Photo Couresy of:
Tristan Thompson Challenges Canadians to 'step Up and Play' for National Team
From ESPN
Tristan Thompson's summer started off with an NBA championship in June, but he missed out on a chance to add an Olympic medal when Canada failed to beat France in the FIBA Qualifying Tournament in the Philippines in July.
Looking back on the international competition as Thompson and the Cavs return to Canada on Thursday for the first time since they clinched a berth in the NBA Finals with a Game 6 win over the Toronto Raptors in May, the Cleveland big man called out his fellow countrymen who chose not to play for the national team.
"[It should] challenge the guys who didnâ??t play to next time when the country calls," Thompson said. "Step up and play."
The most notable absence for Canada was Minnesota Timberwolves budding star Andrew Wiggins. Several other of Canada's most talented players -- including Jamal Murray, Andrew Nicholson and Dwight Powell -- abstained because of their contract situations, as Thompson did in the summer of 2015. Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Nik Stauskas also did not play, with no injury or contract situation as the cause.
Despite not having all of their best players available, Canada was one win away from qualifying for Rio, but lost to France 83-74 with a spot in the Olympics on the line.
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