The NBA champion withdrew at the last minute, the Canadian team lost to the FIBA World Cup
Denver Nuggets quarterback Jamal Murray has withdrawn from the Canada squad ahead of the FIBA World Cup, citing the need for more time to recover from the race to the NBA championship.
"When it comes to training camp, I want to see how my body will react after a long and highly competitive season," Murray shared. "I want to see if I'm fit enough to compete at the highest level in the World Cup."
"After consulting with the medical staff and coaching staff, it became clear to me that further recovery was required and made the difficult decision not to participate in the tournament."
This decision is not surprising as Murray did not join the Canadian team on the European tour. He only attended training camp in Toronto two weeks ago.
Murray, who ruptured a knee ligament in 2021, has two years left on his contract and is eligible to sign a three-year, $144 million salary extension with the Nuggets this summer.
The 26-year-old star also has the option to wait until next year to renew his contract. If included in the All-NBA squad, he is allowed to sign a 5-year supermax contract worth $ 300 million.
This absence will affect Canada's Olympic ticket plans. They have not competed in the Olympics since 2000 and have not won a medal since 1936.
Canada will be able to qualify for Paris 2024 if it becomes one of the two best North American teams in the World Cup. If not, they will have to attend more qualifying rounds.
However, even without an NBA champion, Canada still has a highly-rated squad, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - an All-Star player.
"It's still a dream to represent Canada in the Olympics," Murray said. "I will give my full support to my teammates as they pursue this goal."
