Canada Basketball has announced an updated 19-man roster ahead of next week's Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria. The roster will be trimmed to 12 bodies later this week before the tournament begins on June 29.
An initial roster of 21 players was announced on May 27, but Monday's announcement features a number of changes. Most notably, NBA stars Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Tristan Thompson, Khem Birch, Kelly Olynyk and Oshae Brissett are no longer participating. Kyle Alexander of Spain's Fuenlabrada is also no longer with the team.
Alabama's Charles Bediako, Purdue's Zach Edey, Owen Klassen of France's Boulazac Basket Dordogne, Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin and Isiaha Mike of Germany's Niners Chemnitz have been added to the roster.
19 athletes participating in Senior Men's National Team camp ahead of FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Read more: https://t.co/BLCtzOpDW4#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/LVIM95im9i— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) June 21, 2021
Despite the changes, the roster still features NBA talent headlined by RJ Barrett and Andrew Wiggins. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Lugentz Dort, Cory Joseph, Trey Lyles, Mychal Mulder and Dwight Powell will also represent the NBA on the roster. Trae Bell-Haynes, Anthony Bennett, Aaron Doornekamp, Melvin Ejim, Andrew Nembhard and Andrew Nicholson round out the 19 player roster.
Training camp is currently underway in Tampa, Fla., at the Toronto Raptors' temporary training facility. Canada will be competing against China, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey and Uruguay in the qualifying tournament with the winner advancing to next month's Tokyo Olympics.
