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As the new season is right around the corner, here’s the 8th edition of my top 50 Canadians power ranking.

Four ground rules before starting:

1. This ranking is a mix of performance over the last year and a degree of projection regarding how players might look like by the end of this year. Meaning that some guys who I believe are on the rise are going to be ranked a bit higher than I would put them if I was only considering past/current level of play. And the opposite is also true for those I think might already be on the decline.

2. I do my ranking with an eye to the Canadian National Team. That is, this ranking is a mix of two factors: (a) how good I think players are or will be relative to one another; and (b) who I would most like to see on Team Canada (both summer and winter campaigns) if I had my pick and they were all willing to suit up and physically available. While I’m generally giving preference to the former (general level of play), this means that I'm also considering to some extent functional positions on the court, as well as team chemistry and potential fit with the rest of the roster.

3. Given the second rule above, I’m excluding players who very clearly will never play for Team Canada (anymore) and are out of even theoretical consideration because they are already tied with other national teams. So gone are guys like Chris Duarte, Iggy Brazdeikis, Maryal Shayok, Caleb Agada, and Naz Mitrou-Long.

4. There are no high school players in my top 50. As a rule, 17- and 18-year-olds not named Lebron James or Luca Doncic are just not that good at playing grown-up pro basketball. This includes high school graduates, who at most will get an honorable mention here. There are also very few college guys on the list and no teenagers. This is not a list of future potential (beyond the coming basketball season).


Like last year, I’ll do this in stages, as I’ll add a brief write-up for each player and this can get lengthy. Starting today with some honorable mentions.

As always, feel free to disagree!



HONORABLE MENTIONS

Before getting to my top 50, I’ll mention 15 guys who didn’t make it, 5 per category.


1. Team Canada Veterans:

Andrew Nicholson | Korea Gas Corp, Korea | 34.8yo PF | 6'10, 250lbs, 7'4 wingspan | St. Bonaventure | Mississauga, ON
Last year's stats: 21.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, 43.0% from 3

Nicholson continues to shoot the ball at a high level in the Korean league, but at nearly 35yo, with sagging defense and little playmaking abilities, it's time to move on and he's out of the top 50 (probably for good) for the first time since I've started doing this.




Aaron Doornekamp | Tenerife, Champions League / Spain | 38.8yo PF | 6'7, 215lbs | Carleton | Nappanee, ON
Last year's stats: 6.9ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, 36.4% from 3

Every year I'm thinking this must be Doornekamp's last year at the highest levels of European basketball (or even just playing pro basketball for that matter). And every year he manages to surprise, continuing to play efficient team-oriented basketball at the second-best domestic league in the world and getting another contract (it's going to be his 6th year in a row at Tenerife and 9th in the BCL). Nearing the end of the 4th decade of his life, the guy just refuses to run out of gas and go away. Respect!




Owen Klassen | Wurzburg Baskets, Germany | 32.9yo C | 6'10, 255lb | Acadia | Kingston, ON
Last year's stats: 7.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 0.9apg, 61% from the field

The Team Canada veteran is still around, but his production slowly declines as he's nearing his mid-30s and I'm not sure how much longer we'll see him playing basketball overseas.




Aaron Best | Trefi Sport, Poland | 32yo SG | 6'4, 195lbs | Ryerson | Scarborough, ON
Last year's stats: 12.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.3apg, 33.6% from 3

I love Best and what he's done for the Canadian team in recent years. And he's still a very solid second tier player in Europe. But it's time for some new blood in the top 50.




Mychael Mulder | Memphis Grizzlies, NBA | 30.2yo SG | 6'4, 195lbs, 6'8 wingspan | Kentucky | Windsor, ON
Last year's stats: 5.2ppg, 1.1rpg, 1.3apg, 29.2% from 3

After looking like a legit end-of-rotation NBA player with the Warriors only three or four years ago, Mulder's career took a nosedive and at only 30 he looks pretty much washed out.





2. College standouts

Will Riley | Illinois, NCAA | 18.6yo SF | 6'9, 180lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Kitchener, ON

The only teenager on the list, Riley is also the guy with the highest upside. Not very physical, athletic, or long, but he has an incredible shooting touch for a guy with his size, as well as some nice skill with the ball and decent vision. If all goes well, he could be a lottery pick in the next draft, or at least a first rounder.




Xaivian Lee | Princeton, NCAA | 20.5yo PG | 6'3, 180lbs, 6'4 wingspan | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 17.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.7apg, 56.5% TS

Arguably the best Canadian currently playing in the NCAA. A PG with decent size and athleticism, who can shoot it from far and make plays for others. He decided to go back to Princeton despite being courted by many high major programs. Another good year there might turn him into a draft pick.




Vasean Allette | TCU, NCAA | 20.4yo PG | 6'2, 175lbs, 6'8 wingspan | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 17.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.1apg, 51.3% TS

An impressive rookie year in college was cut short due to undisclosed altercations with the coaching staff at Old Dominion. Allette will now be moving to TCU, looking to continue where he left off. Would be nice to see him with a high major team, as he's one of the more gifted players to come out of Canadian high school in the last few years.




Ryan Nembhard | Gonzaga, NCAA | 21.5yo PG | 6'0, 170lbs, 6'1 wingspan | Aurora, ON
Last year's stats: 12.6ppg, 4rpg, 6.9apg, 52.6 (32.1% from 3)

The younger Nembhard brother took some time to adjust at Gonzaga, but in the second part of the season he looked like one of the best PGs in college basketball. Considering his size limitations and lack of elite shooting, it's unlikely he'll be able to follow in his older brother's footsteps and make it to the NBA. But he can certainly become a very good European Playmaker and contribute to Team Canada’s winter core.




