The third window of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers tipped off this week, and on Friday night in Hamilton, Ontario, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made sure the home crowd got its money’s worth. Playing in front of family and friends in his hometown, the Oklahoma City Thunder star put up 26 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in just under 27 minutes. Canada rolled past Puerto Rico 110-84, and it wasn’t as close as the final score suggests.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 9-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He looked locked in from the opening tip, attacking the rim and finding open teammates. The two-time NBA MVP (he won it in 2024 and 2025 for those keeping score at home) has a way of making everything look effortless. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. He controlled the tempo, set the defensive tone, and basically had the Puerto Rican defense in a blender.
Canada didn’t just get a superstar performance though. Andrew Nembhard was unconscious from deep, dropping 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting with five threes. He added five rebounds and four assists. Dillon Brooks chipped in 15 points and two assists in 22 minutes. That’s three NBA-level guards playing at the same time and it showed. Puerto Rico couldn’t keep up.
Canada’s FIBA Run Is Just Getting Started
These qualifiers are part of the buildup to next year’s World Cup, which also serves as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Canada’s got a loaded roster. Jamal Murray wasn’t even in the lineup Friday and they still put up 110 points. If this team stays together and builds chemistry, they’re going to be a problem for everybody.
Next up for Canada is Jamaica on Monday, July 6, also in Hamilton. That game should be another chance for Gilgeous-Alexander and company to keep building momentum. But honestly, the bigger story might be that Canada is starting to look like a legitimate medal contender on the world stage. They’ve got the talent. They’ve got the depth. And they’ve got one of the best players on the planet playing with something to prove in front of his own people.
This is not the same Canadian team that got bounced early from past tournaments. This version has an edge. A real one.
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