Nuggets’ Jamal Murray not travelling to Germany for Canada’s pre-World Cup games

Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray is not travelling with the Canadian senior national men’s basketball team to Germany for exhibition play ahead of the FIBA World Cup, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reports.

Murray is coming off a run to the NBA championship and wasn’t a full participant at the start of camp this week in Toronto.

The native of Kitchener, Ont. will stay in Toronto to ramp up his training in hopes that Murray plays in Canada’s World Cup opener on Aug. 25 against France in Indonesia.

Three of the other 18 players in the Toronto camp, meanwhile, appear to be out for the tourney.

Golden State Warriors guard Cory Joseph and Spain-based guard Kassius Robertson will not join the team at the World Cup, while Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett will stay home to rehab an injury.

Joseph had a back issue flare up in camp and made a mutual decision with Canada Basketball to miss the World Cup. Robertson recently signed a new EuroLeague deal and was advised to be in training camp with his new club, Valencia, on time.

Canada plays three exhibition games in Germany this coming Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday before heading to Spain for two more pre-tournament games.

Canada needs a top-two finish among the Americas squads at the 32-team tournament to secure its first Olympic berth since 2000 for Paris 2024.