Jahmyl Telfort | Butler, NCAA | 23.4yo SF | 6'7, 230lbs | Boucherville, QC
Last year's stats: 13.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 3apg, 52% TS

Telfort has the size and strength of an NBA wing player, though probably not enough talent to make it to the league. But he can certainly become a good player overseas after he finishes his college career at the end of this year.






3. CEBL Standouts

Stef Smith | Calgary Surge, CEBL | 25.2yo SG | 6'2, 185lbs | St. John's | Ajax, ON
CEBL stats: 18.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.2apg, 40.0% from 3

One of the better Canadian shooting guards, who has yet to make a name for himself in Europe. He's also a good passer, can play alongside another playmaker, and is young enough to build a good pro career overseas.




Koby McEwen | Vancouver Bandits, CEBL | 27.1yo SG | 6'4, 205lbs, 6'4 wingspan | Weber State | Toronto, ON
CEBL stats: 18.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.1apg, 44.3% from 3 and 88.3% from the line

A big promise at a young age, McEwen went through many ups and downs during his college career. He’s been one of the best players in the CEBL over the last few summers, shooting it really well and contributing in other areas. Can he also make a breakthrough in Europe?




Sean Miller Moore | Calgary Surge, CEBL | 25.9yo SG | 6'4, 210lbs | Grand Canyon | Toronto, ON
CEBL stats: 16.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 46.6% from the field

Never a household name as a teenager, Miller-Moore is a really good athlete with some size and strength, who had an unremarkable college career. But he's been one of the better and more consistent players in the CEBL over the last two years.




Nathan Cayo | Niagara River Lions, CEBL | 26.9yo PF | 6'7, 225lbs | Richmond | Montreal, QC
CEBL stats: 14.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.6apg, 39.1% from 3% TS

After a nice (and long) college career at Richmond, Cayo has been very solid in the CEBL. This summer, he led his Niagara River Lions to their first CEBL championship.




Lloyd Pandi | Ottawa Blackjacks, CEBL | 24.7yo SF | 6'4, 200lbs | Carleton | Ottawa, ON
CEBL stats: 11.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.8apg, 37% from 3

Pandi made his debut with the Canadian National Team at the 2022 AmeriCup and played a few more games with the teams in subsequent occasions. His numbers never jump off the page and his offensive toolkit is somewhat limited. But he's an excellent and engaged defender (strong with great nose for steals) who makes the right plays and helps his team win games.

41-50[b]

[b]50 (last year: 48). Kadre Gray | CS Valcea, Romania | 26.9yo PG | 6'1, 190lbs | Laurentian | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 15.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 9.0apg, 36.6% from 3

An excellent European debut season for Gray, though he played at a relatively weaker level in Poland. He's firmly in the mix of PGs for Canada's winter core and should also be able to advance to a better European league with time.




49 (NR). Jackson Rowe | Scarborough Shooting Stars, CEBL | 27.7yo PF | 6'7, 210lbs | Cal State Fullerton | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 14.9ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.9apg, 37% from 3% TS

Rowe was very solid in the G this year (51% from 3) and I also liked what he showed with Team Canada in the AmeriCup qualifiers. He's done enough to secure a spot on this list for the first time and I'd be interested to see him try his luck in Europe. I think he can become a very solid player overseas but he’ll need to get there quickly, as he’s not that young.




48 (45). Emanuel Miller | Dallas Mavericks, NBA | 24.2yo PF | 6'6, 210lbs, 6'9 wingspan | TCU | Scarborough, ON
Last year's stats: 15.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.6apg, 57.9% TS

I'm a big fan of the older Miller brother. Not sure yet where he'll end up this year (likely in the G), but I really liked what he did last year in college and then in the summer league with Dallas. A plus defender with an improving perimeter shot, how has a real chance to carve out a spot on an NBA team with time.




47 (36). Kenny Chery | Free agent | 32.6yo PG | 5'11, 180lbs | Baylor | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 9.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.9apg, 37.6% from 3

Chery seems to be on the declining side of his career and his production fell quite noticeably last year, particularly in the scoring department. Still a decent playmaker and shooter, but it could be the last time he makes it to the top 50.




46 (NR). Thomas Kennedy | Baskets Bonn, Champions League / Germany | 24yo C | 6'9, 220lbs | Windsor | Windsor, ON
Last year's stats: 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.7apg, 57.1% from the field

Another new entry, Kennedy had a very solid season in the German league, starting off his pro career on the right foot. Seems like an up-and-comer who might rise even higher on this list in future years, as some of the players ranked above him get deeper into their 30s.




45 (NR). Conor Morgan | Besiktas, Turkey | 30.1yo PF | 6'9, 220lbs, 7'2 wingspan | UBC | Victoria, BC
Last year's stats: 12.9ppg, 6rpg, 2.4apg, 41.8% from 3 (38.5% in Europe)

A really nice comeback season for Morgan brings him back to the list. He shot the ball really well from 3 last year and will again play in a better league (in Turkey) this coming year. He also showed that he might still have some gas in the tank to perhaps contribute to Team Canada.




44 (38). Lindell Wigginton | XXX, Cina | 26.4yo SG | 6'2, 190lbs, 6'4 wingspan | Iowa State | Halifax, NS
Last year's stats: 15.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.4apg, 28.9% from 3

Wiggy made the move to the big money in China and seems to be doing just fine there. Unfortunately, this means he's unlikely to join Canada's winter core due to the logistics involved in coming over for games. He hasn't been a part of the team since the youth levels, which might make it hard for him to break the pattern in the future.




