I still remember watching that 2019 FIBA World Cup roster announcement with mixed feelings - part excitement about seeing our Canadian talent finally getting the recognition they deserved, part frustration about who wasn't there. Let me tell you, compiling that 2019 Canada national basketball team roster felt like trying to solve a puzzle where half the pieces decided they'd rather stay in the box. We had incredible NBA talent available, but getting everyone to commit? That was the real challenge, somewhat reminiscent of how Chery Tiggo had to take the long way round after failing to secure an outright preseason playoff spot in their preliminaries. Both situations involved talented groups having to navigate unexpected obstacles to reach their ultimate goals.

The final 12-man roster featured some genuinely exciting names that made basketball fans across the country proud. Leading the charge was Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray, fresh off his breakout NBA season where he averaged 18.2 points and 4.8 assists per game. Alongside him stood Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was just beginning to show the potential that would make him an NBA superstar. What impressed me most was the backcourt depth - we're talking about Cory Joseph bringing veteran leadership, Kevin Pangos with his European experience, and Phil Scrubb's reliable shooting. The frontcourt had serious muscle too with Kelly Olynyk's versatile scoring, Dwight Powell's athleticism, and Khem Birch's defensive presence. What many casual observers might not realize is that we actually had 16 NBA players available for selection that summer, but only 7 ultimately committed to the World Cup roster. That discrepancy tells you something about the challenges of international basketball during NBA preseason.

Looking at the positional breakdown, what stood out to me was how modern this roster felt. We weren't stuck with traditional positions - instead, we had multiple ball-handlers, switchable defenders, and players who could space the floor. Gilgeous-Alexander and Murray could both initiate offense, which gave us flexibility that many teams lacked. The wing positions featured Melvin Ejim and Brady Heslip, though I'll be honest - I always felt we were slightly undersized at the three-spot compared to teams like Australia or France. Our big man rotation had interesting variety with Olynyk's perimeter skills complementing Powell's rim-running and Birch's interior defense. What made this group special wasn't just individual talent but how these pieces theoretically fit together - at least on paper.

The coaching staff led by Nick Nurse had their work cut out for them, trying to blend these talents into a cohesive unit with limited preparation time. Having watched Nurse's Raptors win the NBA championship that same year, I was confident in his ability to maximize this roster's potential. His experience with international basketball through Team GB gave him insights that many coaches lack. The offensive system emphasized pace, ball movement, and three-point shooting - we attempted approximately 28 threes per game during the tournament, which was among the highest rates. Defensively, Nurse implemented the switching schemes that had been so effective in Toronto, though the limited practice time meant the execution wasn't always crisp.

What really fascinated me was how this roster construction reflected broader trends in basketball. The emphasis on positional versatility, three-point shooting, and switchable defenders mirrored what championship teams were doing in the NBA. We had seven players who shot above 36% from three-point range in their most recent professional seasons, which created the spacing that modern offenses crave. The average height of our roster was about 6'6", slightly taller than most international teams, giving us potential advantages in switching defenses. Yet despite these theoretical strengths, the actual tournament performance revealed some gaps that statistics couldn't capture - particularly in chemistry and late-game execution.

Reflecting on that 2019 team now, I can't help but wonder what might have been if we'd secured commitments from all our available NBA talent. The absence of players like Andrew Wiggins and RJ Barrett left us without additional scoring punch that could have made the difference in close games. We finished 21st in that World Cup with a 2-3 record, which honestly felt disappointing given the talent we did have. The team showed flashes of brilliance - particularly in their 126-71 demolition of Jordan where we set a Canadian record for points in a FIBA game - but consistency proved elusive. What that experience taught me is that roster construction isn't just about accumulating talent; it's about finding the right mix of skills, personalities, and commitments.

The legacy of that 2019 roster extends beyond the World Cup results. Many of those players formed the core that would later commit to our Olympic qualifying efforts and help build the program's culture. Gilgeous-Alexander's development into an NBA superstar began with that international experience, while Murray's leadership role with Canada started during that tournament. Even the disappointments served as valuable lessons about what it takes to compete at the highest level of international basketball. As I look at our current national team prospects, I see the foundations that were laid during that 2019 campaign - both in terms of player development and understanding what it takes to build a successful international roster. The journey continues, but that 2019 team will always represent an important chapter in Canadian basketball history.