Kings' Jordi Fernández Makes History With Team Canada in FIBA World Cup

The 2023 FIBA World Cup has concluded as Team USA shocked the world, but not in a good way. After starting the World Cup with four straight wins, the Americans dropped three of their last four games.

After losing to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals, Team USA got sent to the bronze medal game to face their northern rivals, Team Canada. Team USA would ultimately fall to Team Canada in an overtime thriller, as they failed to medal for the second straight FIBA World Cup.

Team Canada was led to the bronze medal by Sacramento Kings' Jordi Fernández, who was selected to take the head coaching reigns of a talented Canadian squad.

Bronze gang. 🇨🇦×🥉#FIBAWC x #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/xgqkECWUIC
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 10, 2023

Fernández made Canadian history, as this bronze medal was the first medal won by Team Canada in the FIBA World Cup. In fact, it was the first time in FIBA World Cup history that Team Canada finished in the top five.

Team Canada was loaded with NBA talent, as their leading scorer was Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The duo of Gilgeous-Alexander and Houston Rockets' F Dillon Brooks combined for 70 points in the bronze medal victory over Team USA.

While Team Germany won the World Cup title, Team Canada surprised the world with impressive performances down the stretch. Jordi Fernández cements his name in the FIBA World Cup and Team Canada history books, as his high-level international coaching will likely lead to an NBA head coaching job.

Fernández has made his mark in Sacramento, helping lead one of the most significant one-year turnarounds in NBA history. As an associate head coach for the Kings, Fernández has gained traction around the league, with his name being involved in multiple head coach vacancies this off-season.

Fernández ultimately decided to stay on Mike Brown's bench in Sacramento for at least one more year, but Kings fans should not be surprised if he finds a new home after the 2023-24 NBA season.

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