Canada's training camp, to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games, begins in ten days, on June 28. By the end of the week, the invitations will be announced, but we already know that Cory Joseph will not be present. It was he himself who announced it, not hiding his anger at being sidelined.
“I have been honored to play for my country on many occasions over the years. I'm not complaining, I'm not like that”, he begins. “But there were times when I put my country before the NBA: I was at the end of my contract or I didn't have a contract and I came to play for my country. Even though I was a little hurt, I was there. It's a little discouraging to think that I don't even have the chance to get a place. »
Cory Joseph actually participated in numerous competitions with Canada, including the 2019 World Cup. With a back injury, he missed the 2023 edition, but was one of the players who made a long-term commitment to the selection.
For years, he was one of the rare Canadian NBAers to participate in FIBA competitions, and in particular in the various qualifying campaigns through which the selection had to go.
“I don’t see why I can’t be invited to fight for one of the last places”
So much so that it’s not his absence for the 2024 Olympic Games that bothers him the most. “I never shy away from competition”, explains the former Spurs. It's mainly the fact of not having a chance to fight for this rare event for Canadian basketball. “When we play in FIBA, we have the Games in our heads. This has been the objective for the 13 years that I have been in the national team. »
Does he understand this decision? “I don’t want to get into that. This is how everyone makes their own decisions. Obviously I'm angry, I feel I have the right to be. I don’t even remember their explanation,” he assures. “I was planning to go to training camp. I don't see why I can't be invited to fight for one of the last places. This is where my disappointment lies. »
The chances of participating were slim for the man who played for the Warriors this season, as the competition is now fierce in Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett, Lu Dort and Jamal Murray will occupy the outside positions. But he felt he at least had the right to fight for a place.
“I'm not saying that Canadian basketball isn't in an excellent situation. It's not that. I love these guys, I want them to succeed. I insist on this point »he specifies. “I just think I should have been invited to camp. Everyone knows what I've done for 13 years with Canada and in the NBA, everyone knows my character. I'm not here to make waves. I just wanted to express my point of view. If I stay silent, people will say that I don't care, that I didn't want to be there, but I do. »
| Cory Joseph | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | SAN | 29 | 9 | 31.4 | 20.0 | 64.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| 2012-13 | SAN | 28 | 14 | 46.4 | 28.6 | 85.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| 2013-14 | SAN | 68 | 14 | 47.5 | 31.6 | 82.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 79 | 18 | 50.4 | 36.4 | 73.4 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.8 |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 80 | 26 | 43.9 | 27.3 | 76.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 8.5 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 80 | 25 | 45.2 | 35.6 | 77.0 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 9.3 |
| 2017-18 | IND | 82 | 27 | 42.4 | 35.3 | 74.5 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 7.9 |
| 2018-19 | IND | 82 | 25 | 41.2 | 32.2 | 69.8 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 6.6 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 72 | 24 | 41.5 | 35.2 | 85.7 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 6.4 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 63 | 23 | 46.9 | 34.1 | 81.8 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 8.2 |
| 2020-21 * | BAG | 44 | 22 | 44.4 | 33.0 | 76.6 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| 2020-21 * | DET | 19 | 26 | 50.6 | 36.8 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 12.0 |
| 2021-22 | DET | 65 | 25 | 44.5 | 41.4 | 88.5 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 8.0 |
| 2022-23 | DET | 62 | 20 | 42.7 | 38.9 | 79.2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.9 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 26 | 11 | 35.9 | 31.0 | 57.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Total | 816 | 22 | 44.1 | 34.9 | 78.6 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 6.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
