Canada's hopes for a men's basketball gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics were dashed following a sobering quarterfinals defeat to France, by a margin of 82-73. This outcome prohibits the long-anticipated face-off between Canada and Team USA in the gold medal game, a prospect that had excited fans and analysts alike given the current talent pool on both sides.
Strong Start for Gilgeous-Alexander, but Canada Falters Early
Canada, starting as eight-point favorites, saw their aspirations crumble early as France’s defense clamped down, limiting Canada to a mere 10 points in the first quarter. Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a standout performer, leading the team with 27 points but lamented the team's early struggles. "We all wanted to win. I don't know why we started out that way, but it does. It hurts us," he reflected post-game.
By halftime, the team found themselves trailing 45-29, a deficit that proved insurmountable despite a valiant effort in the latter stages.
French Resilience Led by Yabusele and Strong Bench Contributions
France exhibited both resilience and depth. Guerschon Yabusele emerged as France’s top scorer with 22 points, while Evan Fournier added 15 points off the bench. Even star center Rudy Gobert contributed in his limited three minutes of play.
Victor Wembanyama, the highly touted young talent, chipped in with seven points, underscoring the balanced scoring effort from the French squad.
Struggles Across the Board for Canada's Offense
Canada's bench contribution was a modest 16 points, and RJ Barrett added 16 points, but the team struggled to find additional scoring options. No other player reached double figures, a testament to the French defense’s effectiveness.
Jamal Murray's tournament struggles continued; he averaged 5.6 points on 33.9% shooting through the tournament and managed just seven points against France on a disappointing 3 of 13 from the field, including 2 for 14 on three-point attempts throughout the tournament.
The offensive struggles were compounded by a lack of ball movement and turnovers. Head coach Jordi Fernandez lamented, "We didn't match their energy and physicality. Offensively, I thought it was our most selfish game. We didn't share the ball."
Canada finished the game with 14 assists against an equal number of turnovers, a statistic that often spells trouble in high-stakes games. France, despite turning the ball over 17 times, was able to maintain control and push their lead comfortably.
A Painful End but a Learning Opportunity
This Olympic appearance was a historic one for Canada, marking their return to the Games for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The loss is a bitter pill to swallow for a team with lofty ambitions and a roster brimming with NBA talent.
Lu Dort, one of the team's physical forwards, was candid about the disappointment. "It's really disappointing. We had goals to get all the way to the end. When it gets cut short, it's tough, and we have to live with it. We have to do whatever it takes to get back in four years."
The future remains bright for the team, though. The absence of incoming NBA rookie Zach Edey, who withdrew from the roster to focus on his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies, points to the depth and potential still left untapped in Canadian basketball. However, the immediate heartbreak will linger as the team grapples with an exit earlier than anticipated.
As the dust settles on their Paris campaign, the lessons learned will no doubt be instrumental in shaping future strategies and performances. Canada's talent pipeline is robust, and their experience in Paris serves as a crucial building block towards future successes on the international stage. For now, Canada must watch from the sidelines as the battle for Olympic gold continues without them.