Canada aims for Olympic triumph following their inaugural bronze medal win at the Basketball World Cup

Small forward Dillon Brooks expressed that Canada would carry positive momentum into the Paris Olympics next year following their bronze medal win against the United States in the Basketball World Cup. This achievement serves as motivation for both the current team members and those who were not part of the World Cup squad, inspiring them to improve and strive for success in upcoming tournaments.

Amazing team

Canada held the lead for the majority of the game and managed to build substantial double-digit advantages during the first and third quarters. Despite the United States’ Mikal Bridges making a game-tying three-pointer with just 0.2 seconds remaining, Canada regained control during overtime, with key performances from Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised his team’s work ethic and character, emphasizing their collective improvement and the development of a strong team identity. He singled out Gilgeous-Alexander as the World Cup’s MVP.

Bridges acknowledged the challenge of defending Gilgeous-Alexander, describing him as a slippery and exceptional player who knows how to evade defenders effectively.

Fernandez also lauded Brooks’ leadership and impact on the game, emphasizing his contributions in both scoring and defense. Despite being booed by the crowd earlier in the tournament, Brooks received chants of “MVP” from fans during the match against the United States.

Brooks expressed his determination to help his team secure victory after their semifinal loss to Serbia and pledged to bring the same mindset and leadership back to his NBA team, the Houston Rockets.