This was a significant achievement for Canadian basketball, marking the first time the basketball team has won a medal at the World Cup.
Canada’s Performance at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a historic event for Team Canada. The men’s national basketball team had its best showing in FIBA World Cup history, coming home with the bronze medal after a 127-118 victory over the United States. This was a significant achievement for Canadian basketball, marking the first time the team has won a medal at the World Cup.
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A Promising Start
Team Canada started the tournament with a strong performance, finishing with a 6-2 record. They took down some powerhouse nations en route to the podium, living up to what many fans believed the national team program was capable of for a long time.
Building a Winning Team
After failing to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Canada Basketball held a press conference in May 2022. The plan was to build a team with chemistry, continuity, and the ultimate goal of qualifying for Paris 2024. As a result, 14 players made a commitment to the national team program for three summers from 2022 through to 2024.
Fast forward 16 months to the FIBA World Cup where Canada not only secured Olympic qualification with a dramatic win over the defending champions from Spain but went on to win its first men’s basketball World Cup medal with a win over the U.S.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite some players withdrawing from the tournament due to injury, the majority of the 14 who committed were with Canada from the start of training camp through to the medal ceremony. They were upset by Brazil to start the second round, putting their qualifying chances in jeopardy. Then, with an Olympic spot hanging in the balance, they were down by 12 points heading into the fourth quarter against Spain. They were able to overcome it all and went on to beat two very good teams in the elimination rounds to come away with bronze.
Key Players
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was one of Canada’s top performers at the tournament. He led his team in efficiency per game (29.0), points per game (23.6), rebounds per game (6.4), and assists per game (5.6). Other key contributors included RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks.
Looking Ahead
The success of Team Canada at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is a promising sign for Canadian basketball. With this historic performance under their belt and an Olympic qualification secured, Team Canada has set high expectations for Paris 2024.
Noah Belanger is a seasoned sports bettor with a decade of experience in the industry. He is the driving force behind the test reports and strategies on the LoonieBet Blog. With a unique perspective, Noah writes from the player's point of view, offering firsthand insights and expertise to help readers make informed decisions.
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