Canadian team could feature 8 NBA players for World Cup
VANCOUVER — Canada has invited eight NBA players to its training camp ahead of its upcoming regional FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying games.
A pair of veteran centres — Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kelly Olynyk of the Miami Heat — highlight a list that includes Indiana Pacers guard Cory Joseph and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray. Orlando centre Khem Birch, Golden State forward Chris Boucher, Dallas forward Dwight Powell and Memphis forward Dillon Brooks were also among the 18 invitees to Canada’s camp.
Missing from the list are rising star R.J. Barrett, who is about to embark on his varsity career at Duke University, as well as unavailable NBA players Andrew Wiggins, Trey Lyles, Tyler Ennis and Nik Stauskas.
Former Gonzaga star Kevin Pangos, 2013 first-overall draft pick Anthony Bennett and former Carleton standouts Phil and Tommy Scrubb will also be looking for a spot on Canada’s roster.
Preparations for the World Cup qualifiers include a pair of exhibition games against China, in Vancouver on June 22 and Victoria on June 24.
Canada resumes World Cup qualifying with a first-place showdown against Dominican Republic on June 29 in Toronto, before concluding the first round against the U.S. Virgin Islands on July 2 in Ottawa.
The most notable player not on the list is Wiggins, who was picked first overall in the 2014 NBA draft and went on to win rookie of the year with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rowan Barrett, assistant GM and executive vice-president of Canada Basketball’s senior men’s program, didn’t give a specific reason for Wiggins not being part of the group.
“His initial desire was to play,” Barrett said. “I do think he had some circumstances come up that are going to limit his ability to play for us in June.
“The door is open for September potentially as well.”
Head coach Jay Triano downplayed Wiggins’ absence.
“My goal is to focus on players that are here,” Triano said. “Guys are going to miss for different reasons.”
Triano said the pool of talented players available to him “is deeper than it ever has been.”
“We have more Canadians playing overseas and in the NBA than we’ve ever had before,” he said. “That’s a thank you to the grassroots and what Canada Basketball has done and what the grassroots programs in Canada has done. I don’t see this pool is getting smaller.”