Birch, Ejim make final cut

Final 12-man roster announced for Canadian men's Olympic team

- DOUG SMITH

Finally fully healthy after fighting knee woes for years, Khem Birch, left, shown while a member of the Raptors in 2022, made Canada's team for the Paris Olympics.

It is a team brimming with talent and potential, and the collective attitude is a marriage of confidence and defiance.

Canada is ready to take on the basketball world in their most anticipated Olympics and the message is simple: Here we are, here’s what we do, come stop us.

“I'll give everybody the secret: Our key is going to be running the floor and being very physical,” coach Jordi Fernandez said of the Canadian team headed to the Paris Games later this month.

“So if you can do deal with us, then come and do it. But we're going try to do it really hard.”

The final 12-man Canadian roster was finalized Tuesday morning, with few surprises. There are eight players returning from the bronzemedal team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup augmented by Jamal Murray, Andrew Nembhard, Trey Lyles and Khem Birch. The team has experience and speed and chemistry, more than enough to challenge for an Olympic medal.