June 28, 2016
Countdown to Manila OQT: 7 days
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson is set to play for the Canadian national basketball team in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines, according to a report by Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes.
Thompson last suited up for Canada in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. He missed the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.
Thompson was a key part of the Cavaliers’ 2015-16 season and championship run, averaging 10.3 PPG and 10.1 RPG, while shooting 64 percent from the floor in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
The 25-year-old big man was the fourth overall draft pick of the Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Canada has not yet trimmed its roster down to 12 men. Notably missing from the team’s current pool for the Manila OQT are Andrew Wiggins, Nik Stauskas, Dwight Powell, and Kelly Olynyk.
Canada is in Group A of the tournament with Senegal and Turkey.
