A fresh start for Canada's Bennett, Joseph

TORONTO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Canada's Anthony Bennett and Cory Joseph are at the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in their basketball careers.

The NBA players have returned home to play for the Toronto Raptors.

The sting of Canada's Semi-Final defeat to Venezuela in the waning seconds at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City in early September is still felt because it cost the country direct qualification for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

But the players, especially Bennett, can't help but look back and remember a lot of good things that happened while on national team duty.

The way he sees it, a summer with Canada helped him get his career on track after a tough start in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Anthony Bennett (CAN)

"Honestly, I feel like Team Canada helped me out a whole lot," Bennett said.

"Just playing with confidence, healthy again.

"Just going out there and playing with a clear mind.

"Basketball has always been fun for me but I just think playing with the guys that I grew up with, Team Canada, people I knew way back, just going out there and fighting or the country on the big stage was definitely a lot of fun."

A 2.03m power forward, Bennett spent a couple of years at UNLV before being selected as the first overall pick in the 2013 draft by Cleveland.

With his national team he showed plenty of promise, both at the Pan American Games where Canada finished runners-up to Brazil and in Mexico City.

At the FIBA Americas Championship, Bennett averaged 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

He did not have his best game in the team's 79-78 defeat to Venezuela, a game that the South Americans won with a free-throw just before the end.

Bennett only took a couple of shots, missing both, in 16 minutes while also collecting five rebounds.

Joseph, a 1.93m point guard who already owns an NBA title as a backup guard with the San Antonio Spurs, averaged 9.9 points at the tournament.

He dished out almost six assists per game.

Cory Joseph (CAN)

Joseph, the national team captain, made no excuses after the loss to Venezuela, saying at the time: "They out-hustled us, they out-worked us.

"I didn't lead my team today. I'm disappointed. It happens."

The 24-year-old hit a game-winning shot the following night against hosts Mexico to clinch third place for Canada.

If the two players were linchpins for Canada, there are no guarantees when it comes to Toronto in terms of playing time.

The Raptors had a good seasons in 2014-15 but lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

They have plenty of weapons and the minutes will have to be earned.

Bennett just wants to do his best.

His selection as the first overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Cavaliers put him under a microscope.

Once I think I have to go out there and start proving [things], the game becomes complicated so I need to keep it as simple as I can. - Bennett

"I don't need to prove anything," Bennett said, " [I] just go out there and play."

The native of Brampton, Ontario, says this is where he wanted to be, in Toronto.

"Definitely," he said.

"I felt like this was my best destination, just coming here and working hard and see what happens."

The focus is on the club season, now, but with competing at the Rio de Janeiro Games still a possibility, rest assured that all of those in the Canada set-up will have one eye on the OQTs that get underway in early July.

FIBA