To put it in context, it’s the most for a player in a medal-winning game in World Cup history, as well as a new single-game high for Canada, with Brooks breaking a 69-year old record set by Carl Ridd of 37 points against the Philippines in 1954.
The fireworks from long range (7-of-8 shooting) paint the picture of how reliable of a scorer Brooks was. Three-point shooting, indeed, helped him put his name in history books. It’s only the second time that someone has made 7 three-pointers in a medal-winning game over the last 30 years. Kevin Durant did the same in the Final at Turkey in 2010.
However, what stood out much more was the locals appreciating a legendary performance. It was a trip to the free throw line in the first half by Brooks that inspired them to chant that customary phrase of “M-V-P”.
“You’ve got to keep going. They love you when you’re up, like right now. But when you have a bad game, they go right back to it. So you always have to keep working.”
What a journey! We’ll wait for you in Paris, Dillon!
