San Francisco, California – Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins will not be participating in the Canadian men’s basketball team’s training camp in Toronto to determine the country’s Olympic team for the upcoming tournament. This decision comes after he was named to the 20-man training camp roster earlier in the month but will now no longer be eligible to make the team.
Canadian general manager Rowan Barrett revealed that the Warriors informed him just before the start of the camp that Wiggins would not be available to play, citing it as a mutual decision between Wiggins and the team due to medical reasons. Despite preparing for the camp for weeks, Wiggins will have to sit out, affecting Canada’s chances of solidifying their roster for the Olympics.
Wiggins played 71 games for the Warriors in the previous season but faced setbacks due to an ankle injury in the late stages. His performance was not up to par with his championship season in 2021-22, contributing to the decision made by Golden State regarding his participation in the training camp.
The decision to exclude Wiggins from the Canadian team’s training camp roster sparked some controversy, especially considering Canada’s previous requirement for players to commit to three years of summer camps to be eligible for the Olympics. Despite not being able to make that commitment initially, Wiggins eventually signed a four-year extension with the Warriors.
With Wiggins out of the picture, Canada will have to rely on other key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray to lead the team in the Olympic tournament. The absence of Wiggins, who last played for Canada in 2021, will be a significant blow for the team as they strive to make their mark in the men’s basketball tournament at the Olympics for the first time since 2000.