We are a little more than two years away from the Summer Olympics returning to American soil for the first time since Atlanta hosted the Games in 1996. 32 years later, Los Angeles will welcome the world and be the focal point for elite competition. From July 14 through July 30, 2028, Los Angeles will serve as the backdrop for the Olympic Games as nations from around the globe compete for gold.
At the moment, only one team has officially qualified for the men’s basketball tournament. As the host nation, Team USA Basketball automatically earns a spot in the 12-team field, leaving 11 remaining berths up for grabs.
Those spots will be determined through the qualification process tied to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Seven teams will earn direct qualification based on their final placement in that tournament. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the 2028 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Those qualifying tournaments will feature 24 teams selected based on the results of the 2027 World Cup and are expected to take place in the summer of 2028. To determine qualification and seeding for the World Cup, national teams participate in a series of qualifying windows throughout the cycle.
So why am I telling you all of this?
Because Dillon Brooks will be suiting up for Team Canada during Group B play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers, participating in the upcoming Window 3 and Window 4 home games this summer.
Per Team Canada Men’s Basketball, Dillon Brooks has accepted the invitation and will suit up for Canada this summer. Canada currently sits undefeated at 4-0 through the first two qualification windows, which took place this past March.
The Under-18 team has recently been particpating int he FIBA U18 Americup. Brooks recently paid a visit to their training camp to provide words of wisdom.
“The biggest talk when it comes to Canadian basketball is we’re soft, we’re cute,” Brooks said to the U18 team. “Me, Shai [Gilgeuos-Alexander], Jamal [Murray]…we wanted to change that culture. For me to you guys, when you guys play out there: physical as fuck, play hard as shit every single night, if you’re not playing [or], you’re playing, cheering on your teammates.”
Dillon Brooks basketball personified.
Brooks is scheduled to play on July 3 against Puerto Rico at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, and again on July 6 against Jamaica at the same location. He is also slated to participate in Canada’s August 31 matchup in Quebec City, Quebec, against an opponent that has yet to be determined.
If you’re interested in watching the games, the process is similar to what many Suns fans experienced a few years ago when Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon suited up for Team Jamaica during World Cup qualifying play. The games can be streamed live through the Courtside 1891 app.
For Suns fans, it provides another opportunity to watch Brooks compete in meaningful basketball this offseason while representing his home country as Canada continues its push toward qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.