Title: Andrew Nicholson shines as Canada punches ticket to knockout stage of Olympic qualifier
Date: June 30, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Canada sweeping their group stage, putting them two wins from Olympic qualification.
Wherever he plays, Andrew Nicholson finds his way to points.
It can be easy to forget that the former first-round pick is still 31, well within his years of utility to the national program. It’s a program he’s long been committed to, too, as Nicholson entered this Olympic qualifier with 36 men’s national team caps, good for third on the roster.
And while he didn’t quite work out as an NBA player, he has found a home in China. For four consecutive seasons, Nicholson has averaged at least 21.8 points, doing so with remarkable efficiency. Somewhat ironically, Nicholson didn’t play with Canada in China for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, but he saved one of his better international performances for his frequent professional home, helping lead Canada to a 109-79 victory against China on Wednesday.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 