Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will never miss an opportunity to play for Canada.
The two-time NBA MVP was the biggest name added to Canada’s roster for the upcoming FIBA Americas Qualifiers on Monday as the team pushes for a berth in the 2027 men’s World Cup. Hamilton’s TD Coliseum will host two qualifier games when Canada faces Puerto Rico on Friday and Jamaica on July 6.
“Playing for your country is what I dreamed about as a kid,” said Gilgeous-Alexander at a news conference at a downtown Toronto hotel. “Being able to have the opportunity to do this is special, so I just choose the opportunity to do so every single time. It’s that simple.
“If I couldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be here. But I have the opportunity to be here, so I am.”
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season to earn his second consecutive league MVP award. Despite a lengthy playoff run to the Western Conference final with Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander said he was ready to play for Canada.
“Basketball is all of our pride and joy. We have fun playing it,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who was flanked by Canada Basketball teammates Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dillon Brooks. “To be able to do it on this platform with guys we played with growing up, it’s an awesome feeling.
“Super excited and ready to go.”
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Brooks, whose Phoenix Suns were swept out of the first round of the NBA playoffs by Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder, was eager to again represent Canada.
“The logistics are difficult, but being here and playing for your country isn’t,” said Brooks, who will be co-captain with Gilgeous-Alexander. “[After last year] we all had a meeting, and we were all committed, so we all knew what the process was.”
Alexander-Walker, who is Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin, also had a playoff run as his Atlanta Hawks lost to the eventual champion New York Knicks in the first round.
“It’s about commitment,” said Alexander-Walker, who had a career season in Atlanta and earned the NBA’s most improved player award. “I’m committed to playing but also playing at home and playing in front of the home crowd.”
Canada is atop Group B with a perfect 4-0 record with the two games left in the first round of qualifying. Although Canada is in good shape to advance to the second round, seeding is still at stake with Brazil and Uruguay also 4-0 and Mexico and Chile 3-0.
Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett and head coach Gordie Herbert announced the 16-player roster before Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexander-Walker and Brooks took questions from the media.
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Joining Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks and Alexander-Walker on Canada’s roster for the two qualifying games are Charles Bediako, Aaron Best, Khem Birch, Marcus Carr, Kyshawn George, Mfiondu Kabengele, Thomas Kennedy, Leonard Miller, Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard, Kassius Robertson, Jackson Rowe, and Kyle Wiltjer.
“We have a group of elite individuals and a lot of players who can impact the game in different ways, but first and foremost, we need to create a team mentality,” said Herbert. “It just doesn’t happen overnight. It takes some time.
“It’s a process, and that’s what we’re starting with today, and continuing what the players did in the windows.”
Barrett encouraged Canadian basketball fans to buy tickets and show their support.
“We’ve got to fill this stadium,” said Barrett as part of his opening remarks. “Our players are here. We very rarely get opportunities to play in our country, and this is a call to our whole country here, right?
“I don’t want to hear about people sharing [online] ‘I want our players to play’ or ‘they need to show up and play,’ and then, when they do, and they come here, we don’t fill the stadium.”
