On May 24, the Canadian federation published the list of 14 players committed to respecting the national team membership program, a three-year project aimed at retaining major players in the selection for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
We thus found Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), RJ Barrett (Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Grizzlies), Luguentz Dort (Thunder), Dwight Powell (Mavericks), Kelly Olynyk (Jazz), Cory Joseph ( Pistons), Khem Birch (Raptors), Oshae Brissett (Pacers) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Jazz) for NBA players.
Tickets will be expensive!
The opportunity to realize that places will be expensive if Canada manages to qualify for the next Olympiad, either via the next World Cup or a pre-Olympic tournament. Among the NBA players who have not signed this “charter”, there are other big names like Brandon Clarke, Chris Duarte, Chris Boucher, Trey Lyles or Andrew Wiggins, All-Star and defending champion with the Warriors.
The latter has also reconsidered his rather risky choice of not wanting to make a long-term commitment to support his country, which has not competed in the Olympic Games since Sydney in 2000.
“They wanted a long-term commitment. For now, my priority is for the Golden State Warriors. I have children. I have a family. I have a life outside of basketball”, he recently explained. “So committing for three years for the Warriors and for Canada, it wouldn’t have made sense to me. I will first spend all my time during the season with the Warriors, and in the summer, I can make a choice.
The Olympics still in the viewfinder
The winger, who will turn 28 on February 23, has however left a door ajar for a return, if qualification for the Olympics is looming, or even to participate in the next World Cup.
As announced by the coach of the Canadian selection, Nick Nurse, this will require that a place be available for him, since priority will be reserved for players who have signed the membership program.
“I would love to play if they qualified for the Olympics. But I won’t make this three-year commitment… If that’s not the case, that won’t keep me awake. If they don’t, it will be of their own free will.” he added, aware of his status as a potential major player, able to considerably strengthen Nick Nurse’s roster.
| Andrew Wiggins | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2014-15 | MIN | 82 | 36 | 43.7 | 31.0 | 76.0 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 16.9 |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 81 | 35 | 45.9 | 30.0 | 76.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 20.7 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 82 | 37 | 45.2 | 35.6 | 76.0 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 23.6 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 82 | 36 | 43.8 | 33.1 | 64.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 17.7 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 73 | 35 | 41.2 | 33.9 | 69.9 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
| 2019-20 * | All Teams | 54 | 34 | 44.7 | 33.2 | 70.9 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 21.8 |
| 2019-20 * | MIN | 42 | 35 | 44.4 | 33.1 | 72.0 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 22.4 |
| 2019-20 * | GOS | 12 | 34 | 45.7 | 33.9 | 67.2 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 19.4 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 71 | 33 | 47.7 | 38.0 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 18.6 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 73 | 32 | 46.6 | 39.3 | 63.4 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 17.2 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 22 | 33 | 51.1 | 45.0 | 62.8 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| Total | 620 | 35 | 45.0 | 35.6 | 72.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 19.3 | |
