Denver Nuggets superstar Jamal Murray has made the decision to withdraw from representing Canada in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, according to Canada Basketball’s announcement on Wednesday.
After attending Canada’s training camp in Toronto earlier this month, Murray consulted with his team and medical staff and they concluded that he requires additional time for recovery following a demanding NBA season.
“During training camp, my main focus was to assess how my body would respond after a grueling and exhausting season, and whether I would be physically capable of competing at the highest level necessary for the World Cup,” Murray stated.
Murray, who recently won his first NBA title with the Nuggets in June, has only had two months of rest. His teammate Nikola Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP from Serbia, will also be skipping the World Cup in order to rest.
As a guard from Kitchener, Ontario, Murray sat out the 2021-22 season due to recovery from ACL surgery.
The World Cup will take place from August 25th to September 10th in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
In order to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Canada must finish in the top two among the Americas teams. Canada’s last Olympic appearance was in 2000.
Canada, placed in Group H for the World Cup, will face France on August 25th, Lebanon on August 27th, and Latvia on August 29th in Jakarta, Indonesia. The final phase of the tournament, which involves 32 teams, will be held in Manila, Philippines.
“It’s still my dream to represent Canada in the Olympics, and I’ll be supporting the team every step of the way as they chase this goal,” Murray expressed.
Although losing Murray, who averaged 20 points and 6.2 assists per game for the Nuggets last season, is a significant setback, the Canadian team still boasts a talented roster including All-NBA selection Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves and RJ Barrett from the New York Knicks.
This week, Canada is in Spain playing exhibition matches against Spain on Thursday and the Dominican Republic on Friday.
