Canadian national team player RJ Barrett spoke after the quarterfinal game against Slovenia at the FIBA World Cup.
Barrett was one of the key contributors to Canada’s advancement to the semifinals with a victory over Slovenia. The New York Knicks player scored 24 points and was dominant in his team’s fast breaks.
“The feeling is great. Everyone played really hard. That’s the best part of it. The next step is to enjoy this, watch the video, practice, and get ready for the next game. I haven’t talked to my teammates from New York; I just wished Jalen Brunson a happy birthday,” Barrett said.
RJ Barrett about Serbia
“We can beat anyone. Of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is our main guy, but there’s always someone new stepping up. In the previous game, it was Dillon Brooks. That’s our biggest strength.
I watched a bit of Serbia’s last game against Lithuania. They play very well together. One of my high school buddies, Filip Petrusev, is playing there, so it will be interesting,” Barrett noted.
Canada is now set to face the “Eagles,” who defeated Lithuania. This matchup is scheduled for Friday. Jordi Fernandez’s team actually helped their upcoming opponent since by eliminating Canada, Serbia became a direct participant in the Paris Olympics, being one of the top two European teams.