Nuggets’ Jamal Murray won’t play for Canada in World Cup

Nuggets standout Jamal Murray won’t play for Canada within the FIBA Males’s Basketball World Cup, citing the bodily drain that resulted from Denver’s NBA championship season.

“After I got here into coaching camp, I needed to see how my physique would reply after a protracted and demanding season and if I’d be bodily in a position to compete on the highest stage required for the World Cup,” Murray, 26, mentioned in an announcement launched by Canada Basketball on Wednesday.

“In session with medical employees and the staff, it’s clear that extra restoration is required, and I’ve made the tough determination to not take part within the event. It is nonetheless a dream of mine to characterize Canada on the Olympics, and I’ll assist the staff each step of the way in which as they pursue this aim.”

Canada is one in every of 32 groups going down within the World Cup between Aug. 25 and Sept. 10. The Canadians can advance on to the 2024 Paris Olympics with a top-two end amongst groups from the Americas.

“After quite a few discussions during the last a number of weeks with Jamal and staff medical employees, it grew to become clear that extra restoration and rehab would stop Jamal from becoming a member of our staff for the upcoming FIBA Males’s Basketball World Cup,” mentioned Rowan Barrett, the staff basic supervisor.

Canada, fifteenth within the FIBA world rankings, opens group play in opposition to France on Aug. 25 and in addition will face Lebanon and Latvia in Jakarta, Indonesia, in its quest to qualify for the ultimate part in Manila, Philippines.

Even with out Murray on the roster, the Canadians have a powerful group of their camp, together with NBA gamers Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Luguentz Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell.

Purdue middle Zach Edey, the reigning NCAA Nationwide Participant of the Yr, additionally is about to play for Canada.

Murray performed 65 regular-season video games for the Nuggets in 2022-23 after lacking the earlier season as a result of an ACL damage. He added 20 playoff video games, and he averaged 26.1 factors, 7.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds over 40 minutes per recreation through the championship run.

—Discipline Stage Media