IN a game that was full of NBA superstars, Dillon Brooks stood above the rest as he led Canada to a podium finish with a thrilling win over the United States in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

In the first tournament where Canada brought some of its biggest names possible, the nation looked likely to secure a top-two placing after some excellent form early in the fixture. However, Germany upset Canada in the semifinals and knocked the promising team out of contention for gold. Surprisingly, Team USA suffered the same fate, falling to Germany earlier than expected, setting up a North American face-off for bronze.

It proved to be one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament, with plenty of top-tier talent locking horns in a high-scoring affair. After Canada got out to a hot start, Team USA brought it back to close out the first half, showcasing how evenly matched the two sides were. It was the most dramatic of finishes to the fourth quarter, as Mikal Bridges intentionally missed the free throw before knocking down the three-pointer to send the game to overtime. The Canadians proved too much in extra time, claiming a nine-point win.

Brooks was the star of the show for Canada, dominating on both ends of the court to have a massive say on the result of the game.

USA (118) def. by Canada (127)

Dillon Brooks – 39 points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal, two blocks

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander typically leading the way and remaining prominent with 31 points, Brooks provided some offensive help in Canada’s final game of the tournament.

Normally known for his disruptive behaviour as a defender, the newly signed Houston Rocket stole the show on the scoring front in the win over Team USA, outshining some of the best scorers the World Cup had to offer.

Brooks delivered a game-high 39 points on 12/18 shooting from the field and becoming a real problem for the United States. It was his highest points total of the tournament, and one of the best offensive displays of the World Cup.

A lot of Team USA’s defensive attention was focussed on the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett, but it was Brooks who was the biggest cause for concern. He was extremely aggressive with ball in hand, utilising his quick first step to immediately put the defence on the back foot.

During his drives to the hoop, the defence was forced to hack at the ball, in turn fouling Brooks and sending him to the free throw line, where he went a solid 8/10.

The most impressive factor of his scoring was his long-range shooting, which proved to be a devastating factor in the match for the opposition. Brooks nailed seven three-pointers on eight attempts, looking as confident as anyone in his own shot, and hardly looked like missing, despite some solid contests from the United States.

Defensively, he was still a menace and caused plenty of issues for some of Team USA’s biggest names. Brooks spent time guarding Anthony Edwards, who had his fair share of problems when faced with breaking away from Canada’s best defender. He finished the game with a steal and a pair of blocks, with the stat sheet not truly reflecting his defensive work, with Brooks’ ability to stay in front of the ball handler crucial in slowing down the United States’ momentum.

It was a massive game for Brooks, who took over offensively and flew under the radar a bit on the scoring front. He was deservingly awarded Player of the Match honours, capping off a strong campaign with his strongest performance to date.