43 (41). AJ Lawson | Dallas Mavericks, NBA | 24.2yo SG | 6'6, 180lbs, 6'7 wingspan | South Carolina | Brampton, ON
Last year's stats: 3.2ppg, 1.2rpg, 0.5apg, 51.9% TS

Lawson continues to hang on to his end-of-the-bench role in the NBA, but he's been unable to break the rotation and I don't think it’s likely to happen this year. He's a solid defender and a good athlete, but the shooting is too erratic to buy him some minutes as a 3-and-D.




42 (34). Johnny Berhanemeskel | Gravelines, France | 31.9yo SG | 6'2, 175lbs, 6'2 wingspan | U of Ottawa | Ottawa, ON
Last year's stats: 12.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 42.7% from 3 (54.5% in Europe!)

Johnny B continues to look great in Europe, shooting the lights out from all ranges (he's always been a great shooter). Not sure we'll see him again in a Team Canada uniform, but he remains a high-level contributor in Europe.




41 (43). Kaza Kajami-Keane | Niners Chemnitz, Europe Cup / Germany | 30.6yo PG | 6'2, 185lbs | Carleton | Ajax, ON
Last year's stats: 10.8ppg, 2.4rpg, 5.6apg, 30.2% from 3

Kaza had a really nice season with his German team, Chemnitz, leading them to a surprising Europe Cup title (the third best international competition for teams), with a 29-points performance in the title game. He's an important part of Canada's winter core and one of the best U Sports veterans out there.

Nice work!

Always debatable in this range as it is really difficult to gauge these guys against one another and the variety of leagues that they play in.

I admire the conviction to have a player who has been fully NBA rostered the last couple years this low (Lawson). It is a good reminder to everyone that the quality of players sitting in the depths of an NBA roster can be comparable even to mid-league European pros. You cant just default to thinking that if they are on an NBA roster, they must be better than all these other pros elsewhere. Sometimes it is just being in the right place at the right time while tooling in the G-League for peanuts and the NBA comes calling. When much better players are unavailable locked into bigger dollars contracts in Europe.

One note on Jackson Rowe - he has had couple successful seasons in Europe, before trying his hand in the G-League last year.

Thanks for this. You are a scholar and a gentleman. I love seeing your Team Canada Threads, and other posts like this. It reminds me of the sort of thing more people used to post to Realgm 10-20 years ago.

I like Riley over Alleute by a lot a lot

mojo13 wrote:Nice work!

Always debatable in this range as it is really difficult to gauge these guys against one another and the variety of leagues that they play in.

I admire the conviction to have a player who has been fully NBA rostered the last couple years this low (Lawson). It is a good reminder to everyone that the quality of players sitting in the depths of an NBA roster can be comparable even to mid-league European pros. You cant just default to thinking that if they are on an NBA roster, they must be better than all these other pros elsewhere. Sometimes it is just being in the right place at the right time while tooling in the G-League for peanuts and the NBA comes calling. When much better players are unavailable locked into bigger dollars contracts in Europe.

One note on Jackson Rowe - he has had couple successful seasons in Europe, before trying his hand in the G-League last year.

Yes, I agree with this. The comparison is always hard, but can never assume that someone is better just because they're in the NBA, as we see time after time in FIBA competitions.

31-40

40 (24). Kassius Robertson | Joventut Badalona, Spain | 30.4yo SG | 6'3, 180lbs | Missouri | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 8.6ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.1apg, 42.9% from 3 point (27.9% in the Euroleague)

Robertson finally received an opportunity to play in the Euroleague last year, but he couldn't seize the moment, shooting very poorly and not doing much else. He was still decent in the local Spanish league and will remain in Spain for another year. Hopefully, he'll also be back to wearing the Team Canada uniform this winter. He doesn't bring too much beyond shooting and his defense is a liability, but he can still light it up from distance and torch lower-level competition.




39 (NR). Olivier Hanlan | CSKA Moscow, Russia | 31.6yo SG | 6'4, 190lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Boston College | Aylmer, QC
Last year's stats: 18.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.3apg, 39.4% from 3 (20 games), 47% in Europe and 45% in the playoffs for CSKA!

Hanalan had an excellent season in the primary Italian league (take a look at the stats above), with the shooting numbers looking particularly impressive. He hasn't played for team Canada in quite a while and might not make another appearance in the future, but he's back in my top 50 list and there's even an argument he could have been ranked higher.




38 (37). Olivier Maxence-Prosper | Dallas Mavericks, NBA | 22.2yo SF | 6'8, 230lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Marquette | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 3.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.6apg, 49.6% TS

O-Max looked quite good in the G-League last season, but it wasn't enough to crack the Mavericks rotation. Watching him in the summer league this summer, I wasn't overly impressed with the progress of his handle and finishing around the rim. He can certainly defend and might be able to shoot it with decent accuracy, but I don't think it's enough at this point to break into the Western Conference champs' rotation.




37 (35). Trae Bell-Haynes | Zaragoza, Europe Cup / Spain | 29yo PG | 6'2, 180lbs | Vermont | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 5.3apg, 37.8% from 3 (47.8% in Europe)

Another solid season for TBH in the Spanish league and in European competitions. After playing with Team Canada in the WC in 2023, he wasn't able to make the final roster for the Olympics, as the team had better options. But he remains an important part of the winter core and a very good second-tier European PG.




36 (20). Kevin Pangos | Napoli Basket, Italy | 31.6yo PG | 6'2, 185lbs, 6'0 wingspan | Gonzaga | Holland Landing, ON
Last year's stats: 3.9ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.8apg, 26.5% from 3 in the Euroleague% TS

There's no need to mince words. Pangos had a terrible season, and he seems to be fading quickly after several injuries that derailed his career. It's too bad, as he was our best Euroleague guy for a while. But given his defensive limitations, he really has to excel on the other end of the floor to be a starter for good European teams. Hopefully, he's able to make a comeback this season in Italy. If not, he’s likely to continue to fall even further on this list next year.




