The 2024 National Basketball Association Playoffs officially begin on Saturday after the play-in tournament took place this past week. There are three notable Canadians who are about to take part. All three Canadians mentioned averaged a minimum of 10 points per game in 2023-24 and will be in a starting role.
Luguentz Dort
The small forward from Montreal, Quebec averaged 10.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had a field goal percentage of .438, three-point percentage of .394, and a free throw percentage of .826. The Thunder are the number one seed in the Western Conference and will play the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The reigning Northern Star and Lionel Conacher Award winner from Toronto, Ontario was an All-Star for the second straight year for the Thunder in 2023-24. He averaged 30.1 points per game, 6.2 assists per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and two steals per game. Gilgeous-Alexander also had a field goal percentage of .535, three-point percentage of .353 and a free throw percentage of .874.
Jamal Murray
The native of Kitchener, Ontario is a point guard for the Denver Nuggets. As the second seed, the Nuggets will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. This season, Murray averaged 21.2 points per game, 6.5 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and one steal per game. He had a field goal percentage of .481, three point percentage of .425, and a free throw percentage of .853.
