ORLANDO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) – Canada’s future is bright and Americas Qualifiers already gave a glimpse of what the future may hold for Team Canada.

Following impressive showings in the first four games of the qualifiers, the Canadians may add power, energy and talent for the June-July window with the inclusion of players that haven’t participated in the Road to China 2019.

"I really want to play this summer for the national team. It’s something that I really want to do and I have been thinking a lot about helping the guys qualify for the next FIBA Basketball World Cup. I love to represent my country and I want to wear the national team jersey again this summer."BirchBirch

Khem Birch reached the top of his game in the Orlando Magic and now wants to put-on the Canadian jersey once again for the next window when Canada hosts the Dominican Republic on June 29 and the Virgin Islands on July 2.

FIBA.basketball caught up with Birch for a wide-range interview.

You are a ‘blue-collar’ player, a team player who brings energy and defense on the court…
I play basketball because it is the sport I love. I always try to have an impact on the court every time I play, and to impact the team in a way or another, but always positively. I don’t mind doing the ‘dirty work’, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, defending hard, that is very important on a team, that is one of the keys of success for every team. We have plenty of talented players in the national team, that is such a great generation of players coming up and I want to help the national team keep growing and improving.

Have you followed Canada’s campaign so far in the qualifiers for the FIBA World Cup 2019?
I couldn’t watch the games but I checked the results and the stats to see what the guys did in the first games. Being with 3 wins and only one loss so far is pretty good, and we would like to win the last two games of the first round in order to get in the best position for the second round. Dominican Republic did beat us, but we want to win at home and see if we can finish in the first place of the group. I have been talking to some of the guys of the team and they feel that the team has been playing very well so far.

Are you planning on playing this summer?
Oh yes, I really want to play this summer for the national team. It’s something that I really want to do and I have been thinking a lot about helping the guys qualify for the next FIBA Basketball World Cup. I love to represent my country and I want to wear the national team jersey again this summer. I have done it for the first time when I was a teenager and really love to be in the national team, representing the whole country at international level. My career isn’t only about the team that I play for during the season; it is also about playing for the national team.

The last two games of the first round for Canada are going to be at home. How important and impactful is it to be playing in front of the home crowd?
It’s a so great and those are going to be two very good games. We have to win both of them and show good basketball to our fans. I am sure it is going to be a very nice crowd and we are going to feel a great support from our fans. The game against Dominican Republic is going to be key, as we would like to beat them and reach the top spot of the group. Canada is building a great culture of basketball and I am sure that the arena is going to be packed for those two games. Playing at home is always great, as you get that extra push, that extra energy from the crowd that cheers for you and for your team to win. That can be a difference maker in a game.

Everybody speaks about the bright future of Canada, with so many talented players like Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray, and the new phenomenon, R.J Barrett….
What’s happening in Canadian basketball right now is just amazing. We have so many talented players who are having great careers in the NBA, but also in the top European leagues, and so much young guys coming up, like R.J Barrett for example, that will have great and successful careers. The guys that are playing in the qualifiers for example are doing an amazing job; they show that they are super competitive players. The future of the national team is bright, and we want to bring Canada’s national team to the highest level. It is good because it also helps and motivates kids to play basketball, so I think that this dynamic will keep going for a long time. We have tons of guys that can play for the national team, great veterans such as Tristan Thompson and Corey Joseph, which makes it a good mix of youth and more experienced players.

Do you want to be part of this ambitious project going on for the national team?
Oh yes, absolutely. I am excited because we can build such a great national team and I want to be part of it. We have the potential to build a great present and future for Canada’s basketball and try to fight for medals and titles, so yes, I want to be part of the national team and help my teammates.

If Canada qualifies for the next World Cup, what would be the goal for you guys in China 2019?
The goal would be to have a great campaign and try to fight for a medal. With the potential and the great coaching staff we have, we can be ambitious. The goal is to fight to reach the top and be between the most competitive teams in the world in a very close future. We have the potential to do so. Now we need to keep working hard and have the best team chemistry to put Canada in the list of contenders for medals and titles in the next competitions, including the next World Cup and Olympic games, between others.

FIBA