Canada's ambition for a gold medal in men's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an abrupt end with a quarterfinal loss to France. Despite entering the game as eight-point favorites, Canada couldn't overcome an early onslaught from the French defense, ultimately falling 82-73.
A Rough Start
Canada's troubles began early. France's defense was impenetrable in the first quarter, holding Canada to a mere 10 points. By halftime, the Canadians found themselves in a deep hole, trailing 45-29. Reflecting on the game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led Canada with 27 points, said, "We all wanted to win. I don't know why we started out that way, but it does. It hurts us."
Head coach Jordi Fernandez was candid in his post-game assessment, highlighting a lack of energy and teamwork. "We didn't match their energy and physicality. Offensively, I thought it was our most selfish game. We didn't share the ball," Fernandez stated.
Standout Performances
For France, the triumph was a collective effort. Guerschon Yabusele led the charge with 22 points, while Evan Fournier provided a crucial boost off the bench with 15 points. NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama added seven points to the scoreboard. Even Rudy Gobert, playing limited minutes, made his presence known.
Canada's bench, in contrast, combined for only 16 points. RJ Barrett contributed 16 points, aligning himself with the efforts of Gilgeous-Alexander. However, no other Canadian player reached double figures in scoring, which underscored the team's struggles.
Murray's Struggles
Jamal Murray's performance was a significant factor in Canada's offensive woes. Averaging just 5.6 points and shooting 33.9% from the field throughout the tournament, Murray managed only seven points on 3 of 13 shooting against France. His 3-point shooting was especially problematic, going just 2 for 14 over the course of the tournament.
In total, Canada finished with 14 assists against 14 turnovers, while France turned the ball over 17 times but managed to outplay Canada strategically. The defeat marks a disappointing end to what was Canada's first Olympic appearance in men's basketball since the 2000 Sydney Games. As forward Lu Dort expressed, "It's really disappointing. We had goals to get all the way to the end. When it gets cut short, it's tough and we have to live with it. We have to do whatever it takes to get back in four years."
Adjusting to the Future
The absence of incoming NBA rookie Zach Edey, who opted out to focus on his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies, may have had an impact as Canada looked to leverage all available talent. Nevertheless, the experience of returning to the Olympic stage will serve as a building block for the future. The Canadian team, led by Gilgeous-Alexander and coached by Fernandez, will likely take away hard-earned lessons from this Paris setback.
In the end, the story of the 2024 Olympics for Canada’s men’s basketball team is one of dashed hopes and lessons learned. Their journey might have ended sooner than hoped, but the resolve to come back stronger is evident in the words of the players and the coach. The determination to not let this be the final chapter in their Olympic aspirations shines through unmistakably.