Wolves guard Alexander-Walker named to Canadian Olympic roster – Minnesota News Network

In an announcement made today by Canada Basketball and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker was named to the 2024 Canada Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26-Aug. 11. With the honor, Alexander-Walker becomes the first Timberwolves player to earn a roster spot on Canada Men’s National Team. This will be Alexander-Walker’s first Olympic Games.

Alexander-Walker, who was a member of Canada’s Bronze Medal winning 2023 FIBA World Cup team, finished the tournament with averages of 9.4 points on 39.7% shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. He finished play in the 2023 FIBA World Cup with 20 three-pointers, becoming one of six players at the 2023 World Cup to tally 20+ threes.

The Toronto native completed his fifth season in the NBA, his second with the Timberwolves by appearing in all 82 regular season games (20 starts), playing in all 82 games in a season for the first time in his career. He became the 37th player in team history and first since Taj Gibson, Tyus Jones, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in 2017-18 to play in all 82 games in a season. Alexander-Walker averaged 8.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg and a career-high 2.5 apg, shooting 43.9% from the field and a career-best 39.1% from three.

In the Wolves’ 118-110 win over the LA Clippers on March 12, Alexander-Walker saw 27:37 minutes of action off the bench, finishing with a season-high 28 points on a season-high 9-of-10 shooting, including a season-high-tying 5-of-6 from deep, marking his first 25+ point game of the season (10th career). He joined Naz Reid (3x; MR: March 8, 2024 at Cleveland: 34 points) as the only other Timberwolves player to score 25+ points off the bench in 2023-24. During Minnesota’s 101-90 win vs. the Utah Jazz on Nov. 30, Alexander-Walker added 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-8 from downtown, five rebounds, seven assists and a career-high five steals, marking his first career 20+ point/5+ rebound/5+ assist game. He became just the 13th player in franchise history tally 20+ points/5+ rebounds/5+ assists/5+ steals.

Team Canada officially qualified for the Paris Games after winning the Bronze Medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in September. The Canadian Men will be competing in their 10th Olympic Games and first since the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

As part of Group A, the Canadian men will face Greece on July 27, Australia on July 30 and Spain on Aug. 2 in the first round of the Olympic tournament. The 5-on-5 Olympic basketball group phase will take place in Lille, France, before the tournament moves to Paris for knockout and medal rounds.

(info courtesy of Timberwolves)