One was born in July 1998, the other two months later, and that summer when cousins Shay Gilgis Alexander and Nikil Alexander Walker were born in Toronto, Canada finished the Mundobasket in Athens with a close 1-7.
Exactly 25 years later, Canada is in the semi-finals of the Mundobasket, the "road warriors" (the nickname of this team) are playing the most beautiful basketball in Jakarta and Manila, all thanks to the guys from the beginning of the story.
Giljis Alexander, Oklahoma's guard, was a big NBA star even before the World Cup, but at Mundobasket he grew into a true leader of Canada, while Alexander Walker, now Minnesota's guard, formerly of Utah Jazz and New Orleans, rightfully follows him.
Before the NBA "explosion", the two grew up together in the quiet of Ontario, and interestingly, their first coach was Giljis Alexander's father Von Alexander.
He brought them up to live like brothers, which the two of them later practically became - each other's biggest support.
On the other hand, when they would play "one on one" as kids, Vaughan taught them to go to the limit, that there was no "shifting" because they were brothers. So they made each other much better.
"There were times when we would practically fight, even come close to punching each other, but Nikil and I have always been brothers, even more than that. Anyone who knows us well knows that," the NBA website said at one time. Gilgis Alexander.
Alexander Walker also knows that he became a better basketball player with his cousin.
"Since birth, Shay has been like my twin brother, I was really lucky to grow up with him," added Nikhil.
Charmaine Giljis, the mother of Giljis Alexander, who, as an athlete, reached the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, when she competed in the 400-meter race, also inspired them with the spirit of sport. And Shay's younger brother Tomasi, who is a former college basketball player, played basketball with them as a boy.
Canada has long been known to reach sixth place at world championships, and after being part of Mundobasket only twice in the last 20 years (and both times disappointing in 22nd and 21st place) this summer they are writing a fairy tale.
The "Road Warriors" are in the semi-finals (Friday, 10.45:25 a.m. against the giants of Serbia), and Gildžis Aleksander led them to these heights with an average of 7,2 points per match, 10 rebounds and five assists. On the other side, Alexander Walker's average is 2,5 points, 2,7 rebounds and XNUMX assists.
Bonus video:
