Latest news with #MichaelBartlett
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Sport
- Cision Canada
Team Ontario Sweeps Men's & Women's Titles at Sun Life Canada Hoops
U23 3x3 National Championships showcased talent and Canadian pride at The Bentway TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada Basketball, in partnership with Sun Life, is proud to announce that Team Ontario has claimed top men's and women's spots at the Sun Life Canada Hoops, Canada's premier U23 National 3x3 Championship. The tournament took place August 9 and 10 at The Bentway in downtown Toronto, transforming the urban space under the Gardiner Expressway into a showcase of Canada's top young 3x3 talent. The winning women's team will represent Canada at the Pilipinas United 3x3 Tournament in Manila, Philippines on August 23 and 24 and the men's winning team will represent Canada at the Brasilia Challenger in Brasilia, Brazil on September 13 and 14. Over two days of intense competition, elite men's and women's U23 teams from across the country battled for national supremacy in the fast-growing 3x3 format. In the end, in both the women's and men's brackets, Team Ontario battled Team Quebec and came out as winners. "It's incredible to see the level of talent in our U23 athletes and how much the 3x3 game continues to grow across Canada," said Michael Bartlett, President and CEO of Canada Basketball. "Events like Sun Life Canada Hoops not only showcase future stars but also help inspire more young Canadians to pick up a basketball and stay active." The event was part of Canada Basketball's broader "Summer of Basketball", a series of marquee events celebrating the sport from grassroots to high performance. As presenting partner, Sun Life continues to champion initiatives that promote active, healthy lifestyles for Canadians of all ages. "This summer has been an incredible celebration of energy, teamwork, and the transformative power of sport," said Dawn Bednarski, Vice-President & Canada Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life. "At Sun Life, we're proud to partner with Canada Basketball to support healthy living and community connection through programs like this one. Congratulations to all the teams who brought their passion to the court – and a special shoutout to the tournament champions!"
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
CANADA BASKETBALL LAUNCHES 'UNIFY+' A NEW MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM THAT GIVES FANS ACCESS, REWARDS, AND OWNERSHIP OF NATIONAL TEAM COMMUNITY Français
Launched in partnership with KDA3, the platform is powered by groundbreaking technology and gives fans more ways to connect with basketball in Canada. TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Following a year of unprecedented momentum, Canada Basketball is giving fans a new way to engage by launching Unify+, a digital membership platform that celebrates community, national pride, and fan participation. Unify+ offers exclusive access to Canada Basketball's community and content, allowing members to unlock fan-first benefits like early access to merchandise, ticketing, and interactive experiences - all at Unify+ is a first-of-its-kind initiative from a National Sports Organization (NSO), built to provide fans ownership of their passion and to elevate the experience of cheering on Canadian teams at every level. Fans who join early can claim several limited-time rewards such as founding member status, customizable Canada Basketball jerseys, early adoption rewards, and gain priority access to priceless experiences that reflect their role in building Canadian basketball culture. Members of Unify+ will receive recognition for their contributions to the platform, such as sharing basketball content, leading discussions, and supporting their local teams - all without needing to purchase tokens or complete undesirable digital tasks. " Unify+ was created specifically for a community of passionate Canadian basketball fans," said Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. "We're incredibly proud to have partnered with KDA3 to create this new environment for our audience to connect with and follow our players and national teams. We're always looking for ways to innovate and grow the basketball community in Canada and creating Unify+ was a natural next step in that journey." Unify+ also becomes the key destination to cheer on the next generation of Canadian basketball talent, making it easier than ever to support emerging players across the country. The platform was soft launched on August 4 at 15U National Championships, when fans and families of athletes were able to watch games, check scores, and track provincial team progress - all within Unify+. Youth and parents who registered for the platform were entered for the chance to win tickets to Homecoming Night powered by Unify+ on August 13 at Canada Basketball's marquee event, GLOBL JAM. Homecoming Night is presented by Unify+ and will feature appearances by some of the world's biggest basketball stars including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, Andrew Nembhard, as well as Olympians Shay Colley, Yvonne Ejim, Sami Hill, Syla Swords, and more*. "This isn't just another tech partnership, it's about rewriting the rules of how fans and athletes experience and take ownership of their love of sport. Unify+ will help shape the future," said Christian Magsisi, Founder & CEO of KDA3. "By utilizing blockchain technology for Unify+, we're putting power back in the hands of the community while directly supporting the growth