A Little More About Olivier

Getting into the Sport: Started fencing at age 7 and started competing at age 8 when he joined a local club, Seigneurs de la Rive Nord… Outside Interests: Enjoys cooking, cycling, hiking, playing piano… Studying physiotherapy at Université de Montréal… Odds and Ends: Inspired by teammate Shaul Gordon for being able to combine an international fencing career with university studies…

Brooks had previously been part of Canada’s first ever podium in men’s basketball at the Pan American Games, helping the team to silver at Toronto 2015. Canada defeated the United States in overtime in the semifinal to secure a top-two finish.  

As a junior, Brooks led the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in scoring as Canada won the silver medal. He was the team’s leading scorer in their fifth-place finish at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. At the time, both results were Canada’s best-ever in those tournaments. 

Brooks played collegiately at Oregon University. As a junior in 2017, he was a Second-Team All-American selection and the PAC-12 Player of the Year. As a sophomore in 2016, he led the Ducks to the PAC-12 regular season and Conference Tournament titles. He was a two-time All-PAC-12 First Team honouree and was named to the PAC-12 All-Freshman team in 2015. 

Brooks was selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft, 45^th overall, by the Houston Rockets but was immediately dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played there for five seasons, reaching the playoffs three times. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second-Team 2023. He was part of a five-team trade in 2023 that sent him back to the Rockets. 

Powell played for Canada at the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers for the 2019 and 2023 global tournaments, helping Canada qualify for both. He also competed at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria where Canada lost in overtime in the semifinals to Czechia. 

Powell first represented Canada at the 2013 World University Games, finishing in fourth place. He was part of Canada’s perfect 9-0 record at the Four Nations International Invitational Tournament in preparation for the World University Games

Powell debuted with the Senior Men’s National Team at the 2015 ‘Tuto’ Marchand Continental Cup, helping Canada win the tournament for the first time. It was a warm up for the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship where Powell and Canada would take bronze. 

Powell played collegiately at Stanford University where he won the 2012 NIT championship and led the Cardinal to the Sweet Sixteen at 2014 NCAA Tournament. As a senior in 2014 he was named the PAC-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. In 2013 he was the PAC-12 Most Improved Player. He earned All-PAC-12 First Team honours each year. He was selected to the PAC-10 All-Freshman Team in 2011.

Powell was taken with the 45^th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Off-season trades sent him to Cleveland and then Boston. He began his NBA career with the Celtics before a mid-season trade in December 2014 sent him to Dallas where he has played ever since. He has made the playoffs four times with the Mavericks, reaching the Western Conference Final in 2022. In 2020 he was a Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recipient as a player who demonstrates community engagement, philanthropic activity, and charity work. 

A Little More About Dwight

Outside Interests: After losing his mother to breast cancer in 2012, he created the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund in partnership with UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to help patients and their children cope with the hardships of cancer… Has a leadership role on the NBA Players Association and was a key voice in the players’ return to play in ‘the bubble’ during the pandemic in 2020… Enjoys travelling and history and has been to Egypt five times…

Olynyk made his debut with the Senior Men’s National Team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship (later called World Cup) where at 19 years old he was the youngest member of the Canadian team. He suited up for Canada at the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers for the 2019 and 2023 global tournaments, helping secure the country’s spot at both. He missed out on competing at the 2019 World Cup after suffering an injury in a pre-tournament exhibition game. 

Olynyk appeared in the FIBA Americas Championship in 2011 and 2015, winning a bronze medal at the latter. As a junior, Olynyk won bronze at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, Canada’s first-ever medal at the competition. He was part of a seventh-place finish at 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Olynyk played collegiately at Gonzaga from 2009 to 2013. After two years off the bench and red shirting in 2012, he had a breakout year as a senior in 2012-13. Olynyk led the Bulldogs to their first ever number one national ranking during the season, winning the WCC regular season and WCC Tournament titles. He was named the WCC Player of the Year and was a consensus First-Team All-American and a First-Team Academic All-American honouree. He played in the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching the Sweet Sixteen as a freshman. In 2022 he had his number 13 retired by the Bulldogs. 

Olynyk was drafted 13^th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2013 NBA Draft before being traded to Boston. He spent his first four NBA seasons with the Celtics and was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team in 2014. He then spent four years in Miami, reaching the NBA Finals with the Heat in 2020. Next were stops in Houston, Detroit, and two years in Utah before a deal at the 2024 deadline sent him home to the Toronto Raptors.

