Why Warriors star Andrew Wiggins isn't playing for Canada at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

08-25-2023
6 min read
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Jamal Murray isn't the only NBA champion who chose not to play for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Warriors star Andrew Wiggins has previously played for Canada at other international competitions, but the Toronto-born forward won't be available for this year's tournament.

Wiggins certainly would have given the Canadians a big boost on the wing, and he has expressed interest in playing at the Summer Olympics. So, why is he missing from the current roster?

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Why Andrew Wiggins isn't playing for Canada at FIBA Basketball World Cup

In May 2022, Canada Basketball revealed a "summer core" roster, noting that each player on its list had committed to representing Canada for the next three years. In a December interview with Sportsnet's Oren Weisfeld, Wiggins explained that he wasn't ready to make a "long-term commitment" to the program.

"Right now, [my priority] is for the Golden State Warriors. I got kids. I got family. I got a life outside of basketball," Wiggins said. "So to commit three years to the Warriors and to Canada Basketball, it wouldn't make sense to me. ... I spend the whole time [during the] season with the Warriors, and summertime I get to decide."

Wiggins added that he would "love to play if [Team Canada] made the Olympics," but he "wouldn't lose no sleep" if Canada Basketball didn't allow him to participate in future events.

"If they didn't, that would be on them," Wiggins said.

Team Canada's roster for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Here is Canada's roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup:

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Player Height Position
Kyle Alexander 6-10 Forward
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 6-5 Guard
RJ Barrett 6-6 Guard
Trae Bell-Haynes 6-2 Guard
Dillon Brooks 6-7 Forward
Luguentz Dort 6-3 Guard
Zach Edey 7-4 Center
Melvin Ejim 6-6 Forward
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6-6 Guard
Kelly Olynyk 7-0 Center
Dwight Powell 6-9 Center
Phil Scrubb 6-4 Guard

Team Canada schedule at 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Team Canada is in Group H at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The Canadians will face France, Latvia and Lebanon in the group stage and play their games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Date Opponent Time (ET)
Aug. 25 vs. France 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 27 vs. Lebanon 5:45 a.m.
Aug. 29 vs. Latvia 9:30 a.m.

When is the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup?

  • Dates: Aug. 25-Sept. 10
  • Locations: Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup will begin on Friday, Aug. 25. The group stage will take place in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

The championship game will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10.

How to watch 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: TV channels and live streams

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup will take place between Aug. 25 and Sept. 10, with games being played in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

The tournament will feature a total of 92 games, all of which will be broadcast on ESPN2 or ESPN+ in the United States. FIBA's official streaming service, Courtside 1891, and Sling TV also offer a streaming option.

Courtside 1891 offers two subscriptions. Courtside 1891 Plus is free and gives you access to "extended highlights and a curated feed for your favorite teams and competition." Courtside 1891 Max is a paid subscription that allows you to watch "live game streams and full game replays."

If you just want to watch FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, you can buy a pass for the entire tournament for $9.99. An annual pass, which includes FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and other international competitions, costs $44.99. Use code TSN10WC to receive a 10 percent discount.

Geo-restrictions may apply to certain regions. Click here to find out which games are available in your region.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sling TV, which is now offering half off your first month! You can stream the sports you love starting at just $20 in your first month with Sling Orange, which includes ESPN2.