Gordie Herbert didn’t mince words when describing his point guard. Canada’s head coach called Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a national treasure, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. Herbert said it straight: SGA is a better person than he is a player, and considering Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time NBA MVP who just led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first championship in franchise history, that’s saying something.
“I call him Canada’s national treasure,” Herbert told reporters, via Clemente Almanza. “Better person than a player. I think that tells you what person he is.”
The Thunder star has been the driving force behind Canada’s rise as a legitimate basketball power. And he’s not just showing up for the jersey. Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear a week earlier that playing for his country isn’t a obligation — it’s a dream he’s still living.
“Playing for your country is what I dreamed about as a kid, being able to have the opportunity to do this, so I just choose the opportunity to do so every single time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s that simple.”
The highs and the heartbreak for Team Canada
Canada’s recent run in international basketball has been a mixed bag of breakthrough moments and gut-punch losses. At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, they crashed the party hard. They made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to Serbia, but then they bounced back and beat the USA in the bronze medal game. Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the All-Tournament Team, the first Canadian ever to earn that honor.
But the 2024 Paris Olympics told a different story. Canada got thrown into the group of death with Spain, Australia, and Greece and somehow went undefeated through the group stage. Looked like they were on a roll. Then France knocked them out in the quarterfinals, a shocking end for a team that looked that good. Gilgeous-Alexander still made the All-Tournament Second Team, but it wasn’t the ending anyone wanted.
What’s next for SGA and Canada
Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t going anywhere. He’s committed to playing for Canada alongside his Thunder teammate Luguentz Dort. The next big test is the FIBA World Cup coming up next year. After the Olympic disappointment, you can bet they’ll be hungry to prove something on the international stage again.
For a guy who’s already a legend in Oklahoma City and a two-time MVP, calling him Canada’s national treasure doesn’t sound hyperbolic. It sounds like the truth.
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