A Little More About Kelly

Getting into the Sport: Father, Ken, coached Canada’s junior men’s national team from 1983 to 1996 and at the University of Toronto from 1989 to 2002… Mother, Arlene, was a U Sports women’s basketball referee before becoming the first female scorekeeper in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors… 

Barrett was previously Canada’s second-leading scorer at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria where Canada missed qualifying for Tokyo 2020 after losing in overtime to Czechia in the semifinals. 

Barrett had a decorated junior career with the national development team. He was named MVP of the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup as he led Canada to the gold medal, Canada’s first international title in basketball at any level. Barrett led the tournament in scoring, highlighted by a 38-point performance in a semifinal upset win over the USA.

Barrett was the youngest member of the Canadian team at the 2015 FIBA U16 Americas Championship but still led the squad in scoring en route to a silver medal, Canada’s best result all-time at the tournament. A year later he starred at the FIBA U17 World Championship as Canada placed fifth. He again led the team in scoring despite being two years younger than most of his teammates.

Barrett played collegiately for Duke University, winning the ACC Championship and reaching the Elite Eight at the NCAA Tournament in his sole season with the Blue Devils in 2019. He was named a First-Team All-American, as well as First-Team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team.

Barrett was taken third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He played more than four seasons in New York, making the playoffs twice, before being traded to his hometown Toronto Raptors in December 2023. He scored a career-high 46 points in February 2022.

A Little More About RJ

Getting into the Sport: Father, Rowan Barrett, is the current General Manager of the men’s national basketball team, as well as a former member of Team Canada who competed at Sydney 2000… Born in Toronto, he grew up in France while his father was playing professionally in Europe… Godfather is Canadian basketball legend Steve Nash… Odds and Ends: Nicknames: Maple Mamba, Ducky…

Alexander-Walker first played with the senior national team at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria where Canada lost in the semifinals to Czechia. He next competed internationally in the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers, appearing in three games in the summer of 2022.

Alexander-Walker had previously represented Canada at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, leading the tournament in scoring with 17.4 points per game as Canada won the silver medal. 

Alexander-Walker was selected 17^th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA Draft. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans that summer and made his league debut on October 22, 2019 in his hometown against the Toronto Raptors. In his second season, he scored a career-high 37 points in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 13, 2021. At the trade deadline in 2022, he was sent to Portland and then to Utah where he played until being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in February 2023. 

Alexander-Walker played collegiately for Virginia Tech. He was a Third-Team All-ACC selection as a sophomore in 2019, helping the Hokies reach the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament.

In 2019, Birch played for Canada at the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers, helping secure the team’s spot at the World Cup later that year, where he was one of two NBA players on Team Canada and led the team in rebounds and blocks. As a junior, Birch won a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.

Birch played his freshman season of college at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to UNLV in 2012. As a sophomore he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conference in blocks, as the Runnin’ Rebels went to the 2013 NCAA Championship tournament.

Birch began his professional career in 2014-15 in the NBA D League and was named to the All-Star Game in his rookie year. He then went overseas and played a year in Türkiye. The following season he played in Greece, making the EuroLeague final with Olympiacos

In July 2017 he signed with the Orlando Magic and made his NBA debut the following season. He joined the Toronto Raptors mid-way through 2021 where he would play for another two years. In the summer of 2024, he returned to Europe and joined Girona in the Spanish Liga.

A Little More About Khem

Getting into the Sport: Became the first player from Quebec to ever appear in the McDonald’s All-American game, showcasing the best high school talent in the USA…

Dort first played with the senior national team at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria where Canada missed qualifying for Tokyo 2020 after losing in the overtime to Czechia in the semifinals. 

Dort played one season at Arizona State University in 2018-19, helping the Sun Devils earn their first NCAA Tournament win since 2009. He was named PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and was also selected to the All-PAC-12 Second Team and All-Defensive team.

After going undrafted, Dort signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. He made his NBA debut on December 6, 2019. On April 13, 2021 he scored a career high 42 points, making seven 3 pointers against the Utah Jazz.

A Little More About Lu

Getting into the Sport: Started playing organised basketball at age 12… Played for Team Canada in the Adidas National Tournament and helped lead his team to the 2016 championship game… Also competed at the 2017 NBA Basketball Without Borders for which he was a first team selection… Two-time Team MVP at the BioSteel All-Canadian Game… Outside Interests: In 2023 he partnered with Canada Basketball, Buckets and Borders, and the City of Montreal to refurbish a park and court in his hometown neighbourhood in Montreal-Nord…