Head coach Jordi Fernández of Team Canada reacts during the Men's Group Phase game between Greece and Canada on day one of the Olympic Games at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 27 in Lille, France.Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Canada’s NBA-packed men’s basketball team swept its way through the first round of Olympic play, going three for three against Greece, Australia and Spain.
Now, as they prepare to take on the host country France and its star, Victor Wembanyama, on Tuesday in the quarter-finals, coach Jordi Fernández says they plan to keep their winning streak going – straight to the podium.
“There’s outside expectations and inside expectations,” Fernández said. “Our expectations right now, from inside the team, are to win every single game. To win gold.”
This is a moment in Canadian basketball that has been decades in the making.
The team hasn’t competed in an Olympics in 24 years. At the Sydney Games in 2000, the Canadians – led by Steve Nash – lost by five points to France in the quarter-finals.
Men’s basketball hasn’t won an Olympic medal in nearly 90 years – not since taking silver at the 1936 Games in Berlin.
A decade ago, Canada would have been thrilled to qualify for the Olympics. Today, after years of investment in the sport, Canada has emerged as a basketball powerhouse. Anything less than a podium finish will be a disappointment
There are 11 NBA players on the roster – one now plays in Spain – including all-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, and Jamal Murray.
“All these guys are unbelievable,” Fernández said. “We have a very physical team. … We are very strong and we play big. So at the end of the day, I like my chances because of the group of guys I have.”
Tuesday will mark the men’s first game in Paris. The early rounds of men’s basketball took place in Lille, a city that’s about a 2 1/2-hour drive north. Canada heads into the quarter-finals with a better track record than France, which lost 85-71 to Germany.
But with 20-year-old Wembanyama – a generational talent, who went first in the NBA draft last year – Fernández said they know the hosts are going to put up a strong fight.
“We know we’re playing against a very good team, a team that has been together for a long time and a very special player, Wembi. It’s not just him that makes the team special, but he’s a big part of it. So a lot of excitement here,” he said.
But the Canadian group has been playing together for a year now, Fernández said. Much of the roster was on the team that qualified for the Games by placing top two at the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
Canada's Andrew Nembhard (centre), Melvin Ejim (left), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right) and teammates celebrate after winning the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between Canada and Spain during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on Aug. 2.SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Getty Images
“There’s continuity. They’re all selfless. They’re trying to do what’s best for the team every day.”
One Canadian star who isn’t in Paris is Andrew Wiggins. Although the one-time all-star was initially on the roster, he was pulled at the last minute in late June, just before the men’s training camp. The move reportedly had to do with potential concerns from the Golden State Warriors, where Wiggins plays.
“I respect their decision. It is what it is. I would love to have Andrew here. I know that he would love to be here as well, but this is part of the business,” Fernández said.
The hope is Wiggins will be around for a future Games. Fernández said that this Olympic success won’t be a one-off: the goal is that Canadian men’s basketball is always going to be in the medal discussion. Canada has the talent in the pipeline to make it happen, he said.
“We want to be in the top of the ranking in the future and be there for a long time,” he said. “So this is not just a one-year thing, it’s going to be for many years where we have all this talent and we’ll keep working to be the best program in the world.”