In a quarter-final showdown at the FIBA World Cup, Canada secured a hard-fought victory against Slovenia with a final score of 100-98.
Leading the charge was 25-year-old point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who delivered an outstanding performance with 31 points and 10 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions throughout the tournament have been significant, averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5 assists in 30.4 minutes per game, solidifying his status as a rising star in international basketball.
When asked about Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA Hall of Famer and former Canadian Olympian Steve Nash expressed his admiration. “I mean, he’s got it, right?” Nash told Sportsnet’s Sherman Hamilton. “He [Gilgeous-Alexander] has the game, the feel, the understanding of his responsibility in the moment. It’s just a beautiful thing when you have a player like that in your arsenal.”
Nash’s praise didn’t stop there. He acknowledged that Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performances had left a lasting impression. “Watching him do it gave me goosebumps,” Nash said. “He’s one of my favorite players and keeps getting better. It’s going to be fun to watch him play the rest of his career and continue to represent Canada on the international stage.”