35 (30). Melvin Ejim | Unicaja Malaga, Champions League / Spain | 33.4yo PF | 6'7, 220lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Iowa State | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 6.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 0.7apg, 37.3% from 3

Ejim got rewarded for years of service and loyalty to the national team with a spot on the Olympic roster. He hardly played and it was probably his last gig with the team at a big event, but it was well deserved and sent an important message to other winter core players. Getting closer to his mid-30s, his game is slowly trending downward, but for now he remains a useful role player for good European teams, with a mix of defensive effort, decent shooting, and veteran locker-room mentorship.




34 (46). Caleb Houstan | Orlando Magic, NBA | 21.7yo SF | 6'8, 205lbs, 6'11 wingspan | Michigan | Mississauga, ON
Last year's stats: 4.3ppg, 1.4rpg, 0.5apg, 58.2 TS

Houston’s shot-chart at Orlando last year was quite remarkable: 95% of his field goal attempts were 3 pointers, and he shot them at a decent 37% rate. He wisely recognizes his limitations in terms of strength and athleticism, which really limit his finishing in the paint. So he focuses almost completely on the shooting, with a quick high release. Despite his physical limitations, he's a decent defender with some length and good feel. So, if he can just get the shooting precision a bit higher, to around 40%, and maybe also occasionally make some plays for others, he should be able to find a rotation spot and stick in the league for years as a classic 3-and-D bench guy. Team Canada can also use this type of player.




33 (33). Eugene Omoruyi | Washington Wizards, NBA | 27.6yo PF | 6'6, 240lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Oregon | Rexdale, ON
Last year's stats: 4.8ppg, 2rpg, 0.8apg, 54.9% TS

I remain a believer in Omoruyi as he continues to bounce around the NBA, moving from one single-year contract to another. If he can't get another one of these (unfortunately, he didn't shoot it well enough last year), I'd love to see him try his luck in Europe and join the SMT winter core. I’m a fan of his energy, intangibles, and defensive potential as an undersized PF or even a small-ball center.




32 (32). Phil Scrubb | Bahcesehir, Europe Cup / Turkey | 31.8yo SG | 6'5, 185lbs | Carleton | Richmond, BC
Last year's stats: 10.5ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.9apg, 40.9% from 3 (90% from the line)

Phil continues his very solid professional career, moving to Turkey this year. There's nothing spectacular about his game, but he can shoot the ball, make good decisions, and play decent defense. And, of course, he's been arguably the most dependable Team Canada player over the last decade, with 59 national team appearances to his name in no less than 10 different events (championships and qualifiers). He always shows up, even for the most excruciating trips in South America, providing dependable veteran presence that has been instrumental in getting the team to the big events.




31 (31). Thomas Scrubb | Obradorio, Spain | 33yo SF | 6'6, 200lbs | Carleton | Richmond, BC
Last year's stats: 11.9ppg, 6rpg, 1.6apg, 34.3% from 3 (but efficient from the field and the line

Much like his younger brother, Tommy continues to be rock solid, even if he doesn't bring anything spectacular to the table. He continues to play well and show a high level of efficiency in the Spanish league. He’s also been a loyal and important Team Canada cornerstone, often able to excel when playing with the winter core. Long live the Scrubbs!

Fantastic analysis! Much appreciated.

Wow this is incredible, thanks

I wonder how high XRM ends up, & who is the best CDN not in the NBA

21-30

30 (28). Dylan Ennis | Murcia, BCL / Spain | 32.7yo PG | 6'2, 225lbs, 6'8 wingspan | Oregon | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 14.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.1apg, 33.1% from 3

The older Ennis brother never played for Team Canada and at nearly 33yo he's probably not going to. But theoretically it remains a possibility, as he expressed some interest in the past. Ennis, who played in Oregon with Dillon Brooks and Chris Boucher, remains one of the best Canadian players in Europe, playing in the best domestic league. Last year, he even led Murcia to the Spanish League’s premier league finals, where they fell to Real Madrid.




29 (25). Kyle Wiltjer | Reyer Venezia, EuroCup / Italy | 31.9yo PF | 6'10, 240lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Gonzaga | Portland, OR
Last year's stats: 12.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2apg, 40.7% from 3 (42.7% in Europe)

If Wiltjer could defend at a reasonable level, he'd be a perennial Euroleague player. Regardless, he remains an amazing shooter, who can change a game with his outside shooting and overall scoring prowess. Hopefully, he's not done playing for Team Canada. I’d love to see a team featuring a mix of Canadian European veterans (The likes of Wiltjer, Birch, Robertson, Ejim, Pangos, the Scrubbs, and the Ennises) and a few younger up and comers, contend for an AmeriCup gold medal next summer. Is there a better way to celebrate their contribution to the team over the years?




28 (40). Tyler Ennis | Reyer Venezia, EuroCup / Italy | 30yo PG | 6'3, 185lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Syracuse | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 14.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 6.7apg, 30.0% from 3

The younger Ennis brother will be joining Wiltjer in Venice next year. I've had a chance to watch Tyler more closely in several games this season and really liked what I've seen. He seems to be fully back from his injuries and even if Team Canada is not in the cards anymore, I think he plays winning basketball and is on par with lower-level Euroleague players as one of the better pure point guards in Europe.




