Canadian men's basketball team named for Olympic qualifier
Canada Basketball announced the 12-man roster for the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship, which will take place in Mexico City from Aug. 31-Sept. 12.
The senior men's national team is attempting to qualify for the Rio Olympics next summer. The last time the Canadian men took part in an Olympics was at the 2000 Sydney Games, where a Steve Nash-led squad finished seventh.
"I'm pleased with the team's progress," said head coach Jay Triano after the team went 4-0 in the Tuto Marchand Continental Cup in San Juan, Puerto Rico in August. "We showed toughness and willingness to win."
"We still have things to work on and continue to prepare for the real test in Mexico — qualifying for the Olympics."
Canada begins play against Argentina on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will continue preliminary action in Group B by taking on Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
The first and second place teams will earn a berth in the 2016 Games.
Complete roster
- Anthony Bennett, 6-8" forward, Brampton, Ont., Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)
- Aaron Doornekamp, 6-7" forward, Odessa, Ont., Braunschweig (Germany)
- Melvin Ejim, 6-6" forward, Toronto, Orlando Magic (NBA)
- Brady Heslip, 6-2" guard, Burlington, Ont., Pallacanestro Cantù (Italy)
- Cory Joseph, 6-3" guard, Pickering, Ont., Toronto Raptors (NBA)
- Andrew Nicholson, 6-9" forward, Mississauga, Ont., Orlando Magic (NBA)
- Kelly Olynyk, 7-0" centre, Kamloops, B.C., Boston Celtics (NBA)
- Dwight Powell, 6-9" forward, Toronto, Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
- Robert Sacre, 7-0" centre, Vancouver, Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
- Phil Scrubb, 6-3" guard, Richmond, B.C., AEK Athens (Greece)
- Nik Stauskas, 6-6" guard, Mississauga, Ont., Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Andrew Wiggins, 6-8" forward, Vaughan, Ont., Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)
Coaching staff
- Jay Triano, head coach
- Dave Smart, assistant
- David Vanterpool, assistant
- Bryan Gates, assistant
- Phil Handy, assistant
