Canada star guard Jamal Murray will miss the FIBA World Cup because he needs additional recovery and rehab from the rigors of the NBA season, Canada announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Murray missed the entire 2021-22 season with an ACL injury and returned to play 65 regular-season games with the Denver Nuggets in 2022-23.
- Additionally, Murray appeared in 20 postseason games in the Nuggets’ run to the NBA title over the Miami Heat.
- Canada is in Group H and will face France (Aug. 25), Lebanon (Aug. 27) and Latvia (Aug. 29) in the group phase of the World Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jamal Murray to miss the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup.
Read more: https://t.co/2tDNktebOD#FIBAWC #WinForCanada pic.twitter.com/hj8KdFw2ET
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 16, 2023
What they’re saying
“When I came into training camp, I wanted to see how my body would respond after a long and demanding season and if I would be physically able to compete at the highest level required for the World Cup,” Murray said in a statement.
“In consultation with medical staff and the team, it is clear that additional recovery is required, and I have made the difficult decision to not participate in the tournament. It’s still a dream of mine to represent Canada at the Olympics, and I will support the team every step of the way as they pursue this goal.”
The Athletic’s instant analysis
Another star player out of the World Cup
Man, yet another marquee player bows out of the World Cup. Murray joins his Nuggets teammate Nikola Jokić in bailing after winning the NBA Finals, though in Murray’s case, at least he attended camp and attempted to play for Canada. He just isn’t quite feeling it after the nine-month-long haul it takes to win an NBA championship. The Canadian players all agreed to commit to three consecutive summers, so Murray is breaking his commitment.
Also out of this World Cup, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had knee surgery, and No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama, who was talked out of playing for France by the San Antonio Spurs. Team USA has three All-Stars on its team, but no one with national team experience.
Losing Murray hurts the Canadians, but they are still pretty stocked with NBA talent and are led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an All-Star. Will they have enough to finish among the top two teams from the Americas to qualify for the Olympics? Probably, but we’ll see. — Vardon
Without Murray, whose role expands for Canada?
First off, RJ Barrett slides into the second-scorer role behind Gilgeous-Alexander. Barrett likely would have started with or without Murray, but he has to carry more of the offensive load without the Nuggets star. Barrett scored 31 points in the final of the DBB Supercup, missing just once from the floor, in an overtime win over the hosts of the pre-tournament event.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker will need to create for himself and others off the bench, too. The Timberwolves guard is the most dynamic player in the backcourt behind Gilgeous-Alexander, and he will have to help carry the team offensively when his cousin is off the floor.
Canada might also have to lean on their defensive capabilities. Lu Dort and Dillon Brooks are both All-Defense-level defenders, while Canada boasts plenty of length in the backcourt. They haven’t shone on that end of the floor yet, but without Murray, they won’t be able to just rely on their offensive talent. — Koreen
(Photo: Sam Navarro / USA Today)
