Gilgeous-Alexander leads Canada’s 2027 World Cup, 2028 Olympic roster

Canada named a 24-man roster featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympics, excluding Jamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins due to commitment rules.

Canada’s national team roster On Monday, the Canadian men’s basketball team revealed the first group of players who will represent the country in the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The initial roster includes two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the standout name. Team Canada also called up several NBA players, such as Luguentz Dort from the Thunder, RJ Barrett of the Raptors, Dillon Brooks from the Suns, Bennedict Mathurin representing the Clippers, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Hawks. The squad will begin its preparation with qualifiers starting next month, facing Puerto Rico and Jamaica in Ontario before another match in Quebec City on August 31. ## Player exclusions and commitment rules Despite strong NBA representation, two high-profile players missed out on the roster: Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins. Their absence follows new rules set by head coach Gordie Herbert and general manager Rowan Barrett requiring players to commit to a three-year program leading up to the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Herbert made the team’s stance clear on Monday, stating, 'If guys don't commit this summer, they're not in.' The leadership emphasized that simply having top players is no longer sufficient; instead, the focus must be on those willing to fully dedicate themselves to the national team’s timeline and goals. ## Recent team performance and goals Canada narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2024 Olympics after falling to France in the quarterfinals, while securing a bronze finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Herbert explained the shift in philosophy, saying, 'To a certain extent, in the past, we used to say with the national team, get our best players to play. It's not enough. It's not enough. You need your best group of players to come into the national team, commit to the program, commit to the time frame.' He added, 'My definition of commitment is this — a player, person who is focused on what he can give. These are the players we want.' The team aims to build on past success with a more structured and committed approach for the upcoming major tournaments. ## Social media announcement Canada Basketball took to social media to unveil the 24-man player pool for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifiers windows. The announcement included a link to the official roster details and was accompanied by a statement highlighting the team’s preparation for the qualifying rounds. The post read, 'Canada Basketball 🇨🇦 unveil their 24-man player pool for the upcoming windows of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers. #FIBAWC' alongside a visual graphic and the hashtag for the tournament.