By Canadian Press

Thompson clarifies comments calling out Canadian players for skipping qualifiers

Oct 28, 2016 | 1:45 PM

TORONTO — Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson has clarified comments published online this week where he called out Canadian players who chose not to play for the national basketball team.

In a interview with ESPN.com, Thompson challenged players who declined invitations to “step up and play” the next time their country calls. The Canadian team missed out on the Rio Games after coming up just short in qualification tournaments, extending the team’s Olympic drought to at least two decades.

“I think you guys definitely took what I said yesterday the wrong way,” Thompson said Friday morning at Air Canada Centre. “At the end of the day, obviously the national team is important but at the same time, guys have careers that go on (hold) for eight to nine months. So some guys like myself, I couldn’t play one year because of my contract situation. Guys have these situations, whether it’s injuries, contract situations, being on a new team or really just not (being) healthy enough to play.

“Everyone has their own reasons why they cannot participate, but if we have the opportunity where everyone can play and are healthy and everything, if all the dots line up and we have the opportunity to play, we definitely would enjoy that.”

The most prominent Canadian player to skip the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last July was Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins. The 2014-15 NBA rookie of the year issued a statement beforehand saying that while it was not an easy decision, his preparation for the upcoming season required his total focus.

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Guard Nik Stauskas of the Philadelphia 76ers, coming off two middling NBA seasons, also decided to skip the tournament.  

There were several NBA players — including Wiggins and Stauskas — on the Canadian roster that appeared primed to lock up a Rio berth at the FIBA Americas tournament last year. However, Venezuela pulled out a 79-78 upset win in the semifinals, forcing Canada to try again at the last-chance tournament in the Philippines.

Canada did not have the same roster depth at that competition and dropped an 83-74 decision to France in the final for the only remaining spot in Rio.

Thompson, who missed training camp with Cleveland last year before signing a long-term extension, skipped the FIBA Americas event as he had yet to come to terms with the Cavaliers. But he still returned to the national team last summer despite a playoff run that lasted until mid-June as the Cavaliers won the NBA title.

“I think we just need to continue to keep growing,” he said of the national squad. “We definitely are one of the younger teams in international play. We’re one of the more talented teams too. So I think if we just continue to jell and come together and continue building that chemistry, I see us as potentially being one of the top countries in terms of competing on a (high) level.”

Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph, a consistent anchor on the Canadian team, declined comment. The Raptors were scheduled to play the Cavaliers on Friday night.

A Canada Basketball spokesman was not available for comment. 

Canada’s last Olympic appearance came at the 2000 Games in Sydney. The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup will serve as a direct qualifier for the Tokyo Games and there will also be FIBA Olympic qualifiers in June 2020.

“The national team has given me the opportunity to play in international play, I’ve been playing since I was 17 — it’s great,” Thompson said. “The NBA is definitely an honour but there’s nothing like putting on the red and white for your country and representing them in international play. So it would be a great accomplishment for myself personally and for our country if we were able to qualify for Tokyo in 2020.”

The Canadian team could have a strong nucleus ahead of the next Games.

Wiggins, Joseph, Thompson and Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk — who couldn’t play last summer due to a shoulder injury — should all be in their prime for 2020. Seventh overall pick Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets could also be in the mix.

Thompson added he’s excited about the program’s potential.

“I think the fun part about it is that everyone is around the same age,” he said. “So guys can relate, there is a connection there, and a lot of guys played against each other throughout high school, elementary school, and even in college.

“The age difference is so close, so it brings more of a family and a brotherhood feel.” 

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Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press