Paris 2024 basketball: Why Canada’s Olympic team will be the strongest yet

Other NBA talent that Team Canada relied upon during the World Cup—and could call upon again for the Olympics—includes Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks (both of whom are currently competing in the NBA playoffs), and Kelly Olynk of the Toronto Raptors.

These are the makings of an elite international team, but what makes Canada such an exciting prospect at Paris 2024 are the other players who could be part of the squad. 2023 NBA champion Jamal Murray, for example, was due to compete in the Philippines last year but withdrew in August, citing a need for more recovery time following the Denver Nuggets’ run to the title in June. Andrew Wiggins, an NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2022, is another big name, while Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers), Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies), Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers), Trey Lyles (Sacramento Kings) and Cory Joseph (Golden State Warriors) either bring veteran winning experience or youthful potential. 2.24m (7ft 4) Zach Edey, who represented Canada at the World Cup and was named the National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, will likely be a top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft in June.

All of a sudden, deciding who will make the 12-man Canadian team for the Olympics is set to be an arduous task—something that couldn’t be said about this program for a long time.

But in 2024, the message is clear: Team Canada isn’t going to the Games to make up the numbers.

They’re going for gold.