of Canadian basketball." In addition to fan engagement, Canada Basketball's high performance coaches and training staff will soon contribute to the platform and provide expertise and advice for training, allowing Unify+ to impact long-term development of the next generation of Canadian basketball talent. Other resources will include standardized training and development programming for officials and coaches. Unify+ is built on Berachain, a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain built to power real-world applications and Frequency, a consumer gateway that enables developers and enterprises to build seamlessly. While the platform runs on blockchain technology, no technical knowledge or cryptocurrency engagement is required. Fans simply sign up and enjoy the benefits of a new digital Canadian basketball community or engage on a deeper level by subscribing to a variety of membership tier options to unlock even more value within Unify+. Canada Basketball joins Napoli SSC as the latest forward-thinking organization to utilize KDA3 to transform fan experience and deepen community connection. Fans can visit to sign up for Unify+ and claim their membership today. *Athlete appearances subject to change About Canada Basketball Canada Basketball is the National Sporting Organization for the sport of basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball is respected worldwide and recognized by the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Government of Canada as the sole governing body of amateur basketball in Canada. A not-for-profit organization, Canada Basketball represents all basketball interests and provides leadership, coordination and direction in all areas of the sport. About KDA3 KDA3 is a blockchain-powered fan engagement and membership platform built for sports organizations, creators, and communities. By combining onchain identity, composable loyalty programs, and exclusive digital experiences, KDA3 turns everyday fans into active stakeholders. KDA3 is built on Berachain and represents the next evolution of fandom in Canada and beyond. For more, visit About Berachain Berachain, the first blockchain powered by Proof of Liquidity, designed to help businesses scale and provide sustainable onchain economies. With a unique Proof-of-Liquidity consensus mechanism and a vertically integrated stack, Berachain offers unmatched capital efficiency, speed, and developer flexibility. Purpose-built for communities, culture, and utility, Berachain is the infrastructure layer for the next era of Web3 adoption. For more, visit About Frequency Frequency is the consumer layer for building Web3 applications on Berachain. Designed to make blockchain infrastructure usable and intuitive, Frequency enables developers, brands, and enterprises to launch high-impact products that prioritize real-world value, composable identity, and seamless user experiences. From sports and entertainment to loyalty and social applications, Frequency is the gateway to building the next generation of digital communities. Learn more at
Toronto Star
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA crown could spark Canada basketball's next boom
Like many Canadians, Michael Bartlett watched Game 7 of the NBA Finals with bated breath. But as Canada Basketball's president and CEO, he had a unique rooting interest, with players on both teams. Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montreal's Luguentz Dort helped the Oklahoma City Thunder capture their first-ever championship, defeating Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ont., and Montreal's Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers. Bartlett said he was thrilled for all four Canadians, no matter who came out on top.
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA victory could inspire the next generation of Canadian basketball
Like many Canadians, Michael Bartlett watched Game 7 of the NBA Finals with bated breath. But as Canada Basketball's president and CEO, he had a unique rooting interest, with players on both teams. Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montreal's Luguentz Dort helped the Oklahoma City Thunder capture their first-ever championship, defeating Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ont., and Montreal's Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers. Bartlett said he was thrilled for all four Canadians, no matter who came out on top. 'Oh, it was uncontrollable at times,' said Bartlett in a phone interview on Monday morning. 'I looked up, it was 4:50 left on the clock in Game 7 last night, and four Canadians are on the court playing meaningful minutes in crunch time with the ball in their hands. Gosh, that's exciting. 'There's nothing better than seeing people you care about, truly care about, and they care about you, shine when they have the opportunity to shine.' Bartlett said all of Canada Basketball's staff were exchanging texts throughout the climactic game, which Oklahoma City ultimately won 103-91. Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort are the 11th and 12th Canadians to win an NBA title, and Bartlett believes the experience gained by all four players will benefit Canada's senior men's team. 