Team Canada men’s basketball team announced a group of players for the national team in the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics, but Jamal Murray was a noticeable omission.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined byThunder teammate Luguentz Dort, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Bennedict Mathurin and his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Any players that could not give a three-year commitment in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics Los Angeles would not be on the national team for those tournaments, according to new rules established by first-year coach Gordie Herbert and general manager Rowan Barrett.
Murray, one of Canada’s best basketball players, was unable to give that commitment, so he’s essentially leaving the team.
“No, Jamal Murray is not committed to playing in the program going forward,” says Canada GM Rowan Barrett, via Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
“He’s got tremendous desire to play for the country, but sometimes there are things going on with the athletes that prevent them from doing so.”
While he previously entered the team’s three-year campaign, Murray only participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics and skipped the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Hebert explained the rule more generally:
“If guys don’t commit this summer, they’re not in.
“To a certain extent, in the past, we used to say with the national team, get our best players to play. It’s not enough,” said Herbert, according to the CBC. “It’s not enough. You need your best group of players to come in to the national team, commit to the program, commit to the time date.
“My definition of commitment is this a player, person who is focused on what he can give. These are the players we want.”
Andrew Wiggins is another name who was not included and will now not play in the World Cup or Olympics.
READ MORE: Jusuf Nurkic Makes Explosive Allegations About Mike Budenholzer