MIAMI (United States) – The NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the past two seasons, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, headlines Canada’s roster for this summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers. The Oklahoma City Thunder star will be joined by other Canadian NBA standouts, including his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks), who won this season’s Most Improved Player award. Also named to the roster are RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors), Dillon Brooks (Phoenix Suns), Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers), and Kelly Olynyk (San Antonio Spurs), all of whom formed the core of the team that competed at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games. The squad also features several highly regarded young players, such as Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards) and Leonard Miller (Chicago Bulls)— both represented Canada at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup— along with Bennedict Mathurin (Los Angeles Clippers) and rookies Ryan Nembhard (Dallas Mavericks) and Will Riley (Washington Wizards).
Canada Basketball Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Rowan Barrett, announced the news during a press conference alongside head coach Gordon Herbert, who was appointed after leading Germany to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 title. With this roster, Canada is not only aiming to dominate their July and August Americas Qualifiers games but also to build something special ahead of the next World Cup and Olympic Games. “When I start with a national team program, I give a vision. It's not where we were, it's not where we are, but where we're going. And the vision I have for us going forward, is a gold medal at the World Cup, and gold at the Olympics,” coach Herbert told the Communications Department of Canada Basketball. Canada’s summer roster is rounded out by Charles Bediako, Aaron Best, Khem Birch, Marcus Carr, Nate Darling, Kur Jongkunch, Mfiondu Kabengele, Thomas Kennedy, Kassius Robertson, Jackson Rowe and Kyle Wiltjer, all of whom have played important roles for the national team throughout World Cup and AmeriCup qualifying campaigns.
“Our expectation is to get to the top of the podium,” Rowan Barrett said. “We believe that we have the athletes, we believe we have the experience, and now we believe we have the coaching set.” Canada currently sits atop Group B of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers with a perfect 4-0 record and has already secured a place in the Second Round.
FIBA