France Defeats Canada in Quarterfinals

The Canadian men’s national team had their 2024 Olympic run cut short in disappointing fashion on Tuesday evening in Paris, falling to France 82-73.

It was a difficult game for the Canadians, besieged by foul trouble and a lack of inside presence. Dillon Brooks, usually reliable, was just 1-for-9 from the field, and Jamal Murray was 3-for-13.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the lone bright spot, with 27 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 9-for-19 from the field. R.J. Barrett played a solid game as well with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting.

Guerschon Yabusele was big for France, with a team-high 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting. His aggressiveness led to nine free-throw attempts, eight of which he converted. Isaia Cordinier, who plays for Virtus Bologna of Italian Serie A, said was the catalyst for the French team, connecting from the outside and providing a major spark. He finished with 20 points, including five three-pointers on six attempts. Victor Wembanyama was quiet, with 12 rebounds but just seven points on 0-for-6 from distance. He did have a crucial late block on Brooks. Evan Fournier scored 15 off the bench, with big free-throws and a last second heave that put the game out of distance in the final minute. Mathias Lessort, who plays for Greek team Panathinaikos, made nine of 14 free-throws, scoring 13 points.

The free-throw discrepancy was a major one, France making 33 out of 42 while Canada saw 25 attempts and made 18.

Ultimately, though, it was the role players for France that came through when needed, the opposite of what happened with the Canadians. There also seemed to be too much of a reliance on Gilgeous-Alexander to create.

Looking forward to 2028, Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell will be 37. Trey Lyles will be 32. It is unlikely that Olynyk and Powell will compete, and Lyles might be a question mark. Murray will be 31, Gilgeous-Alexander 30, Alexander-Walker and Dort 29, and Brooks 32. It is safe to say that those core five will be back, as will Barrett and presumably Andrew Nembhard, both of whom will be 28.

Coming down the pipeline, there is Zach Edey, the 7 foot, 4 inch incoming rookie who should be more polished in four years’ time. Shaedon Sharpe, who is entering his third NBA season, is the type of additional shot creator that is needed on this team. Bennedict Mathurin will be 26 in four years, another young wing that will help the team.

Andrew Wiggins, who was healthy and ready to play in the Olympics but was held out by the Golden State Warriors, is a question mark. He would be a veteran on the 2028 team at 33 years old, but he may relish the opportunity to compete in his first Olympics.

A remaining weakness for the Canadians is the interior, but Edey will help with that. Although the quarterfinal loss is a tough result, Canada Basketball does have a bright future.

France will face Germany in a semifinal matchup.