'They're learning how to win on the toughest of stages, which you also can't help but draw a connection to when we're in a tough situation, a game on the line, winner goes home,' he said. Gilgeous-Alexander, in particular, will be a key to Canada's future success. He became the fourth player in league history to win the scoring title, MVP, NBA championship and Finals MVP in the same season, joining Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O'Neal. How Canadian NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander began charting his path to MVP when he was a teen Rowan Barrett, the general manager of Canada's men's senior basketball team, said Gilgeous-Alexander's experience in the post-season will help him in international competition because, through each round of the playoffs, he faced the opposing team's toughest defenders. 'It's got to help your national team at some point when he's back in the fold playing,' said Barrett. 'Those experiences, the pressure, the different ways they try to guard him, the different ways you've got to bring your teammates along while balancing attacking the defence every possession, all those things, I think are going to help him. 'I think it will help the other players that were playing in the Finals as well.' Gilgeous-Alexander was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA Draft but was traded the same day to the Los Angeles Clippers. After one season in L.A., he was sent to Oklahoma City in a blockbuster deal that brought all-star guard Paul George to the Clippers. TSN basketball commentator Tamika Nurse, who is also from Hamilton, said that how Gilgeous-Alexander carries himself through difficult times perfectly embodies the Ontario city's ethos. 'Hamilton is built on blue-collar workers, Steeltown, they call it,' she said. 'A lunch pail and hard hat kinda town, and that's exactly what he is. 'He really had to work hard. He really had to prove some doubters wrong. This is a guy who was drafted and then traded and then traded again, right?' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander conquered the NBA. Now, he's conquering the fashion world Michael Naraine, an associate professor of sport management at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., said Gilgeous-Alexander's season, one of the best ever by a Canadian in any sport, and the Finals performances of Dort, Nembhard and Mathurin have created a unique opportunity for Canada Basketball. Naraine sees it as similar to the creation of the Toronto Raptors in 1995, the emergence of Vince Carter as a superstar in the late 1990s, Steve Nash's back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006, and the Raptors' NBA championship in 2019. 'It's going to create another wave of people wanting to pick up the game and that's going to be both on the men's and women's side, boys and girls are going to want to pick up the game because they see that the No. 1 men's professional basketball player in the world right now is Canadian,' said Naraine. 'If you are living in Montreal, if you're living in Dorval, you're looking at this going well, you know, our Canadian teams in hockey didn't do so great. 'But then you're looking at Dort or Mathurin saying, 'hey, look, here's this kid with these Haitian roots, growing up in Montreal. That could be me.'' Bartlett also compared these NBA Finals to those other moments in Canadian basketball history that fed into the growing popularity of the sport. 'We want there to be no shortage of opportunities for kids at all skill levels to be able to play this game and to stay in love and play this game for as long as they want,' said Bartlett. 'What does that look like for somebody who's still involved in the game (in their 40s), either as a player, as a coach, as an official. 'Are there enough great coaches, well-trained coaches, to teach the game the right way in Canada, in gyms across this country? Canada Basketball can't be in every gym, but we can develop a curriculum that lives through every gym, that coaches are taught the right way, and then officiating as well. That's a big part of it, too.'
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Longhorns women's basketball earns unique honor to represent USA this summer
Longhorns women's basketball earns unique honor to represent USA this summer In August, the USA GLOBAL JAM showcase will return, and Longhorns fans will have a special reason to tune in this year. The Longhorns women's basketball team has been selected to represent the USA during the showcase, which will be held in Toronto from the 13th-17th. GLOBAL JAM is an international basketball showcase that features men's and women's Under-23 teams from around the globe. Following another impressive regular season, Texas will get to shine on the global stage. Over the last few years, the Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the nation, making them an ideal choice. "The University of Texas brings strong traditions of basketball excellence," said Michael Bartlett, Canada Basketball President and CEO. "As the 24-25 SEC co-champions and their advancement to the Final Four, we're proud to welcome this storied program and their fans to GLOBL JAM this August." During the 2024-2025 campaign, Texas won 35 games, setting a program record for wins in the NCAA Era. They also made history by advancing to the Final Four for the first time in 22 years. Their roster included Madison Booker, the SEC Player of the Year. She also got help from Rori Harmon who earned WBCA All-America honorable mention honors. As the Longhorns look to build on their success, they will get to participate in a showcase they will never forget. They will still have Booker and Harmon leading the way against the best talent in the world. While their focus is on winning a national championship, starting the season, playing in the GLOBAL JAM is something many fans and players have circled on their calendars.
