For years, there were expectations. There were games that Canada's men's basketball team should have won, Olympics it should have attended.
But those expectations were never met until the recently completed World Cup, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks led the Canadians to a bronze medal — with a win over the vaunted Americans, no less.
And so the tournament was a bit of a celebration. Yes, Canada would have preferred to win the whole thing, but its first-ever World Cup podium appearance was nothing to sneeze at.
Now comes the pressure. In winning bronze, Canada also secured its first Olympic berth since 2000. Anything less than competing for a medal in Paris, after accomplishing that feat in Manila, could be viewed as a disappointment. WATCH | Canada claims 1st men's basketball World Cup medal: There will be plenty of questions about who will don the red and white next summer.