Jamal Murray says he's coming to Paris.
It was a bittersweet night for Team Canada as they watched the Denver Nuggets fall to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 7 on Monday. The loss came just one day after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort both lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference. Conference semi-finals.
But the good news is that Murray told reporters that he plans to represent Canada's men's national basketball team at the 2024 Olympics this summer. Vinnie Benedetto of the Denver Gazette reported.
Murray tried to join the team to participate in the Basketball World Cup last summer, but he was unable to play after Denver's march to the championship. He was also ruled out of the 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Victoria as he battled a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
A longer playoff run for the Nuggets could have jeopardized Murray's ability to represent the team this summer. Now Canada can expect to qualify for the Olympics with Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander leading one of the best backfields in the tournament.
Toronto Raptors forwards Kelly Olynyk and RJ Barrett have committed to play in the Olympics this summer and will join the two Western Conference stars.
Dwight Powell and Nickel Alexander-Walker are the only two Canadians from the FIBA World Cup team still playing in the NBA playoffs. They will face each other in the Western Conference Finals.
Canada plans to play an international friendly match in Las Vegas against the United States on July 10. The Olympic basketball competitions will begin on July 27.
