Dillon Brooks's energy in win over Jamaica exemplifies commitment Canada's men's hoops team wants to build

There was little reason to believe Canada would lose.

The men’s basketball team, reigning World Cup bronze medallists and ranked fifth in the world, was hosting Jamaica, No. 79 — and in its two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s hometown of Hamilton, Ont., no less.

Yet there was Dillon Brooks, before the game was even three minutes old, in a referee’s face over an out-of-bounds call with which he did not agree. There he was, resetting quickly and guarding the inbounder with his typical intensity, yelling “five!” to remind him of the ticking clock to put the ball in play. And there he was less than a minute later, hounding a Jamaican guard into a turnover and converting the ensuing layup.

For years, Canada Basketball has preached commitment from its top players, arguing that chemistry can only be built over time together.

It’s one thing when executives, coaches and general managers say that, though. It’s a whole other when one of your best players is exemplifying it.

“I’m always ready to play regardless of who’s on the floor. It could be anybody. It could be my boys, it can be Team Jamaica, it can be Oklahoma City. It doesn’t matter who it is,” Brooks said.

The crowd of 11,000 at TD Coliseum that took in the 116-78 win over Jamaica on Monday appreciated it, too.

Just as loud were the pregame “MVP” chants for Gilgeous-Alexander as was the roar for Brooks when he forced that turnover. It was even louder when Gilgeous-Alexander forced a turnover of his own and posterized Jamaica’s Tyran De Lattibeaudiere later in the first quarter.

Nembhard brothers reunite to help Canada beat Jamaica 116-78 in FIBA World Cup qualifying

“This is a team that really enjoys playing together. We’re gonna play hard, and we’re gonna play to