The 2023 Fiba World Cup was a tournament of firsts. The first time Germany won a global basketball competition. The first time five African teams won a game in the group stage. And the first time Team Canada won a medal: they defeated Team USA after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks combined to score 70 points in the bronze medal game on Sunday, winning an overtime thriller, 127-118.
This isn’t how things are supposed to play out in international men’s hoops, especially between Canada and the USA. After all, the US are the No 2 ranked nation in the world and the reigning Olympic champions, while Canada are No 15 and haven’t been to the Olympics since 2000. The Americans were 21-1 against Canada all-time in international competition heading into Sunday’s game, with a roster containing 12 NBA players including Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Mikal Bridges. It certainly wasn’t America’s A team, but the talent is nothing to scoff at either.
