Raptors' Joseph to play leading role for Canada It's not often a 23-year-old player is afforded the opportunity to lead, but as TSN's Josh Lewenberg writes, after a four-year apprenticeship under Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, few are better prepared than new Raptors' guard Cory Joseph.

Josh Lewenberg TSN Raptors Reporter Follow|Archive

TORONTO - It's not often a 23-year-old player is afforded the opportunity to lead, on any team in any league or tournament, but after a four-year apprenticeship under Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, few are better prepared than new Raptors' guard Cory Joseph.

Joseph, who signed with Toronto earlier this summer, will make the transition from being one of the younger players on a veteran Spurs club to one of the oldest and most experienced on a youthful Canadian National Team, as they prepare for next month's FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico City.

With training camp underway, it's no surprise to see head coach Jay Triano leaning on his point guard. Don't let the age fool you, Joseph is wise beyond his years.

"He's our starting point guard," Triano said just after the team's afternoon practice let out at the Air Canada Centre late last week. "He's a guy we're going to lean on to run this team. He did a great job with us last year when we were overseas playing 11 games in Europe. He's understanding the international game better. He just keeps getting better and he's a big part of what we're doing. We expect him to be the floor general and the leader on the floor."

"I've been the point guard of this team for awhile now," Joseph echoed. "So I'm comfortable with that position, with that role, trying to be an extension of the coach on the court [while] obviously still learning. I know a lot of these guys, but a lot of these guys improved since I last played with them. So [I'm] still learning everybody's game, we're getting comfortable with each other, gaining experience, and we should be good."

Debuting for Canada on the 2007 under-19 World Championship squad - competing with and against guys up to three years older - Joseph has played in over 35 games for his country's junior and senior teams, more than anyone on the current camp roster outside of veterans Carl English and Aaron Doornekamp.

In recent years, he's been one of the program's most consistent and arguably its best performers, averaging 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists in over 32 minutes per game during the last FIBA Americas Championship back in 2013.

Still, while many of his teammates have tasted some success with the national team - some winning bronze with one of the junior clubs, others earning silver at the Pan American Games last month - Joseph has yet to medal in any of the major tournaments he's played, something that's on his mind as he gears up for Mexico. Canada will need a gold or silver in the FIBA Americas to qualify for next summer's Rio Olympics and the Pickering-native is highly motivated to make that trip.

"We want to win gold," Joseph exclaimed. "It's a goal that we have, we want to win gold coming up. Obviously it's a process, we've got to take it one day at a time, but we've just got to focus in every day and hopefully that's what we'll come out with."

The soft-spoken, mild-mannered point guard is not a vocal leader in the traditional sense. He won't get in your face and you're not likely to hear his voice booming from the opposite end of the gym. He leads by example, with his work ethic, hard play and knowledge of the game - a style similar to the one he learned from Parker.

"I definitely take stuff from Tony's game," said Joseph. "Being there over the years, learning stuff from him just like in the future I'll learn from (Raptors point guard) Kyle Lowry, so I just try to apply that to my game. Not everything works for you, so you've got to try it and see if it works. I've learned a lot from him, I could talk for hours about what I've learned, but I'll save you the hassle."

"To me it's not about being the loudest," he continued. "But maybe pulling a guy to the side if I feel like something's wrong, just like if I was doing something wrong I would expect the same. Just show obviously by example, I feel like I'm a guy to go out there, lace up my shoes, and play 110 per cent every time I'm on the court."

With 18-year-old point guard Jamal Murray in camp, as well as several other young players inexperienced at the international level, Joseph finds himself in an unfamiliar role. Suddenly he's the mentor but, true to character, he doesn't seem fazed. This is a rare opportunity for a player his age, one that should go a long way in aiding his continued growth and development, an experience he can take back to the Raptors next season.

His poise and ability to make efficient decisions with the ball in his hands should come in handy as Triano looks to install an up-tempo offence but his presence will be felt most on defence, where he has always been one of the top players at his position.

"Cory's made a lot of improvements," said Team Canada teammate and Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas. "I've seen him out there he's a great leader, great floor general, great defender as well. I think that's the most important thing about him is he really gets after it on the defensive end and he'll make the other point guard work so I'm excited to have him on the team."

"Obviously everybody knows I'm a defensive player," Joseph said. "I take pride in my defence. Last year I was able to show a little bit of my two-way game when [Patty Mills] and [Parker] were out early in the season. So I'm looking to continue to show that I'm a two-way player, but I feel like I'm just going to go out there [and show that] I'm a hard-nosed player. I play hard every time I'm on the court, every possession. I just leave it out there and let the result take care of itself."