puis dans la liste qui s’affiche, cliquez sur AdBlock
Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
After the USA and France, there’s a country that’s becoming increasingly important on the international basketball scene. It’s Canada, which will have several major representatives at the Finals between the Thunder and Pacers. Lu Dort spoke on the subject.
For several years now, France has been establishing itself as the number-two basketball nation behind the United States, thanks in particular to players like Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and now Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher. But there’s one country that’s making more and more headway on the international scene, and which could rival us: Canada.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, freshly elected MVP and potential best player on the planet, was born in the “North”, even if he did most of his training in the US. And he won’t be the only one representing his flag at the Finals, as teammate Luguentz Dort hails from Montreal, as does Pacers nugget Bennedict Mathurin. Andrew Nembhard completes the quartet.
Canada out in force at Finals
While many American fans complain about the lack of glamour of a series between Oklahoma City and Indiana, their Canadian neighbors shouldn’t miss a minute of the Finals. For his pre-Game 1 press conference, Lu Dort sent a message to his compatriots and gave his opinion on the impact of this performance on the discipline in the country.
These Finals will be important for Canada, and especially for Montreal. There are two NBA players from the city today, and back home, most basketball fans are either for Oklahoma City or the Pacers. It’s important for Montreal basketball players to see two local kids in the NBA Finals. We’re proud to be at this level, even if only one of us goes home with the title. The city will be happy either way.
Montreal, a city of less than two million inhabitants, will have two representatives at the NBA Finals. With Lu Dort playing for the Thunder and Bennedict Mathurin for the Pacers, there’s bound to be a winner who will present the Larry O’Brien trophy to the city’s passionate fans – and there are plenty of them. While field hockey remains the No. 1 sport, basketball could soon catch up.
Especially as the national team is making steady progress on the FIBA scene. They won a bronze medal at the last World Cup, and were eliminated by France at the Paris Games. Once they have the experience and confidence of the big nations, they will be recurring title contenders, even against Team USA.
