With a sparkling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24.5 points on average), Canada won a beautiful bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup and clinched its spot for the Paris Olympic Games. A first for the nation with the maple leaf since 2000.
Alumni from 2000, but also other players who wore the national jersey between 1976 and this last participation in the Games, in Sydney, were also invited to Canada's training camp this Saturday. To share memories with the new generation. Especially since, in addition to its performance last year and its very solid squad, Canada can also count on the presence of Jamal Murray.
The playmaker, 2023 champion and reference in his position, is a significant reinforcement. Especially when we imagine him alongside “SGA”. “I penetrate, he shoots: it’s as simple as that”sums up the Thunder star. “I would say he is in great shape.”adds the Denver player.
Jamal Murray will be able to relieve the OKC All-Star and bring density to the group, which was a pain when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was resting. Coach Jordi Fernandez will now have a weapon to fill his absence, when he does not use both at the same time, which could be a nightmare for defenses.
Two different and complementary profiles
This duo is, moreover, complementary: “SGA” is exceptional in isolation and one-on-one when Jamal Murray is excellent on pick-and-roll.
“He can catch fire and can make things happen with Shai,” Nickeil Alexander-Walker assures us of Jamal Murray, whom he eliminated with the Wolves in the playoffs.. “Murray is another piece on our team, a player who can score anywhere and who has been doing that for a long time in the league. As soon as we can add such an element, we must do it and use it. We know what we got. »
“That’s what makes him so unique: he does it every night,” adds Dwight Powell, discussing the offensive capabilities of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whom he brought out in the playoffs with the Mavericks. “He is extremely consistent and it was almost frustrating in this series, because we know exactly what he is going to do. We know his positions, yet he finds the means to take his shots. »
And even the defensive limitations of Jamal Murray, who is not a big stopper, could be erased, or at least compensated for already by his offensive qualities, but especially by the support of soldiers like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luguentz Dort or even Dillon Brooks.
In short, everything seems to fit, on paper and while waiting to see on the ground, so that this graft takes perfectly. “I feel like everyone else: it's going to be fun and cool. And as teammates of both, I have a better view.”announces Nickeil Alexander-Walker, in conclusion.
