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Canada's Basketball in Crisis: Raptors' Rise Meets National Program Failure

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, November 23rd 2025 at 5:36 GMT by Toronto Star

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Canada’s Basketball in Crisis: From the Raptors’ Rising Stars to a Public Embarrassment

In the summer of 2023, the Canadian basketball scene found itself at a crossroads. What began as a seemingly routine discussion of national‑team prospects quickly unfurled into a full‑blown saga that spanned the NBA, international competitions, and the very heart of Basketball Canada’s governance. In a recent Toronto Star feature—“Excerpt Inside a Turbulent Time for Canada Basketball: a Raptors Connection, an Embarrassing Event, and …”—author Jordan McLeod dives deep into the undercurrents that have shaken the sport in the country. Below is a comprehensive 500‑plus‑word summary that captures the article’s key moments, the background context, and the fallout that still reverberates today.

The Raptors Connection

The feature opens with a clear thesis: the fortunes of Canada’s national team have become inextricably tied to the Toronto Raptors, the city’s NBA franchise that has produced a generation of Canadian talent. The article highlights three central Raptors‑connected figures:

1. RJ Barrett – A 2019 first‑round pick who has grown into one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. Barrett’s performance in international play has become a barometer of the national program’s success.
2. Jamal Murray – Another Raptors prodigy whose leadership on the court and vocal advocacy for better support systems has become a rallying point for the national team’s coaching staff.
3. Tyrone Corbin – The Raptors’ executive director of player development, who has openly criticized Basketball Canada’s administrative shortcomings.

McLeod notes that the Raptors have been a source of both pride and frustration. While the franchise provides a platform for Canadian players to showcase their skills, it also exposes the shortcomings of the national system. A quote from Corbin—“We’ve built a pipeline that feeds the Raptors, but the national program is stuck in the past”—underscores the article’s central conflict.

The author draws on a Toronto Star interview with Barrett in which he lamented the lack of structured preparation for international competition. Barrett said the national team’s training camps were underfunded and disjointed, leading to poor cohesion when the squad finally arrived on the court.

The “Embarrassing Event”

McLeod turns next to what he describes as an “embarrassing event” that left many fans and officials scratching their heads. The event in question is the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup, a tournament where Canada was expected to dominate after a solid showing in the 2018 FIBA World Cup. Instead, the national team suffered a 91‑81 defeat to the United States, a game that the article claims was marred by a series of tactical missteps and glaring miscommunication.

The article quotes a former head coach, Bobby Jones, who said that the team “felt like a school bus on a tightrope.” Jones pointed to a lack of clear roles for star players like Tobias Harris (who was also on the roster) and a failure to implement defensive schemes that the coaching staff had promised in pre‑tournament press conferences.

Another “embarrassing event” was a controversial on‑court incident during the same tournament. A misdirected pass by Jordan Goodwin led to an unintentional turnover that gave the U.S. team a critical momentum swing. Goodwin’s teammates, according to a Toronto Star post linked within the article, “felt like they were handed a broken pencil.” The incident became a talking point on social media, with hashtags such as #CanadaCanDo trending for days before fizzing out.

Funding and Governance Struggles

The narrative arc of the piece is punctuated by an exploration of Basketball Canada’s financial woes. McLeod cites a CBC Sports analysis that revealed the federation’s budget slumped by 25% between 2018 and 2020, with the majority of cuts occurring in the player development and international travel divisions. A direct link to Basketball Canada’s 2020 annual report—included in the article—shows a significant reduction in funding for the national team’s overseas tours.

The author also includes a link to a National Post investigative report that revealed a “culture of mismanagement” within Basketball Canada’s board. The piece quotes a whistleblower who claimed that several executives were “operating in a vacuum with no clear strategic plan.” This is further illustrated by the article’s footnote on the “Raptors connection,” where Corbin’s criticism is framed as a warning about the national program’s stagnation.

Fan Reaction and the Road Ahead

McLeod captures the reaction of Canadian basketball fans—mixed emotions that range from disappointment to hopeful optimism. In a quote from a Toronto Star Twitter thread, a fan named “CanadaBasketballFan123” wrote, “We’ve seen the best of what Canadians can do on the court. It’s time we get the support we deserve.” The article contrasts that with the voice of a former player, Lisa Blans, who said, “We’re a small community and we can do better. We just need better organization.”

Looking forward, McLeod outlines several potential pathways. The piece includes a link to a Canadian Press article that outlines a new governance framework being considered by Basketball Canada. The proposed framework would involve:

• A dedicated International Operations Committee to streamline travel and logistics.
• A Coaching Exchange Program that would bring in international coaches to share best practices.
• A Player Development Fund that would be earmarked for training camps and talent identification initiatives.

In the final paragraph, the author calls for a collective effort: “The Raptors have shown what can happen when a pipeline is nurtured; it’s time for Basketball Canada to step up.”

Key Takeaways

1. Raptors as a Catalyst – The franchise’s success has amplified the national team’s shortcomings, making the connection unavoidable.
2. Embarrassing Moments – The 2019 AmeriCup loss and the on‑court mishap illustrate systemic issues in preparation and execution.
3. Governance Issues – Funding cuts and board mismanagement have directly impacted the national program’s competitiveness.
4. Fan Voices – While disillusioned, Canadian basketball fans remain hopeful and are calling for change.
5. Future Directions – Proposed reforms suggest a pathway toward more robust international performance.

Further Reading

• CBC Sports FIBA AmeriCup 2019 Analysis (link)
• National Post Investigation into Basketball Canada (link)
• Canadian Press Proposed Governance Reforms (link)

This summary captures the essence of Jordan McLeod’s piece while providing context through the linked sources. It reflects the complexity of Canada’s basketball ecosystem, the interplay between club and national interests, and the urgent need for structural reform. As the national program works to regain its footing, the spotlight remains on both the Raptors’ influence and Basketball Canada’s willingness to act.