27 (42). Isiaha Mike | Partizan Belgrade, Euroleague / Serbia | 27.1yo PF | 6'8, 215lbs | SMU | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 11.8ppg (14.4 in Europe), 3.6rpg, 1.3apg, and 35.7% from 3

Mike has been up and coming for the last few years, and he’s now made it to the Euroleague with Partizan, though he’s currently injured and it will take some time before he makes his debut. Is it too much to ask that he also makes his debut appearance with the national team soon? Team Canada can really use his size and athleticism at the wing and if he continues to advance, he might even be able to make a case for some summer events.




26 (NR). Xavier Rathan-Mayes | Real Madrid, Euroleague / Spain | 30.4yo SG | 6'4, 200lbs, 6'5 wingspan | Florida State | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 25.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.4apg, 35.7% from 3

The biggest riser on the list this year had a nice comeback season. After not even making it to the top 50 over the last few years, XRM had a fantastic run in Russia (take a look at the numbers), on his way to a lucrative deal with the best team in the world outside of the NBA over the last few years, Euroleague's powerhouse Real Madrid. He'll get a chance to show that he can be more than just a volume scorer on a small team.




25 (19). Dyshawn Pierre | Fenerbahce, Euroleague / Turkey | 30.8yo SF | 6'6, 230lbs | Dayton | Whitby, ON
Last year's stats: 5.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.6apg, and 30.2% from 3 in the Euroleague

After several years of being Canada's most consistent Euroleague player, Pierre signed another contract with Fener and will remain another season in the second-best league in the world. He's still a good and committed defender, but his offense took a bit of a dip this year, particularly his perimeter shooting (from 46% last year to 30% this year), so he drops several spots on this list. Hopefully, he can get back to his old efficiency this year.




24 (17). Cory Joseph | San Antonio Spurs, NBA | 33.1yo PG | 6'3, 200lbs, 6'6 wingspan | Texas | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 2.4ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.6apg, 47% TS

Things didn't end very well with Team Canada, as CoJo complained that he wasn't given a fair chance to compete for a spot in the Olympics after years of dedicated service to the team. But he seems determined to extend his NBA career a bit further, after dealing with some injuries and working hard to get back in shape. The building spurs seems like a nice landing spot. Similar to last year with the Warriors, he'll team up with Chris Paul, providing veteran experience and mentorship to the young Spurs core. If he can get back to shooting it decently, he might be able to see steady minutes.




23 (21). Kyle Alexander | Turk Telekom, Turkey | 27.9yo C | 6'11, 220lbs, 7'5 wingspan | Tennessee | Milton, ON
Last year's stats: 9.9ppg, 7rpg, 0.7apg, 63.7% from the field

Moving from Spain and the Euroleague to lesser leagues (Israel and the secondary European competition), Alexander had a decent if unspectacular season. It wasn't enough to maintain his spot with the national team, after already not playing much in the WC last year. Moving to Turkey, he should hopefully still be an important piece of the winter core, and I would love to see him play next summer in the AmeriCup. But I'm not sure he'll be able to make the cut again for one of the bigger events.




22 (29). Leonard Miller | Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA | 20.8yo SF | 6'10, 215lbs, 7'2 wingspan | NA | Thornhill, ON
Last year's stats: 1.7ppg, 1.2rpg, 0.5apg, 69.4% TS

Miller wasn’t able to break into the Timberwolves packed frontcourt lineup last year, and I'm not at all confident he'll start seeing significant minutes next year. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing him traded to another team that can give him more playing time. Regardless, I remain a believer in his talent and long-term potential, especially if he can continue to iron out some of the inconsistencies. Becoming a more consistent and engaged defender and showing he can space the floor a bit better could go a long way. This ranking may seem a bit too high considering what he’s shown so far, but I'm crossing my fingers for a breakout year, in Minnesota or elsewhere.




21 (26). Mfiondu Kabengele | Reyer Venezia, EuroCup / Italy | 27.1yo C | 6'9, 250lbs, 7'3 wingspan | Florida State | Burlington, ON
Last year's stats: 9.6ppg, 7.1rpg, 0.7apg, 60.5% from the field

The third top 30 Canadian on the roster of the most Canadian team in Europe, playing in the City of Canals. It was nice to finally see Kabengele in a Canadian Team uniform in the prep games leading up to the Olympics, even if he didn't survive the final cut. With the aging of Powell, Olynyk, TT, and Birch, he should have a real chance to make the roster in the next cycle. Playing in Europe now, he will hopefully continue to adjust to the FIBA game (I think he has Euroleague potential) and also begin getting some experience and playing time during Canada's winter campaigns or the AmeriCup this summer. He brings a big body, good length, strong rebounding, great effort and motor, and potentially even some perimeter shooting, which can make him a very valuable piece.

XRM signing with Real Madrid is quite the shocker. Like laughable when I saw the rumors circulate that Real had interest. I'll be amazed if he lasts the entire season there (he got a guaranteed contract?).

He is much like Olivier Hanlan to me - high volume, ineffecient scoring guard, with poor defense, that doesn't elevate teammates. A "star" player who gets numbers on weaker teams, but is exposed when the level gets high enough.

Perhaps both have matured with time and have rounded out their games, but they both seem to have this cycle of great seasons in lower leagues, move up, get exposed, move down for a couple years, then a higher club gives them another go.

And I am not sure killing it in the Russian VTB nowadays means anything like it did a few years ago.

mojo13 wrote:XRM signing with Real Madrid is quite the shocker. Like laughable when I saw the rumors circulate that Real had interest. I'll be amazed if he lasts the entire season there (he got a guaranteed contract?).

He is much like Olivier Hanlan to me - high volume, ineffecient scoring guard, with poor defense, that doesn't elevate teammates. A "star" player who gets numbers on weaker teams, but is exposed when the level gets high enough.

