Canada announced the 12-man roster that will compete in the 6-team Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), tipping-off July 5th in Manila, Philippines — and Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Olynyk and Jamal Murray are all absent.
“Our goal is to qualify for the Olympics,” said JayTriano, head coach. “We are focused on one practice at a time and one game at a time.”
Canada went 4-1 in a European exhibition tournament, taking on China, Croatia, Italy and Puerto Rico. Cory Joseph (Toronto Raptors) and Joel Anthony (Detroit Pistons) joined the group for the June 29th win over Puerto Rico, and Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) met the team in Manila.
Wiggins and Olynyk played at FIBA Americas last summer, but Thompson did not as his free agency status was unresolved.
“We are facing some of the top teams at the qualifier and have prepared by completing a rigorous preparation schedule in Europe,” said Steve Nash, general manager. “We have a tremendous opportunity to achieve an Olympic berth and our players and staff will be doing everything possible to achieve our goal of qualifying for Rio.”
Murray, a one-and-done out of Kentucky who was the No. 7 pick of the Denver Nuggets, had hoped to play but is not on the roster.
“That’s one of my dreams, and that’s something I want to do, so if there’s any way I can go and play in the Philippines or in Rio, I’d like to try and find a way to make it happen,” Murray said at NBA Draft Media Day.
TEAM CANADA OQT ROSTER
| NAME | # | POSITION | HEIGHT | HOMETOWN | TEAM/SCHOOL |
| Shai Alexander | 5 | G | 6’4 | Hamilton, ON | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy |
| Joel Anthony | 15 | F | 6’9 | Montreal, QC | Detroit Pistons |
| Anthony Bennett | 10 | F | 6’8 | Toronto, ON | Toronto Raptors* |
| Khem Birch | 9 | F | 6’9 | Montreal, QC | Olympiakos |
| Melvin Ejim | 7 | F | 6’6 | Toronto, ON | Reyer Venezia |
| Tyler Ennis | 11 | G | 6’2 | Brampton, ON | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Brady Heslip | 12 | G | 6’2 | Burlington, ON | Pallacanestro Cantu* |
| Cory Joseph | 6 | G | 6’3 | Pickering, ON | Toronto Raptors |
| Levon Kendall | 14 | F | 6’10 | Vancouver, BC | Movistar Estudiantes* |
| Philip Scrubb | 4 | G | 6’3 | Richmond, BC | Fraport Skyliners |
| Thomas Scrubb | 8 | G | 6’6 | Richmond, BC | Giessen 46ers |
| Tristan Thompson | 13 | C | 6’9 | Brampton, ON | Cleveland Cavaliers |
*2015-16 Team.
