Canada's success in the FIBA ​​World Cup will help Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort in the NBA Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are reaping the rewards of Canada's success at the FIBA ​​World Championships last fall.

Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montreal's Lugenz Dort were instrumental in lifting Oklahoma City to the top of the NBA's Western Conference.

Both were instrumental in Canada's bronze medal win over the United States on Sept. 10 in Manila, and Gilgeous-Alexander said he is a big proponent of playing FIBA ​​basketball in the offseason.

“The style of play, the pace of the game, the physicality,” Gilles-Alexander told reporters on Sunday. “At the end of the day, you play real basketball games with real refs and you get to manage a real game with real coaches in the summer when a lot of guys are gone.

“It gives you more reps and prepares you more for the NBA season. The last two summers, I played FIBA ​​basketball, and I felt that coming into the season, it was not a coincidence.”

Dort said going through the World Series playoffs helped prepare him for tough games like the Thunder's 135-127 double-overtime victory. Toronto The Raptors are on Sunday.

“Games like this are win or go home and when we have a goal and we want to win a medal and make history for our country, it's amazing,” Dort said. “It definitely helps to be in the types of games where the game is very close and you have to make the right play to win the game. It definitely helps.”

Dort is averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season, with 0.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 48 games.

However, Gilgeous-Alexander is having the best season of his career. He averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.9 blocks in 49 games before Tuesday's matchup with the Utah Jazz. He is fourth in the league in scoring and leads the NBA in steals by a wide margin.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, believes it is too early to talk about winning the title of NBA MVP.

“I'm not naive, I hear it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I dedicate myself to it and I try to focus on it during the day and at night.

“It's what got me this far and I'd be a fool to do otherwise.”

Murray Shrugs – Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has not been named to the Western Conference team for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. The Kitchener, Ont., native is averaging 21 points, 6.6 assists and four rebounds per game this season.

“There are some players in the league who should be all-stars, you know what I'm saying? Murray said, throwing up his hands. “Now what do you want me to do?” I think you've seen me play at a very high level against star players.

“I'll just go out there. I try not to take it to heart, but it is what it is.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 6, 2024.