US vs Canada Basketball Showcase

A North American Showdown: USA vs Canada Basketball Showcase

The USA Basketball Showcase kicks off with an exciting North American showdown between the United States and Canada. This event marks the beginning of five exhibition games played over two weeks in preparation for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The action unfolds tonight in Las Vegas.

Recent History

Team USA and Team Canada last faced each other exactly 10 months ago, during the bronze medal game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. In a thrilling overtime match, Canada emerged victorious.

Key Highlights from the World Cup

• SGA and Brooks: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks combined for 70 points, leading Team Canada to victory.
• Bridges Miracle Shot: Mikal Bridges forced overtime by intentionally missing a free throw, grabbing his own rebound, taking one dribble to get to the corner, and sinking a fadeaway 3-pointer.
• Historic Win for Canada: The Canadians secured their first-ever World Cup medal and their first medal in a major international basketball competition since the 1936 Olympics.

Team USA's Preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics

As Team USA gears up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, attention turns to the players who might emerge as the starting lineup for the Red, White, and Blue.

The Rosters

Team Canada will retain most of its World Cup team for the Olympics, with notable additions like Jamal Murray, Trey Lyles, and Andrew Nembhard. Canada boasts the highest number of current NBA players (10) outside the US in the Olympics.

Conversely, Team USA brings back only two players from its World Cup team – Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton – while adding 10 NBA All-Stars, including four former league MVPs: LeBron James (4x), Steph Curry (2x), Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid.

All-NBA Teams

Both teams feature one member of the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team – SGA for Canada and Jayson Tatum for the US. However, Team USA has a 9-1 advantage among all three All-NBA Teams.

Team USA also includes four players each from the All-NBA Second Team (Anthony Davis, Durant, Edwards, Kawhi Leonard) and the Third Team (Devin Booker, Curry, Haliburton, LeBron).

Durant Out

Kevin Durant, Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in the Olympics, has been ruled out due to calf soreness that has limited his participation during training camp in Las Vegas.

Early Test

With an abundance of NBA talent and a higher level of team continuity, Canada presents a formidable challenge for Team USA as the Americans take the court for the first time as a unit this summer.