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VICTORIA — Five NBA players highlight Canada’s 12-man roster for the team’s World Cup qualifier Thursday night, Argentina.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph and Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell are among the dozen named after Canada’s camp in Victoria, B. C.
Gilgeous-Alexander made his first national team appearance in six years in the final qualifying window in July. He scored 32 points in a 95-75 win over the Dominican Republic at their Hamilton home field and 24 points in a 113-67 win over the U. S. USA Virgin Islands.
Canada is the only country in the Americas to remain undefeated (6-0) in the first round of the playoffs. Argentina’s record is 5-1.
Zach Edey, Melvin Ejim, Kevin Pangos, Kassius Robertson, Kalif Young and brothers Phil and Thomas Scrubb make up the Canadian lineup.
Eighty countries are betting on six qualifying windows to secure their place among the 30 that will enter Japan and the Philippines in next summer’s FIBA 32-team Basketball World Cup, which is a direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Canada plays on Monday in Panama.
This report through The Canadian Press was first published on August 25, 2022.
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