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Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among NBA stars playing for Canada in FIBA qualifiers
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- Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among NBA stars playing for Canada in FIBA qualifiers
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Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns to the basketball court for Canada's men's national basketball team's FIBA qualifiers this summer. It'll be the first time Gilgeous-Alexander has played since losing Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs .
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Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined by his cousin, Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker , Phoenix Suns ' Dillon Brooks , and more, according to The Athletic's Eric Koreen.
"Canada Basketball has announced that NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be among those playing for Canada this coming weekend in a FIBA Americas qualification window," Koreen reported. "Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Phoenix's Dillon Brooks, Indiana 's Andrew Nembhard and Dallas 's Ryan Nembhard are among those who will play in the window."
Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder teammate Lu Dort will be in attendance, but isn't expected to play.
"Several players are with the team but won't play, including Luguentz Dort , Bennedict Mathurin , RJ Barrett , Zach Edey , Dwight Powell and Kelly Olynyk ," Koreen added.
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Gilgeous-Alexander and the Canadiens will face Puerto Rico on Friday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Lu Dort's Thunder option for 2026-27
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Although Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed he's not involved in talks with GM Sam Presti and the front office over roster moves, Lu Dort could be the one exception to the rule. When a reporter asked Gilgeous-Alexander if he'd speak up on Dort's behalf ahead of receiving a new deal, he said that it would be out of the norm.
"I will give zero input," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
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However, SGA might put in a word with Presti, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon
"I was told, though, that Shai was playing a little bit coy there," MacMahon said on the NBA Today show. "He will at least remind Sam Presti and the Thunder management just how much he values having Lu Dort as his teammate."
The Thunder will have until the end of Monday to decide on the final season of Dort's five-year, $82.5 million contract, which is worth $17.7 million for 2026-27.
Related: Thunder makes $17.7 million Lu Dort roster decision ahead of free agency
Related: Isaiah Hartenstein to sign 3-year extension with Thunder
