN)	6th
2011	FIBA AmeriCup	Mar del Plata (ARG)	6th
2010	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Istanbul (TUR)	22nd
2009	FIBA AmeriCup	San Juan (PUR)	4th
2007	FIBA AmeriCup	Las Vegas (USA)	5th
2005	FIBA AmeriCup	Santa Domingo (DOM)	9th

The Poll

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For a deeper look on Canada's journey to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, click here.

FIBA