Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets star, has been left out of Canada's 23-player pool for the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, as announced by Rowan Barrett, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Canada Basketball. Murray, who has a long history with the Canadian national program, chose not to participate this year, which also means he will miss the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics. Barrett explained that Murray has not committed to playing moving forward, highlighting the national team's requirement for a three-year commitment from its players. Alongside Murray, Miami Heat's Andrew Wiggins has also opted out of this year's qualifiers. However, Canada is bolstered by the commitment of two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is part of the player pool along with others like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luguentz Dort. Murray had a standout season, making the All-NBA Third Team and being selected as an All-Star for the first time, but his focus remains on helping the Nuggets secure an NBA championship.