In search of their first Olympic medal since the inaugural Olympic Games 88 years ago, Canada’s senior men’s national basketball team returned to the international stage after a 24-year absence.
Behind a star-studded roster that features ten NBA players, Canada made their Olympic return in triumphant fashion, defeating Greece 86-79 in the opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, with over 26,421 fans in attendance.
In control from the opening whistle, Canada dictated the game with aggressive perimeter defense, building a game-high 16-point lead. However, clutch shot-making sealed the deal, securing Canada’s first Olympic victory since September 30, 2000, when they last defeated Russia.
Canada jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with baskets from RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dillon Brooks. The team showcased their shooting potential, hitting 8-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc to build a 22-9 lead with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Struggling with four early turnovers, Greece found their rhythm with back-to-back three-pointers, igniting a 12-5 run to close the first quarter at 26-22.
The hot start for Canada cooled off as the pace of the game slowed down. A three-pointer from Greece trimmed the lead to just three points at 28-25—the closest they would come until a late fourth-quarter run. By halftime, the Canadians maintained a 48-38 lead thanks to 14-of-16 shooting from the foul line and exceptional ball control, with just four first-half turnovers.
Canadian head coach Jordi Fernández’s decision to start with a small lineup featuring a four-guard rotation paid full dividends. Canada started the second half on fire, with an 8-2 run that stretched the lead to 56-40 with 8:13 left in the third quarter. However, Greece, led by former two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, mounted a comeback.
Holding an eight-point lead (68-60) at the start of the fourth quarter, Canada found themselves picking up four quick team fouls, leading to three of their starting players fouling out. Guarded mainly by Brooks the entire game, Antetokounmpo led Greece’s comeback with a game-high 34 points. Greece pulled off a 10-0 run and cut the lead to two points at 80-78 with a minute to play.
Despite the pressure, Canada managed to hold on. Kostas Papanikolaou also contributed significantly for Greece with 17 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. However, Greece’s starting backcourt of Thomas Walkup and veteran Nick Calathes were held scoreless in the first half and combined for just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.
RJ Barrett, who was only three months old when his father, Rowan Barrett, played at the 2000 games, scored Canada’s first Olympic basket in 24 years. He finished the first quarter with seven points and eventually tallied a team-high 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the win.
Starting point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added eight of his 21 points in the opening quarter and got his teammates involved with seven assists.
Speaking to the media after the game, Gilgeous-Alexander described how he remains cool, calm, and composed down the stretch. “I work hard, that’s really it. I’m always in the gym, I’ve got a good group around me, always working, always pushing me, and that’s why I’m ready for the moments,” said the Canadian star guard.
Reflecting on the outcome and his first Olympic coaching victory, Canadian head coach Jordi Fernández talked about the win, held himself accountable, and wasn’t shy about praising his first-team All-NBA guard and MVP runner-up.
“It was a good win. It was the way to start. Our guys played hard. Obviously, there were moments where I should’ve had more control, and I put that on myself. I should have organized them better and known what to run offensively. But I like the effort and the competitiveness.”
“At the end of the day, in my mind, I have the best player in the tournament, and that’s how we move on to game two. We just have to keep getting better.”
Dillon Brooks finished with 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range and added five rebounds before fouling out in 23 minutes. Jamal Murray came off the bench and struggled to find his rhythm, adding eight points and three assists, including two free-throws, to seal the victory.
Luguentz Dort contributed eight points, four rebounds, and two assists. Dwight Powell chipped in with six points and four rebounds, while Kelly Olynyk added four points and a team-high six rebounds in 13 minutes.
Despite playing a shorter lineup, Canada outrebounded Greece 37-33 and scored 18 points off 12 turnovers. A key to Canada’s early success was their eleven fast-break points, which was a point of emphasis for head coach Jordi Fernández.
“I want more consistency. Easier said than done, because we ran the floor very well at the start; we were playing with good pace, but then we slowed down. Obviously, credit to Greece—they switched a lot and kept us stagnant, but we found a way to make big shots.”
“That was key to the game. We slowed down, and we cannot slow down. We’re a fast team, we are a physical team, and we have to keep doing it.”
Team Canada will look for just their fourth all-time 2-0 start in their Olympic history when they play Australia in their upcoming Group A matchup. The Boomers defeated Spain 92-80 in their opening game.
