Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) warms up before the start of game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center with Fox Sports 1's Nick Wright in the background
Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada to a 2-0 record in the previous window of the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers after dominating Puerto Rico and Jamaica. They won by an average margin of 32 points.
In their two-game schedule in July, Gilgeous-Alexander put up 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 steals. He shot 62.1% from the field.
The tournament will resume this week. Canada, which leads Group F with a 6-0 record, is slated to face Panama on August 28 and Argentina on September 1. SGA, however, will likely sit out, according to The Stein Line's Marc Stein.
“Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Phoenix's Dillon Brooks are not expected to play for Canada in this window after they did suit up for the national team in July, but our neighbors to the north are projected to have Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker and newly acquired Lu Dort on its 12-man roster once it is formally announced,” wrote Stein on his Substack.
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The 28-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently played for Canada in recent years, leading his home country to the bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and a fifth-place finish in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The two-time MVP has often said playing for Canada was his childhood dream.
“Playing for your country is what I dreamed about as a kid. Being able to have the opportunity to do this, I just choose the opportunity to do so every single time. It's that simple,” said Gilgeous-Alexander in July.
Even if he sits out this time, Canada will still have a stacked unit. Aside from Alexander-Walker and Dort, Kyshawn George, Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard, Leonard Miller, Marcus Carr, and Kyle Wiltjer will possibly suit up as well.