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Tony East: You may have seen some pictures of Jenny Boucek and Jim Boylen with Ivica Zubac overseas. Zubac is on the Croatia squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window. They play Italy in a friendly on June 24, the competition starts in early July.
Harris Stavrou: Qatar found their naturalized player ahead of the 2027 Basketball World Cup. According to SPORT24 sources, Kendrick Nunn will sign a 5-year deal to become Qatar's main guy going forward.
SDNA reports that a 10 million offer has been made, but according to their report, Nunn has not yet accepted the proposal. Nunn has been one of the most recognizable players in the EuroLeague over the last two seasons and would instantly become the biggest name on the Qatari roster.
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Despite the ongoing war in Iran, organizers of next year’s FIBA World Cup are not changing plans to hold the top global men’s basketball competition in Qatar in August of 2027. Andreas Zagklis, secretary general for FIBA, said Friday that Qatari officials have made clear the World Cup “is a project of national importance,” and preparations to hold the 32-team championship, with dozens of NBA stars expected to participate, are “going according to schedule.”
“Unfortunately, we know how to deal with these situations,” said Zagklis, referring to war outbreaks in Ukraine and the Middle East that coincided with FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments. “And also, unfortunately, the federations in the area are resilient and are ready to respond in the best possible way,” Zagklis continued. “We have excellent partners in Qatar. If things arrive at that spot, I’m sure we will have very good and direct conversations, and we’ll find the best possible solution for the players and the fans.”
Matas Buzelis, a member of the Chicago Bulls, will play for the Lithuanian national team this summer in the World Cup qualifying games. Buzelis revealed this news himself during an interview in Vilnius. “We had a good conversation. I will play for the national team this summer. It will be a lot of fun,” he said during an interview at the Buzelis Cup in Vilnius.
By all accounts, incoming head coach Gordie Herbert – the team’s third bench boss in the span of three years – will continue to enforce it and prioritize continuity. It served the British Columbia native well during his stint at the helm of the German National Team, leading them to a gold medal at the 2023 World Cup and a fourth-place finish in Paris. “If guys don’t commit this summer, they’re not in,” said Herbert, who served as an assistant with the Raptors in 2008-09 and has coached around the globe, currently in the Australian National Basketball League. “When I was with Germany, we had six or seven NBA guys and three guys didn’t come, they didn’t want to come. All of sudden they wanted to come [in] Year 2. Sorry. You can’t be successful in anything without commitment, in my opinion.” It’s a strong stance to take with Jamal Murray, the country’s second-best active player and, probably, third-best player ever.
What’s left may very well be the most talented collection of basketball players Canada has ever had to pull from, a group that is clamouring to wear the maple leaf across their chests again. “Don’t ask stupid questions,” one prominent player replied when general manager Rowan Barrett texted to confirm he was on board for this cycle. “Of course, I am.” “The vision I give for us going forward is gold medal at the World Cup, gold at the Olympics,” Herbert said. “I’m talking to the players: are you in or are you out?”
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Josh Lewenberg: To sum up NBAers in for Canada this summer: SGA, NAW, Barrett, Brooks, Dort, Nembhard bros, Mathurin, Olynyk, George, Miller Out this summer but in for this cycle: Edey, Powell Didn’t commit: Murray, Sharpe, Wiggins Committed but not selected: Lawson, Banton, Houstan, Prosper
Josh Lewenberg: Rowan Barrett, GM of the senior men’s team, and the program’s new head coach Gordie Herbert are announcing Canada Basketball’s player pool for this summer’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers. RJ Barrett is in attendance for today’s press conference.
