Indiana Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin has indicated he would like to play for Canada in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
The 32-team field for the tournament was set on Tuesday, and Canada is among those countries set to compete Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Canada posted an 11-1 record during the qualifying tournament and locked in its berth in November.
Toronto’s Nick Nurse serves as the head coach of the Canadians and will be in charge of determining the 12-man roster for the event. He is expected to have a vast pool of players to choose from, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett and Lu Dort among others.
Nurse said Mathurin has also expressed a strong interest in playing.
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Mathurin, who was born in Montreal, previously played for Canada in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup but has not played with the senior team. He spent time with them in camp ahead of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in 2021 but was eventually cut.
With so many established players ahead of him, Mathurin may face long odds of making the final 12-man roster. However, potential injuries and other related factors could open up a spot or two and enable Mathurin to earn a place on the team.
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