Canada Basketball has named a 15-player men's roster for the second round of the FIBA Americas qualifiers, with Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker among the headline selections as the nation pursues qualification for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
Roster, schedule and context
General manager Rowan Barrett announced the squad on Tuesday. The team will first travel to Panama City to face Panama on Thursday and will then return to Canada to host Argentina in Quebec City on Monday.
The 15 players named are: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luguentz Dort, Trae Bell-Haynes, Khem Birch, Marcus Carr, Mfiondu Kabengele, Kaza Kajami-Keane, Koby McEwen, David Muenkat, Nick Ongenda, Kelly Olynyk, Jackson Rowe, Thomas Scrubb, Keevan Veinot and Kyle Wiltjer.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Roster size | 15 players |
| First match | Panama City vs Panama |
| Second match | Quebec City vs Argentina |
NBA involvement and player availability
Several players with NBA experience are included, notably Alexander-Walker and Dort, who both play for the Atlanta Hawks. Barrett made clear the federation has not imposed participation requirements on Canadian NBA players for this particular window, especially for games played on the road.
"We have not required our NBA athletes, especially starting out on the road here in Panama, we have not required our NBA athletes to participate in this window if they're not playing," Barrett said.
Barrett added that many of the NBA athletes had already supported the national programme earlier in the off-season by attending training and meeting the coaching staff, meeting the stated requirements for national-team involvement.
Two high-profile players, Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett and Bennedict Mathurin of the Los Angeles Clippers, will travel with the team as ambassadors but will not suit up for these games.
What this window means for Canada
Canada enters the second round of the Americas qualifiers with momentum, sitting atop Group F with a 6-0 record. The upcoming fixtures are part of a broader campaign to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup, and results in this window will influence the nation's standing in the group and its path forward.
- Experience mix: The roster blends established pros with players who have alternated between international play and domestic leagues.
- Home advantage: Hosting Argentina in Quebec City presents a chance to consolidate group leadership in front of Canadian fans.
- NBA management: The federation’s approach recognises NBA scheduling and player load, opting not to compel participation for road windows.
Missing names and management decisions
Notable absences were evident: some marquee Canadian athletes will be unavailable or are being managed differently for this stage of qualifying. Barrett noted that the plan had been to include Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe on the 15-player roster, but circumstances resulted in a different final list. The announcement also clarified the role of select NBA stars who will be present in a non-playing ambassador capacity.
Canada’s qualifiers schedule and roster choices underscore a balancing act common to national teams working around professional leagues: fielding competitive lineups while accommodating long domestic seasons and player welfare.
As the team departs for Panama and prepares to welcome Argentina, attention will be on how the selected group translates preparation into results — and how Canada navigates the rest of the qualifying campaign en route to the 2027 World Cup.
