Jamal Murray’s World Cup status is in doubt

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Despite what anyone said publicly, there was always a strong possibility that Jamal Murray would represent Canada at the FIBA ​​Men’s World Championship this summer. It’s rather uncommon for players to play for their country in basketball after serious injuries or extremely long seasons, let alone for players like new NBA Champion Murray to have both a serious injury and an extremely long season behind them.

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And while the door to the Kitchener, Ontario isn’t fully closed yet. Although later this month and into September Murray will form the tournament’s best backcourt in Asia along with Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, history suggests it is highly likely that Murray will ultimately not play this summer.

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Murray attended training camp in Toronto last week but didn’t attend, which was entirely to be expected. Canada Basketball confirmed Monday morning that Murray would not be traveling to Europe for the forthcoming friendlies in Germany and Spain.

“Jamal Murray has not traveled with the team and will not take part in the forthcoming friendlies. He will remain focused on his off-season recovery and a decision on his status for the FIBA ​​Men’s Basketball World Championship will be made at a later date,” Canada Basketball said.

Veteran point guard Cory Joseph (Pickering, Ontario), sniper Kassius Robertson and big man Oshae Brissett, both from Toronto, were also not among the 13 players who traveled to Europe. Brissett will miss the World Cup through injury, while other factors were at play for Joseph and Robertson, who have both been Canada’s mainstays in the past.

“Having spoken to both Cory Joseph and Kassius Robertson after the training camp, it was determined that it would be in the best interests of both players for them not to move onto the next phase of World Cup training and focus on preparing for their upcoming seasons would. said Canadian Basketball.

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The team will play a friendly against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday, after that Basketball Supercup in Hamburg on August 12th and 13th. Canada meets New Zealand, while Germany meet China in the semi-finals on Saturday 12 August and the winners advance to the final on Sunday.

Canada then travel to Spain to take part in a two-game exhibition series (17-18 August) against Spain and the Dominican Republic in Granada.

The 2023 FIBA ​​Men’s Basketball World Championship will be held from August 25th to September 10th. Canada is in Group H and meets France (August 25 – 9:30am ET), Lebanon (August 27 – 5:45am ET) and Latvia (August). 29 – 9:30 a.m. ET) in the group stage in Jakarta.

Canada’s men’s team has not competed in an Olympic Games since Sydney in 2000. This group can get to France either by winning this World Cup or by finishing first or second among teams from America.