Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play for Canada in court named after him in Hamilton
Gilgeous-Alexander to Play in Hometown
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time NBA MVP with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is set to play for Canada in the upcoming FIBA Americas qualifiers. The games will be held at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum, a venue where a basketball court designed in his honour will debut this week. Gilgeous-Alexander became an investor in TD Coliseum earlier this year, supporting his hometown’s development as a sports and entertainment destination. He expressed his commitment to playing for his country, stating that it was a childhood dream.
Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined by fellow Canadian basketball stars Dillon Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The trio spoke at a news conference in Toronto ahead of the training camp for the qualifying games. Despite a demanding NBA season that saw him average 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized his readiness to represent Canada.
Brooks, a small forward for the Phoenix Suns, and Alexander-Walker, a guard for the Atlanta Hawks, also reiterated their commitment to the national team. Alexander-Walker, who is Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin, highlighted the importance of playing at home in front of a local crowd. Brooks, who will co-captain the team with Gilgeous-Alexander, noted that while the logistics of playing are challenging, representing the country is not.
Canada’s Qualification Campaign
The Canadian men’s basketball team is preparing for two crucial qualifying games for the 2027 Basketball World Cup. They are scheduled to face Puerto Rico on Friday and Jamaica on July 6. Canada currently leads Group B with a perfect 4-0 record, with these two games remaining in the qualifying stage. While the team is in a strong position to advance, seeding for the next round remains important, with Brazil and Uruguay also holding 4-0 records, and Mexico and Chile at 3-0.
The 16-player roster for these qualifying games was announced by Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett and head coach Gordie Herbert. In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks, and Alexander-Walker, the roster includes 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.
Coach Herbert stressed the importance of developing a team mentality among the elite individual players. He noted that building team cohesion is a process that takes time. General Manager Barrett urged Canadian basketball fans to attend the games and show their support, emphasizing the rare opportunity for the national team to play on home soil.
Inspiration from Soccer Success
The Canadian basketball stars have also been following the success of the Canadian men’s national soccer team. Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks, and Alexander-Walker all expressed that they found inspiration in the soccer team’s performance at the World Cup. The soccer team advanced to the Round of 16, marking the first time the Canadian men have won a knockout match at the World Cup.
Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the inspiring growth of the soccer program and its players in a short period, stating that it made him proud to be Canadian. Brooks mentioned attending two of Canada’s group-stage soccer matches in Toronto and Vancouver before joining the basketball training camp. He conveyed the widespread support for the soccer team across the country. Alexander-Walker, while admitting limited knowledge of soccer, affirmed his support for Canada.
The soccer team achieved a 1-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday in a Round of 32 match held in Los Angeles. This historic win has provided a boost of national pride, which the basketball team hopes to carry forward in their own qualification efforts. The basketball team’s training camp commenced ahead of their upcoming games against Puerto Rico and Jamaica.
The Canadian men’s basketball team will play Puerto Rico on Friday and Jamaica on July 6 at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum.
Source: cp24.com
