The Golden Generation by Oren Weisfeld
How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse
An increasing number of Canadian basketball players have made their mark in the NBA and the NCAA in recent years. Some sports announcers and writers attribute this to the presence of the Toronto Raptors, who have given basketball a higher profile across the country, inspiring future stars.
Considering that some of the Canadians who have made it to the NBA mention members of the Raptors as role models for their journey, this theory seems plausible. But as The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse by Oren Weisfeld illustrates, there’s much more to it than that.
“Weisfeld’s book provides a comprehensive look at men’s basketball in Canada, including successes and failures on the international stage.”
Weisfeld’s book provides a comprehensive look at men’s basketball in Canada, including successes and failures on the international stage. He also provides in-depth background on some of the Canadian players who have made it to the NBA or who have excelled at the international level. An extensive number of interviews (over 100) and additional research give depth to the narrative, and Weisfeld’s passion for the subject shines through.
Readers who are familiar with the Canadian basketball scene historically will find many familiar names, like Jay Triano, Leo Rautins, Steve Nash, and Kelly Olynyk, in the book’s early going. But other individuals are also mentioned—people like Ro Russell, who helped lay the groundwork for success for future players.
Many individuals who were involved with the Canadian high-performance basketball program as athletes later gave back to basketball programs in this country. The relatively low representation of Canadians in the NCAA and the NBA in the early days wasn’t necessarily due to a lack of skill, but rather a lack of visibility. In addition, many talented players didn’t know how to position themselves for success at the next level.
Some past players, haunted by the realization that they could have made it to the big time under different circumstances, helped pave the way for the next generation. They were involved in developing systems and venues for up-and-coming Canadian players to develop their skills and showcase their talents.
Weisfeld’s book provides a blend of deep dives and higher-level assessment. The stories of individual athletes—how they developed their love of basketball, and how their playing careers progressed—are woven together with stories about important builders, administrators, and coaches to provide a comprehensive picture.
The Golden Generation touches on many levels of basketball, from high school and amateur teams to the NCAA, NBA, and U SPORTS (formerly CIAU). Weisfeld’s book talks about the significant role played by prep schools, and about Canadian organizations like Orangeville Prep that have arisen over the years.
Weisfeld does not shy away from pointing out issues that arose during different points in Canadian men’s basketball history. There was a time when some felt that biased selection systems prevented Canada from fielding teams that were truly representative of the country’s depth of talent. Weisfeld talks about the disenchantment some NBA players had with the national team program at one point in its history, when Canada’s program funding was at a shoestring level.
He outlines past frictions between national team players who played in European leagues versus those from the NBA, based on differential treatment. He also acknowledges the difficulty some of Canada’s teams had adjusting to FIBA rules in international competition.
In addition to providing a historical perspective on Canadian men’s basketball, The Golden Generation gives readers an idea of the immense amount of work, dedication, and effort required to excel at a high level. The stories of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, and Jamal Murray in particular illustrate the commitment level and mental toughness needed.
Weisfeld is clear about the ground the book leaves uncovered. In the “Acknowledgements” section, he notes that there is much more to be said about the “long, rich history of Quebec basketball” than he was able to fit into The Golden Generation. Likewise, he notes that the stories of the Canadian women’s basketball program also deserve deeper examination, as this particular book focused exclusively on men’s basketball.
Smoothly written, The Golden Generation is both entertaining and informative. Canadian sports fans, basketball fans, and readers with an interest in sport history should find this book of interest.
About the Author
Oren Weisfeld is a writer based in Toronto. He covers Canadian basketball and the intersection of sports and politics for publications including The Guardian, Toronto Star, VICE, SLAM, Complex, Yahoo! and Sportsnet. The Golden Generation is his debut book.
About the Reviewer
Ontario resident Lisa Timpf writes poetry, book reviews, short stories, and creative nonfiction. Her speculative poetry collections Cats and Dogs in Space (2025) and In Days to Come (2022) are available from Hiraeth Publishing in print and electronic formats. Lisa is a member of SF Canada and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. You can find out more about her writing projects at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/. Lisa is also on Bluesky, @lisatimpf.bsky.social
Book Details
Publisher: ECW Press
Publication date: Nov. 4 2025
Language: English
Print length: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1770417990
ISBN-13: 978-1770417991