Gilgeous-Alexander ignited Canada’s impressive initial victory against France, contributing 27 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals while making 9 out of 19 shots from the field.
His performance marked a significant milestone, as he became the first player in the last three decades to achieve a combination of over 20 points, more than 10 rebounds, and 5 or more assists in his debut game at the World Cup.
“We did what we came here to do,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s still only one game, we’ve got a lot still to accomplish, but it’s a good start.
“We played really good basketball, we did the right things on both ends of the court for the most part. We know we can beat and play with anyone in the world. We just have to continue to get better and the sky’s the limit.”
