Why Canada Basketball will cut NBA players for Olympics

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It was over a decade ago when Canadian basketball legend Steve Nash held court with the media to reintroduce Jay Triano and to talk about the country’s hoops boom.

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Triano, himself a great player for Canada in his day, was returning for a second stint as head coach of the national men’s team, having previously taken a Nash-led squad to the Olympics in 2000.

At the time, both men mused that a day was coming where the program would be so flush with talent that NBA players would have to be cut from the roster.

“It used to be we had a hard time convincing NBA players to play for our country and now we’re going to have to cut an NBA player,” Triano told reporters in July of 2013. “And it’s still going to be tough to find playing time for players who play in the NBA. And that’s one of the things we’re going to talk about.

“Some of these guys are going to have to make a sacrifice for the team and for their country and take a little bit of a different role than what they maybe expect because of who they are and where they come from.”

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That didn’t quite happen, despite Canada becoming the No. 2 provider of NBA players in the world over the ensuing decade.

While the problems of the past largely were solved — for the most part, the best talent no longer regularly ducked playing internationally for Canada — but injuries, contractual or personal issues prevented Canada from fielding its absolute top men’s squad.

So, there were close calls, in Mexico City in 2015 and at home in Victoria in 2021, but Canada failed to get back to the Olympics until the nation’s best player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dominated last summer’s FIBA World Cup and got a lot of help from NBAers Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, Kelly Olynyk, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dwight Powell, plus assistance from others, to break through to win a bronze medal and qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.

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And, finally, the day appears to have finally arrived where Triano’s prediction will come true. Canadian players will gather for training camp later this month in Toronto with more exceptional players than ever before eager to suit up for their country in Paris.

Seven returnees from last year’s inspiring group (Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks, RJ Barrett, Olynyk, Dort, Alexander-Walker and Powell) should be regarded as locks, if healthy, to make the team.

Each country can field a roster of only 12, so that leaves five spots.

Jamal Murray, the second-best Canadian NBAer, should be healthy for the first summer in years and available, while Andrew Nembhard, coming off a fabulous playoffs for the surprising Indiana Pacers, seems like a perfect fit as a reserve guard.

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Andrew Wiggins, arguably the best player on the 2015 and 2021 Canadian teams, wants to play, as does Trey Lyles, a big man who can stretch the floor and is familiar with head coach Jordi Fernandez, his former assistant coach in Sacramento.

The team’s 7-foot-4 backup centre, Zach Edey, who has been part of this group for years, told us recently he “will be there” and should be if he’s allowed, but he is about to be drafted and it’s rare for incoming rookies to be allowed to play internationally.

Khem Birch, one of the most loyal participants before injuries hit, is healthy again and keen on playing too and fellow veterans Cory Joseph (Canada’s captain before Olynyk) reportedly has said he intends to be at camp. Joseph’s long-time friend Tristan Thompson might want to be there, too.

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Portland high-flyer Shaedon Sharpe has expressed interest and up-and-comer Leonard Miller, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was at camp last year and should be again.

We haven’t even mentioned yet the veterans currently playing in Europe who helped get Canada to the World Cup and beyond. Heart-and-soul guys such as Melvin Ejim, Phil Scrubb and Trae Bell-Haynes, amongst others. It’s hard to see Ejim, in particular, being left off the roster after all he has contributed and with his leadership qualities, whether he is on the court or watching from the bench.

Fernandez indicated in a Friday morning interview with Sportsnet 590 that Canada won’t simply feature the most talented 12 players.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about you, it’s about the team,” Fernandez told Sportsnet. “This year, we’ll have more names on that list, and the main goal is the same thing. If we can improve the team we will, we can improve the roster, but the main priority for us will be the team.

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“And that doesn’t mean we’re just going to bring the best individuals, we’re going to bring the best players that will make the best team.”

The hard choices may not have come as soon as expected for Canada, but they are here now.

@WolstatSun

CANADA BASKETBALL ROSTER CHOICES

PROJECTED LOCKS

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Jamal Murray

Dillon Brooks

Lu Dort

RJ Barrett

Kelly Olynyk

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Andrew Nembhard

EXPECTED NBA PLAYER INVITES

Zach Edey

Andrew Wiggins

Trey Lyles

Cory Joseph

Tristan Thompson

Shaedon Sharpe

Leonard Miller

Oshae Brissett

EUROLEAGUE MAINSTAYS

Khem Birch

Melvin Ejim

Phil Scrubb

Trae Bell-Haynes

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