As the Canadian men’s national basketball team look ahead to the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, they already know that they’ll be without one of their most famed players.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was not among the 23-player athlete pool that was announced Monday to be available to compete for Canada over the next Olympic cycle.
Headlining the players included is back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with his Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Luguentz Dort, Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks and other NBA players such as Toronto Raptors wing R.J. Barrett, Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns and brothers Andrew and Ryan Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
Canada will be helmed by head coach Gord Herbert, with a coaching staff that includes Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalehla, Nathaniel Mitchell and Hanno Mottola.
Murray, who was named to his first all-star and All-NBA team this past season, and won an NBA title in 2023, is the most significant omission.
“No, Jamal Murray is not committed to playing in the program going forward,” Canadian men’s national team general manager Rowan Barrett said. “He’s got tremendous desire to play for the country, but sometimes there are things going on with the athletes that prevent them from doing so.”
Other notable omissions from the player pool for Canada are Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies centre Zach Edey.
The athlete pool is committed selection of players who have committed and will be available to Canada Basketball for men’s international competitions between now and through the 2028 Olympics.
This starts with the remainder of the qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Canada currently leads Group B with eight points and is slated to play two more games of qualification on July 3 and 6, hosting Puerto Rico and Jamaica in Hamilton.
The World Cup itself will take place between Aug. 27-Sept. 12, 2027 in Qatar. The event is a key step towards Olympic qualifications as seven teams will directly be qualified into the Los Angeles 2028 Games, in addition to the U.S. as the host nation.