Canada Basketball: Commitment Will be Key for Future Success

As Cory Joseph walked off of the Manila floor for the final time after Canada basketball’s 83-74 loss to France, he did so with a slight smile.

Joseph knew he had done everything he could to get Canada into the Olympics, pouring in 20 points, and dishing out six assists. In addition, he took up the task of going toe-to-toe with his former mentor Tony Parker and more or less being the driving force throughout Canada’s entire tournament run.

But as the Toronto Raptors‘ guard walked off you could see in his face, along with 11 other faces wearing the maple leaf that day, he was asking himself, “now what?” It’s a fair question no one really knows the answer to right now.

There will be a lot of international basketball to be played in the next few years during the NBA seasons, that Canada will have to be a part of. Such a situation will likely have fans asking, while watching the Rio Olympics, “what if?”

What if Canada could shoot at all in this tournament? What if they had beaten Venezuela when they had the chance for Rio?

What if everyone had shown up?

There’s been a lot of talk in the media that we shouldn’t be too harsh on the young kids who didn’t come, even if, on the surface at least, they had no reason not to. Even if players like Joseph and Tristan Thompson had managed to make it out despite their long NBA seasons, we shouldn’t criticize others who may have been off for two months now.

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After all, this is a volunteer commitment. Even the United States has players that turn down invitations.

Don’t get me wrong either, long gone are the days when our top players such as Jamaal Magloire and Steve Nash hung up the maple leaf over politics as opposed to availability. Everyone that has been showing up to these camps for the last four years or so believes they have a chance to do well in these tournaments.

But I’d be lying if I didn’t say it has been frustrating to watch time and again Canada put together B teams, especially when they can’t afford to. I’m tired of writing about the efforts of those who are there, while in the back of my mind wondering what kept the very best roster from showing up?

It is especially frustrating to see, when I witness the commitment level of some of the older players such as Joel Anthony and Levan Kendall.

Anthony, for example, had to leave the euro tour leading up to this tournament for the birth of his child, but was right back with the team just a few days later. He ended up playing just nine minutes in Manila.

Jul 22, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Canada forward Melvin Ejim (6) drives to the basket against Argentina forward Nicolas Brussino (9) in the men /

When you see that kind of commitment from bench guys, it simply leaves you somewhere between a place of indifference and frustration towards some of our very best.

Or maybe we should just face it. Our best looked around this summer, concluded Mexico City was their best shot last summer and began to focus on “getting better” their own way this offseason.

Which is an argument or excuse I find interesting, because I doubt Joseph, Thompson, or even Anthony Bennett, got any worse playing in this tournament. Especially when playing games against the likes of Parker and Nicolas Batum.

So it leaves us with “now what?” What happens now is Canada Basketball, along with the players who’ve worn the jersey over the past couple of years, have to begin the first semblance of pulling it together for the much talked about 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

It is here that everyone, media, coaches, players, and executives, have all invested their efforts and sights on. It will be when this “golden generation” of players we keep hearing about will finally form into a supposed Voltron of Canadian pride and dunking.

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I’m just hoping that – barring injuries – the tournament dates the next few years show up at convenient enough times for the golden boys.

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