Perhaps both have matured with time and have rounded out their games, but they both seem to have this cycle of great seasons in lower leagues, move up, get exposed, move down for a couple years, then a higher club gives them another go.

And I am not sure killing it in the Russian VTB nowadays means anything like it did a few years ago.

There's certainly a chance you're right about this and if so, he's over-ranked here and I'll need to adjust next year. Last year's production is hard to ignore, but there's a chance that I (and Real Madrid) overreacted. We'll see.

Hair Canada wrote:

mojo13 wrote:XRM signing with Real Madrid is quite the shocker. Like laughable when I saw the rumors circulate that Real had interest. I'll be amazed if he lasts the entire season there (he got a guaranteed contract?).

He is much like Olivier Hanlan to me - high volume, ineffecient scoring guard, with poor defense, that doesn't elevate teammates. A "star" player who gets numbers on weaker teams, but is exposed when the level gets high enough.

Perhaps both have matured with time and have rounded out their games, but they both seem to have this cycle of great seasons in lower leagues, move up, get exposed, move down for a couple years, then a higher club gives them another go.

And I am not sure killing it in the Russian VTB nowadays means anything like it did a few years ago.

There's certainly a chance you're right about this and if so, he's over-ranked here and I'll need to adjust next year. Last year's production is hard to ignore, but there's a chance that I (and Real Madrid) overreacted. We'll see.

Last game I watched he affected the game positively, was in the game in the crunch. I don't like their starting PG tho, he's pretty small. XRM might get a bigger role as the szn goes on

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20 (23). Khem Birch | Fenerbahce, Euroleague / Turkey | 31.9yo C | 6'9, 235lbs, 7'1 wingspan | UNLV | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 8.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 0.8apg, 51.3% from the field

Birch finally came back from his lengthy injury, and while it was too late to secure another NBA contract, he looked pretty good back in Europe. He was even able to make a somewhat surprising Team Canada appearance at the Olympics, where I thought he looked decent in sporadic minutes. Seems like he still has a few good years of basketball in him, and he'll join Dyshawn Pierre at Fener in the Euroleague next year. The Turkish team doesn’t seem to deep in the frontcourt, so he should see some playing time and will get a chance to show he’s still got it.




19 (18). Oshae Brissett | Boston Celtics, NBA | 26.2yo PF | 6'7, 210lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Syracuse | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 3.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 0.8apg, 53% TS

Brissett actually got some chances with the NBA Champs last year. But his perimeter shooting took a dive, which eventually took him out of the rotation despite a good defensive contribution and a welcome improvement to his finishing touch in the paint. He also couldn’t make the Canadian roster even after Wiggins dropped out, which was a bit disappointing, but he remains an option for the next cycle. I thought he made a somewhat questionable decision to get out of his contract with the Celtics, and right now it's not clear whether he'll get picked up by another team.




18 (27). Dalano Banton | Boston Celtics, NBA | 24.8yo PG | 6'9, 205lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Nebraska | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 16.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.6apg, 50.8% TS

After moving to a depleted Portland team, Banton had somewhat of an NBA coming out party in the second half of the season. He led the team in scoring, had several impressive playmaking performances, and showed his offensive potential. But we need to be careful. First, he mostly did it in a vacuum for a very bad team with very little talent. Second, he continued the inefficiency that characterized his entire NBA career (his 50.8% TS with Portland is a career high, which is clearly not great…). That, in turn, puts in question his ability to be a good rotation piece in a reduced role with fewer minutes and touches. He's young enough and showed enough promise to merit a top 20 spot on this list. But he’ll need to find a way to contribute from the bench when the ball is not in his hands in order to become a steady rotation player for the Trailblazers this year.




17 (22). Tristan Thompson | LA Lakers, NBA | 33.5yo C | 6'9, 255lbs, 7'2 wingspan | Texas | Brampton, ON
Last year's stats: 3.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1apg, 56.7% TS

Becoming part of the Kardashians' soap opera clearly didn't help TT's career, as he sometimes seems more focused on parties and scoring (not baskets) than on keeping his NBA career afloat. His best days are clearly behind him and a drug-related suspension during last season also didn't help. And yet, he’s still here and even made a bit of a jump to the top 20. That’s because I thought he looked fairly efficient in limited minutes with the Cavs and he showed enough defensive energy and swichability to secure another contract with them. Moreover, I also think he could have been useful for Team Canada in a limited role this summer, given that his defensive swichability, rebounding, energies, and ability to put a body on opposing bigs were some of the areas where the team struggled the most. That said, I really doubt we'll see him wearing the red and white again.




16 (15). Trey Lyles | Sacramento Kings, NBA | 28.8yo PF | 6'10, 235lbs, 7'2 wingspan | Kentucky | Saskatoon, SK
Last year's stats: 7.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 59.6% TS

Lyles was supposed to make a difference for Team Canada this summer, providing shooting and some size as a backup PF. But he really disappointed. He was arguably the team's worst player and one of the major reasons for its failure to reach the semifinals. The shot was completely off, and he didn't bring much otherwise. He remains a decent rotation player for the Kings, where his shot looks much better within the team's game flow. And he’s young enough to still be around for the next cycle, though I’m hoping Canada has some better options at PF by 2027.




15 (9). Chris Boucher | Toronto Raptors, NBA | 31.7yo PF | 6'10, 215lbs, 7'4 wingspan | Oregon | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 6.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 0.5apg, 62.5% TS

Not a good season for Boucher, who posted his weakest numbers since his NBA breakout season in 2019. He's not a favorite with the Raptors coaching staff, probably due to his lacking feel and tendency to jack up contested 3s, and his defense also took a noticeable step back this season. I still think he can bring a shot of energy and hustle coming off the bench in the right situation, but his career seems to be trending downward, and he also missed on what was perhaps his last chance to play for Team Canada over the last two summers.




