Best Basketball Player 2022 in Canada
This year's NBA season has seen a record 25 Canadian athletes enter the league, including some who have become impactful stars. This list is a reflection of the growth of the game in Canada.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-way threat for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Team Canada, a versatile guard who can play multiple positions on both ends of the floor. The Hamilton, Ont. native leads this Canadian contingent with poise and skill.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
For a second time this season, a Canadian will win the prestigious Northern Star award for Canada’s best athlete of the year. And with the Toronto Raptors’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP discussion and budding college stars like Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe destined for the NBA, there’s never been a better time to be a Canadian basketball fan.
The Hamilton native is a force to be reckoned with at both the international and NBA level. He led the nation’s men’s team to a bronze medal at this summer’s FIBA World Cup and a first-ever NBA All-Tournament Team nod, while also becoming a mainstay on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster.
The calm, lanky point guard’s play on both ends of the floor makes him one of the league’s most exciting players. He averages 24.5 points per game and is a plus player on both defence and offence. And his ability to make teammates better is one of the reasons he’s won this award so quickly.
Merissah Russell
Merissah Russell, who plays for the University of Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team, is a big-picture thinker. The Ottawa native has seen how the sport is growing across Canada, and she’s proud to be a part of it.
She’s also committed to improving her own game, and she’s doing that every day. For example, on her 17th birthday this year, she had her nose buried in her SAT Prep books instead of celebrating. Russell knows the journey to get to a top college program is tough and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her head above water.
Russell was invited to participate in the Canada Basketball National Team training camp this week, and she’s excited about the opportunity to play for the senior women’s team at the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament this fall. She played in three games for the U-19 squad this summer, and she is one of the leaders on the current roster.
RJ Barrett
There are 25 Canadians on NBA opening-night rosters, and many of them made their way to the league this season. The list includes established stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bennedict Miller and Cam Reddish as well as up-and-coming talents such as RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin.
The Hamilton, Ont. native is a smart player who reads the defence at all levels, taking advantage of open opportunities. He’s also a master at creating his own offense, putting the ball in the basket with deft moves.
However, a poor start to the season led to a lot of bad headlines for the New York Knicks star. Despite his skills and potential, some fans started to question the decision to extend him just months prior. Nevertheless, he’s been improving steadily and has looked better this year. He’s displaying fewer woeful shots and his shot selection has been improved, with fewer possession-eating dribbles to nowhere. He’s also shooting better from the perimeter.
Phillipina Kyei
Kyei started playing basketball just four years ago, after her parents migrated to Canada from Ghana. She began the sport merely to make friends, but her height quickly opened up a lot of opportunities.
The six-foot-eight centre is currently in her first season at the University of Oregon, where she holds jersey number 15. She’s also making her senior national team debut this week.
She started Tuesday’s game against Belgium at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, leading the Canadians to a 65-53 victory over their counterparts in the new FIBA GloblJam tournament. Kyei recorded her first career points and rebounds, helping Canada pull away from the slow start in the second quarter.
The young big’s dedication to her craft is clear, as she spends almost all of her free time in the gym. Russell calls her a supreme athlete for someone her size, and she’s expected to go high in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She’s a potential one-and-done candidate if she can continue to develop at the NCAA level.
