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Cory Joseph invited to Team Canada’s training camp in June

By Ben Gibson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Pacers guard Cory Joseph earned himself a trip to Team Canada’s June training camp for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Cory Joseph may have the backup role at point guard for the Indiana Pacers but on Team Canada he is one of their most valuable assets.

That why it is no surprise that Joseph is on the list of invitees for Canada’s training camp in June for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Other notable NBA invitees included Tristan Thompson, Dwight Powell, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Murray, Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher, and Khem Birch.

Joseph has played with Canada since 2011, averaging 10.3 points and 3.8 assists a game while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor.

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In his last stint with the team in 2016, CoJo averaged 19.2 points and 4.2 assists while shooting a slightly better 46.2 percent. Canada lost to France in the Olympic Qualifier with a  final score of 83-74. Joseph scored 20 points and handed out six rebounds in that final game.

Indiana Pacers fans got a glimpse of what Joseph could do as a starter when Darren Collison was out of action this season, averaging 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 17 games. But more importantly, the team was +2.5 with him on the floor. He did, however, struggle to shoot over 40 percent as a starter.

Stats aren’t everything, though, as Caitlin Copper of Indy Cornrows wrote on Tuesday, Joseph’s impact often comes in ways that aren’t measurable. Sometimes it is guiding a ball-handler into a trap or allowing his teammates to focus on their jobs, but CoJo was pushing Indiana into being a better team even if his own stats aren’t overly impressive.

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When you look at some of the more nitty-gritty stats, it’s easy to see Joseph’s impact. There were a number of lineup combinations that proved brutally effective for Indiana, and Joseph’s defense played a large role in that. He is a talented player and will do great things for team Canada.

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