14 (8). Dwight Powell | Dallas Mavericks, NBA | 33.1yo C | 6'10, 240lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Stanford | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 3.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.3apg, 71.6% TS

Dwight, a true master of knowing how to get punched in the face and quickly recover, continues his gradual decline in the NBA. He received fewer minutes and was frequently kept out of the rotation altogether for a contending Dallas team, especially after they brought younger and bigger replacements in the draft and before the trade deadline. On the one hand, Powell remains as efficient as ever, with Dallas and with Team Canada, as he rarely misses a field goal. On the other hand, he does it on very low usage and his offense his really limited. Defensively, he doesn't offer much in terms of size and rim protection, although he's still able to play decent switch defense. Will he be there with Canada for the next big WC/Olympic Cycle?




13 (11). Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA | 26yo SG | 6'6, 210lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Virginia Tech | Vaughan, ON
Last year's stats: 8ppg, 2rpg, 2.5apg, 57.8% TS

NAW had a very good regular season with the Wolves, as an integral part of their bench unit, giving them decent shooting and excellent point-of-attack defense. Unfortunately, the shooting fell off a cliff in the playoffs, and that also carried on to his performances with Team Canada this summer, where he couldn't buy a bucket. He still has the potential to be a useful 3-and-D in this league, in the mold of someone like KCP. But for this to happen, he'll need to hit his open shots more consistently, as well as improve his finishing in the paint.




12 (14). Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers, NBA | 22.2yo SF | 6'7, 210lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Arizona | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 14.5ppg, 4rpg, 2apg, 56.2% TS

Mathurin's sophomore's year wasn’t quite what we hoped for. To be sure, there were some positives: He continued to show some scoring prowess, the perimeter shooting and passing improved, and there were stretches where he looked like he's getting into the rhythm of things, before a season-ending injury. But despite his physical tools, he continues to be a weak defender, which I think is the main factor holding him back from making a jump into the Pacers' starting 5. I wouldn't be surprised if he's traded at some point during the coming year, as the Pacers committed pretty heavily this summer and might be hesitant to take on another big contract next summer. Regardless, he'll need to really pick things up defensively to fully tap into his potential and avoid becoming just a bench scorer in the NBA. Really hope it happens, as he could be a fundamental building blocks for Team Canada’s future.




11 (3). Andrew Wiggins | Golden State Warriors, NBA | 29.5yo SF | 6'8, 200lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Kansas | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 13.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg, 54.4% TS

First, my condolences to Andrew on losing his father. Perhaps somewhat related to this personal life struggle, Wiggins looked really bad at Golden State last year and was arguably one of the worst players in the league for stretches, though he did look better toward the end of the season. He's not yet 30, and still possesses the physical tools and skill to make a comeback, perhaps with a trade to a different scenery, or maybe with the Warriors. He was an All-Star and the second-best player in the playoffs on the league champions only two years ago. I'm just not sure how much he really still wants it and going to get after it. In any case, it seems pretty clear that he's not going to wear the red and white uniform anymore. And given his play last year, which at times seemed to border on apathy, he takes a significant dive on this list.

1-10

10 (6). Kelly Olynyk | Utah Jazz, NBA | 33.4yo C | 7'0, 240lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Gonzaga | Kamloops, BC
Last year's stats: 9.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.4apg, 66.1% TS

Olynyk continues to be a smart offensive player, who makes the right read and can knock down the outside shot or get to the rim against heavier defenders and finish with craft and touch. But getting into his mid-30s, the defense, which was never his strong suit, is really starting to hold him back and I think it's the main reason that kept him off the court during Canada's Olympic campaign. I still think there's a chance he can help the national team in the future if his game doesn't further decline, but I'm not that sure he'll be there in the next big cycle.




9 (10). Brandon Clarke | Memphis Grizzlies, NBA | 28yo PF | 6'8, 210lbs, 6'8 wingspan | Gonzaga | Vancouver, BC
Last year's stats: 11.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, 55.9% TS

Coming back from a tough Achilles injury, Clarke looked like he didn't lose much in terms of explosiveness. By now, it's very clear what he brings to the table and his ceiling as a complementary piece on a good NBA team is pretty much set. But I'm hoping to see him get back to the efficiency and energies that he showed before he got hurt. Unlike a guy like Boucher, I still have hopes that Clarke suits up for Team Canada during the next big cycle (2027-28) as the ultimate (and hopefully a bit improved) Dwight Powell replacement. Maybe Edey will be able to convince him to join the ride?




8 (16). Zach Edey | Memphis Grizzlies, NCAA | 22.5yo C | 7'4, 305lbs, 7'11 wingspan | Purdue | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 25.2ppg, 12.2rpg, 2apg, 65.9% TS

That's probably higher than what many would rank an unproven NBA player with clear defensive question marks. But I've always been a believer in the big Maple and I'm not goanna back down now. This is also where a consideration for Team Canada's needs comes into play most notably in this ranking. We just need the two-times college player of the year to become the heart of our national team's frontcourt in years to come, and I think he has what it takes to do it. NBA-wise, he landed in perhaps the best possible situation at Memphis, as he’s likely to start and see a good number of minutes already this year as a rookie.




7 (13). Andrew Nembhard | Indiana Pacers, NBA | 24.6yo PG | 6'5, 195lbs, 6'4 wingspan | Gonzaga | Aurora, ON
Last year's stats: 9.2ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.1apg, 57.3% TS

Following his tremendous breakout playoff appearances with the Pacers, Nembhard was somewhat inconsistent for Team Canada in the Olympics, where he looked a bit timid at times and didn’t initiate the way he did in the playoffs. Regardless, I'm a believer in Andrew as one of the foundations of this program for years to come, and think he’s also going to be a really solid and dependable NBA player over the next decade.




6 (7). Luguentz Dort | OKC Thunder, NBA | 25.4yo SG | 6'4, 220lbs, 6'9 wingspan | Arizona State | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 10.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, 59.3% TS

I thought Dort played fine in the Olympic campaign and he remains an important part of the national team’s future. He continues to be one of the best on-ball defenders in the league (and absolutely phenomenal at drawing offensive charges), playing for an OKC team that is poised to be a contender next year. I also thought he made some welcome developments to his game. Most notably, he was able scale down his offensive usage in favor of greater efficiency, and if he can maintain this level of perimeter shooting and overall efficiency (while hopefully also improving a bit his ability to finish around the rim), he'll continue to be an important piece of the Thunder's future as a starter on a legit contender.




5 (12). Shaedon Sharpe | Porland Trail Blazers, NBA | 21.3yo SG | 6'5, 200lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Kentucky | London, ON
Last year's stats: 15.9ppg, 5rpg, 2.9apg, 52.4% TS

I'm sure not everyone would agree with this ranking, especially given Sharpe's somewhat middling numbers last season and the fact he was injured for more than half of the season. But I'm putting my money on Sharpe making a big break through this season with the Blazers. His upside and ceiling are higher than any Canadian player not named Shai (yes, even Murray). The Trailblazers are his for the taking over the next year or two, with no All-Star caliber players. We'll just need to see that he wants it as much as guys like SGA, Murray, and RJ. If he does, the sky is the limit (literally in his case), with multiple All-Star appearances in his future.




4 (4). Dillon Brooks | Houston Rockets, NBA | 28.6yo SF | 6'7, 220lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Oregon | Mississauga, ON
Last year's stats: 12.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, 54.9% TS

After a glorious WC campaign in 2003, Brooks came down to earth in the Olympics. He still played pretty well, and the team was noticeably better with him on the court. But he had a weak shooting game against France, which was one of the reasons Canada was unable to beat the home team. Brooks remains one of the best defenders in the NBA, although he doesn’t always get full credit for it due to his reputation and antics. This year with Houston he also took an important step back in offensive usage, jacking up fewer inefficient shots and posting the best true shooting percentage of his career. I still think he has at least one more campaign with Team Canada, where he'll continue to be one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.




3 (5). RJ Barrett | Toronto Raptors, NBA | 24.2yo SG | 6'7, 215lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Duke | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 20.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.3apg, 58% TS

RJ had the best stretch of his NBA career after he was traded from the Knicks to the Raptors. Coming back to his hometown, he finally was able to score the ball efficiently and make good decisions on the move. He was then the only player besides Shai who showed up consistently at the Olympics (after also playing well in the WC last year). Like all Raptors fans, I'm really hoping he can maintain his efficient play from last year and I’m optimistic about it because the team around him complements his strengths and skill much better. If he maintains this level of play, while also improving his mediocre defense, he'll become a borderline All-Star.




2 (2). Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets, NBA | 27.5yo PG | 6'5, 215lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Kentucky | Kitchener, ON
Last year's stats: 21.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 6.5apg, 58.6% TS

I realize that a lot of people (myself included) were deeply disappointed with Murray's performance at the Olympics. It's probably not an exaggeration to say that he was the biggest reason (although not the only one) for Canada falling short of expectations, missing on the semifinals, and not being able to contend for a medal. He also wasn't good enough in the last NBA playoffs, with his shot not falling and the athleticism and finishing in the paint looking rusty. But I'm not willing to give up on him as Canada's second-best player quite yet. Just as a reminder, he was amazing in the playoffs last season, leading the Nuggets to a historical championship, and is coming off the best regular season of his career. And even his recent “bad” playoff included two game winners against the Lakers and 35 points in game 7 against the Timberwolves. By most accounts, he was hindered by injuries in the NBA playoffs and the Olympics. A fully healthy Jamal is still one of the deadliest offensive weapons in the league, particularly when he has the Joker as is his running mate.




1 (1). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC Thunder, NBA | 26.2yo PG | 6'6, 200lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Kentucky | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 30.1ppg, 5.5rpg, 6.2apg, 63.6% TS

One of only two players who didn't disappoint in the Olympics, SGA remains the undisputed top dog on this list and the gap between him and the field continues to grow even bigger by the year. Coming off a near-MVP season (and a second consecutive First Team All-NBA selection), the future looks bright, as OKC made a couple of strong moves in the summer and is poised to compete for an NBA championship starting this year, with Shai as their undisputed superstar. He’ll get some rest from National Team duties during the next two summers before hopefully coming back in 2027 to compete for the WC Gold medal.

yeah Sharpe to me should be closer to 15 than 5 IMO.

Great work on this list! I agree with most of the rankings.

Kind of a shock at how old some of our guys are getting. The golden generation of Can Bball was in it's prime this Olympics. Really unfortunate Wiggins and TT weren't involved. Hopefully some of the young guys like Sharpe and Mathurin take leaps to extend our window.

YogurtProducer wrote:yeah Sharpe to me should be closer to 15 than 5 IMO.

On production alone he is higher than 15. Nevermind factoring in age/potential. I'd rather have him than Olynyk, or Clarke, for example. Dort I think I'd have above him though.

ontnut wrote:

YogurtProducer wrote:yeah Sharpe to me should be closer to 15 than 5 IMO.

On production alone he is higher than 15. Nevermind factoring in age/potential. I'd rather have him than Olynyk, or Clarke, for example. Dort I think I'd have above him though.

He is at best #14. Nothing about this list seems to be about potential.