Dillon Brooks giving Canada a puncher's chance

After a questionable ejection for taunting in Canada's quarterfinal win over Slovenia, Brooks greeted his teammates in the tunnel after the game, wearing a pair of boxing gloves and shadowboxing. During the game, he scored 14 points in 28 minutes, on 5-7 shooting from the field, and 2-3 from long-range.

Brooks is playing excellent basketball in the World Cup, shooting 67.5 percent from the field and making 55.6 percent of his threes. That's a huge improvement from his regular-season averages of 39.6 and 32.6 percent shooting, respectively.

What's more important than his improved efficiency is the toughness Brooks brings to the court. He's perhaps the most unpopular player with fans in the Philippines, getting booed during player introductions and every time he touched the ball. Brooks seems to thrive on being the villain, blowing kisses to the crowd.

Clearly, he went into the FIBA World Cup with a fighter's mindset. After all, he packed boxing gloves for a basketball tournament.

It's also a symbol of how the Canadian team is willing to do dirty work in the games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading all guards in rebounding, while R.J. Barrett grabbed nine rebounds in the previous game, more than anyone on Slovenia's team. Team Canada's coach Jordi Fernandez called Brooks and Lu Dort the "best perimeter defenders in the World Cup."

Canadian boxer Lennox Lewis was a world champion. Canada's basketball game just needs to fight their way through two more rounds to win their own title.