Virtually all of Canada’s top basketball players elected not to play in September’s FIBA World Cup, including the Mavericks’ Dwight Powell.
It was a decision for most of the players that was based not on lack of want-to, but on logistics and not desiring to go through a rigorous monthlong stretch of training camp and international competition shortly before the NBA opened its training camps.
As a result, Canada did not qualify for the Olympics, finishing 21st in the World Cup.
They will, however, get one last shot to do so – and it will happen on their home turf.