July 4, 2026, 10:01 a.m. CT
Receiving MVP chants at the free-throw line, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his hometown backing him up. Just a few feet away from his signature logo planted on the baseline at TD Coliseum, the NBA superstar got his money’s worth for suiting up for a glorified scrimmage.
Returning to action for the first time since the NBA playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander dropped an efficient 26 points as Canada enjoyed a 110-84 win over Puerto Rico. It was part of this summer’s 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifier.
With most of Canada’s top-end NBA players chilling on the sidelines, Gilgeous-Alexander felt a responsibility to suit up — especially in his hometown. That’s the whole reason why the national team even scheduled a game in Hamilton, Ontario.
The arena had a makeover just in time for Gilgeous-Alexander’s arrival. It decorated the baseline with his nickname. It doesn’t get more epic than that as the two-time MVP winner has always been proud of his roots. Now, he’s headlining the golden era of international hoops for Canada.
“It was fun. It was exactly what I expected. For as long as I’ve known, Hamilton has always loved sports. When a homegrown kid in a homegrown town is involved, it’ll only be amplified. That’s what we got tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The game wasn’t always close, but you could never tell with the way they were in it. From start to finish.”
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Canada should eventually punch its ticket for the next two summers’ events. It will participate in the 2027 FIBA World Cup and then the 2028 Olympics. Since Gilgeous-Alexander became the face of the program, it’s enjoyed its highest success with a bronze finish in the 2023 World Cup and advancing to the knockout stage in the 2024 Olympics.
But before diving into those two big summer events, Gilgeous-Alexander took part in a low-stress environment. With the game never really in jeopardy, it turned into a two-hour celebration of his ascension as an all-time great. The 27-year-old has always had a soft spot for his blue-collar city.
“They were really good tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Hamilton might need an NBA team one day.”
Count Gilgeous-Alexander as a supporter for a second NBA team in Canada. If you remember, it wasn’t that long ago when Lu Dort campaigned for the same thing with his hometown of Montreal. Of course, the Toronto Raptors have the entire country’s support.