Hoop dreams
There’s a lot to consider in picking players for Paris
As the men’s basketball tournament draw for the Paris Olympics arrives Tuesday, the scrutiny on the Canadian roster will be more intense than ever.
Will Jamal Murray be healthy? Does Andrew Wiggins fit? Is there a need for Tristan Thompson? What about the next era of Canadians?
All legitimate questions, which speaks to the daunting task of building a program to compete against the best for years, not just this summer.
Murray’s case is simple: If he’s healthy, he’s in. But he’s dealing with shin splints already this season with Denver, and if the Nuggets have a long playoff run, it’s impossible to predict the toll on his body. There are those in the highest levels of Canada Basketball wondering about that right now.
Wiggins’ status is more complicated. One of the most delicate balancing acts Canada Basketball faces is keeping commitments to a core group that signed up for a three-year hitch to start this entire process.
Wiggins played in the 2020 Olympic qualifier in Victoria, B.C. and also in Mexico in 2015. But when asked to commit through 2024, he declined.
Can Canada Basketball go back on its word of “commitment asked, commitment given”?
A handful of players from that original summer — Oshae Brissett, Khem Birch, Cory Joseph and Kevin Pangos — are not seen as selections now because of circumstances ranging from diminished skill to health to a true commitment to show up in the threeyear intermediate period.
Even if a spot opens for Wiggins, would there be a significant role for him on a team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, maybe Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Luguentz Dort?
Role is the only reason that Thompson’s name has even been bandied around. The team is terribly small, and a big veteran defender might come in handy in the odd game.
One close observer of the team said “you need towel-wavers” as much as stars when the discussion got around to Thompson, because with a maximum of six 40-minute games spread out over almost two weeks,
there will be a rotation of eight — maybe nine — players for the tournament. Would Thompson accept a mainly non-playing role?
General manager Rowan Barrett and head coach Jordi Fernández have to be mindful of the delicate balance of personalities living in close quarters for more than a month.
There are young Canadians making their way in the NBA that would seem to be candidates for the national senior team. But these are not Tuesday nights in January at Memphis or Washington.
The Olympics and World Cup are contested by the best grown-ups on Earth, often with years of experience behind them. They know all the tricks and all the stuff they can get away with.
A perfect world would see young players Shaedon Sharpe and Bennedict Mathurin (he would have garnered some interest this summer had he not been injured) and Leonard Miller and Olivier-Maxence Prosper serve as a taxi squad and be ready for Los Angeles in 2028.
One thing is certain: When the draw is made Tuesday, fans — and scouts, coaches, agents and families — will all have opinions about who should be picked and who should be left out in pursuit of a medal.
Here is my vote for the Canadian men’s team in Paris, broken down into certainties, who should it make and other considerations.
Eight locks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander He was one of the first NBAers to commit for three summers. He’s morphed into the team’s leader and best player.
RJ Barrett It’s going to be an emotional family time when RJ plays in Paris and, with his dad, Rowan, becomes the only father-son duo in Canadian basketball history.
Kelly Olynyk The first time Olynyk played for the senior team was at the 2010 world championships in Turkey when Canada went 0-5. It’s been a long journey for the team captain.
Dillon Brooks If there’s a Canadian team best fit for the FIBA style, it’s Brooks. He’s tough, loves to defend and can be a lights-out three-point shooter.
Luguentz Dort A lockdown defender, the Montrealer has the physical attributes to dominate games without hitting a shot.
Dwight Powell Another veteran who has answered the country’s call for more than a decade. He’s got the toughness that allows him to play bigger than he is.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Another program staple and a proven perimeter defender who’s going to be asked to play lockdown defence at key times.
Mel Ejim He is universally respected by his teammates and coaches. He’s not going to be a rotation staple but his impact in the locker room and on the bench will be invaluable.
Our last four
Jamal Murray He’d be a lock if not
for concerns about his health. But Murray wants to play and there are no injuries right now.
Andrew Nembhard At some point Canada Basketball is going to start grooming its next wave. What better way than having a good young guard around soaking up experience?
Kyle Alexander Teams need players who are accepting of limited roles. Alexander can play but his experience and the way he handles himself may be more important.
Phil Scrubb All 12 guys aren’t going to play. And if Canada Basketball wants to keep its word and reward one of the guys who shows up every single time he is asked, he has to fill out the roster.
In the mix
Andrew Wiggins Wiggins has played in the past and expressed a desire to play again. But how would he fit, and will his lack of commitment hurt his chances?
Tristan Thompson Canada doesn’t have size and Thompson’s big. But he hasn’t played in months because an NBA drug suspension and hasn’t played in FIBA for half a decade.
Shaedon Sharpe If they’re getting a taxi squad ready for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, that’d be a spot for him. But they aren’t.
Trey Lyles Don’t overlook his past with the program or his ties with coach Fernández but a lot of other things would have to fall just right .
Trae Bell-Haynes He has been a valuable soldier for the program for years and deserves all the accolades and respect. But it ends at a spot in a 12-man Olympic roster.
Zach Edey Realistically, it’s going to be hard to convince his NBA employer to let a key rookie go to primarily sit on the bench for his country.