One way Canada Basketball can avoid more Olympic disappointment? Focus on the grassroots

Canada Basketball arrived at the Paris Olympics with legitimate hopes of three medals.

It left with none.

In the days since, plenty of blame has been assigned: the women's team didn't have enough practice time together, or the men lacked experience, or the 3x3 format was too large a departure from regular events.

But if Canada Basketball wants to make good on its vast podium potential moving forward, it should start by reinforcing its commitment at the grassroots.

"It's weird for Canada building these young teams because we're caught somewhere between America and Europe. We think like America, [but] we don't have the prospects like them. And so the kids develop at a later rate," said Wes Brown, who founded Monday Morning Scouting Report, a top service in Canada.

WATCH | Canada men knocked out of Olympics by France:

In the U.S., development is often built around pure skill and a big enough player pool that when that talent comes together, they can almost always win — just look at the senior men's team semifinal comeback win against Serbia at the Paris Olympics for an example.

In Europe, basketball is taught more through team concepts, with emphasis on passing and off-ball movement on top of one-on-one skills. Just look at how France beat Canada despite its two most talented players — Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert — combining for six points.

"I just think that's one thing they need to do as well is balance out players who can impact today and prospects with the upside," said Brown, who says Canada may lean a little too much toward the American side of thinking. 

Canada has the second-most NBA players of any country, but the Paris Olympics were the men's first appearance in 24 years after winning bronze at last