Canada will be missing key NBA stars as basketball World Cup qualifying continues

Canada’s men’s basketball team will continue World Cup qualifying without many familiar NBA faces, with only two current NBA players expected for upcoming windows. Canada plays at Panama on Thursday, then hosts Argentina on Monday in Quebec City, drawing mainly from Canadians playing overseas plus veterans Kelly Olynyk (currently unsigned) and Khem Birch. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Lu Dort are the only current NBA players joining the group. The previous Hamilton window saw Canada go 6-0 overall, but only Alexander-Walker has stayed available. General manager Rowan Barrett says November and February often limit NBA availability, while injuries, return-to-play protocols, and fatigue complicate selections.