During training camp for the FIBA World Cup, the Canadian mҽn concentrated on their individuality and came out on top.

The promises to Canada have been made; now comes the work of creating the proper sense of self.

Training camp for the FIBA Mҽn’s Basketball World Cup got underway for the Canadian senior mҽn’s squad at the OVO Athletic Centre on Tuesday afternoon. From August 25th through September 10th, competitors will battlҽ it out for a chance to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

“We have to build an identity as a group and that doesn’t happen overnight,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez, who took over on June 27. As the team’s captain, I can say, “I think if you see, not just the commitment, but the sacrifice that these guys are making, it means a lot for what we are trying to do.”Fernandez, an assistant coach with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, elaborated, saying, “Plain and simple, we want to be a competitive group, we want to be selfless, and we want to be connected.” We have a lot of potential here, and if others think we have it, we’re going to be very successful.

Only 10 of the 18 NBA players on the training camp roster were there on Tuesday, but they included stars like Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and Oklahoma City Thunder all-NBA first teamer and all-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“It’s awesome to see everybody show up, ready to work, egos aside, everybody’s locked in on the goal to win, compete for our country,” said Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell. And there’s a different vibe when everyone comes prepared.

You can sense it throughout the structure. It’s a very interesting development.

The mҽn’s national team last competed at the Olympics in 2000. Canada just needs to place first or second among the seven teams from the Americas to qualify for the Olympics, but they fell just short in the last quadrennial after losing in the semifinals to the Czech Republic at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying event in Victoria in July. The 15th-ranked Canadians kιck off Group H action against France on August 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia, followed by matches against Lebanon on August 27 and Latvia on August 29.

Manila, Philippines will host the finals.

When asked what the squad was capable of, Gilgeous-Alexander replied, “anything we put our minds to.” We have enough talent, that’s for sure. It’s not about winning or losing, but about working together and developing friendships both on and off the court.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Powell, and fellow NBAers Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Oshae Brissett, Cory Joseph, and Kelly Olynyk were all key contributors as Canada went 9-0 in qualification for the World Cup in 2022.

NBA players RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Luguentz Dort, and Khem Birch were also present at camp, although unlike Murray, they did not participate in any games.

Fourteen members of the current squad have already committed to the national team for the next three years (as of May 2022).

According to Gilgeous-Alexander, “there’s definitely a culture that we’re starting to build,” which is why everyone is so dedicated to the project. These are the same men who have been playing together for years.

And that’s why the top teams in other countries are so well-connected on the court: they’ve been playing together for years. And all we’re trying to do is make things fair.

Fernandez isn’t making any excuses for his team’s lack of readiness ahead of their first exhibition game on August 9 against the Germans in Germany. Camp concludes on Sunday.

A former coach for Canada, Nick Nurse, stepped down, and he was offered the job. “Obviously I had an unbelievable opportunity knock on my door and it was a no-brainer for me,” he said.

I have competed in the FIBA basketball tournament, the EuroBasket championship, and the Olympics, so it is a great honor for me to bring the sport to this country and help this program reach its full potential and become rated first.

This is our ultimate aim. Nothing of this significance is achieved overnight, but if we put in the effort every day and value developing our sense of self, we will succeed.

The Canadian Press initially released this story on August 1, 2023.