Cory Joseph

Cory Joseph's Biography

Cory Ephram Joseph, a renowned Canadian professional basketball player, was born on August 20, 1991, in Toronto, Ontario. Currently representing the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he has played in the distinct position of point guard throughout his career and was even the captain of the Canadian national team. Being youngest among four siblings, he owes his inherent inclination towards sports to his parents, Connie and David Joseph. David, born in Trinidad and Tobago, was an experienced basketball player and a coach at various levels, including high school, college, and professional. Connie, on the other hand, was a coach as well as a referee at different levels of the sport.

It was while playing for respective men’s and women’s basketball teams at Mount Royal College that David Joseph met Connie, his future wife. Subsequently, the couple was blessed with four children. Cory’s older sisters Chantal and Danielle are passionate about the sport just like himself. His brother Devoe has been a successful college-level player at Minnesota and Oregon and currently plays professionally in Europe. Cory and his brother grew up in Pickering, Ontario, in a household pulsating with passion for basketball, where his father, a CCAA national championship winner, played for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Cory’s links to basketball run deeper in his family with his second cousins, Kris and Maurice, both being experienced players. Kris, who played for Syracuse, was chosen in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Maurice, on the other hand, played for Michigan State and Vermont and had the honor of being the head coach of George Washington University.

In his early years, both the future NBA stars, Cory and Kelly Olynyk, played in a Scarborough Blues club team that stayed undefeated for a significant duration of time. Notably, one of their defeats came from a team led by Stephen Curry, the Toronto 5-0.

Cory attended Pickering High School where he, alongside his brother Devoe, led the school’s AAAA basketball team to back-to-back Ontario provincial championships in 2007 and 2008. Having their father as the team’s assistant coach, they not only defeated Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute in the championship but also got selected to play in the annual All-Canada Classic in 2008.

Later that year, Cory transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, alongside Tristan Thompson, a close friend, and AAU teammate. There, he was successful in increasing his recruiting demand by leading Findlay Prep to the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship game in 2009. He was rightfully named to the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team during the same year. This was the time when he was chosen to play in the fourth annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball game at the legendary Rucker Park in Harlem, New York City, a game that brings together the top 24 high school basketball players in the U.S. regardless of their recruiting class.

In his senior year, Cory played another magnificent role to lead Findlay Prep to win the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational championship in 2010. His exceptional performance brought him the honor of being named to the ESPN RISE All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year and being declared the tournament MVP. Rivals.com and the ESPNU 100 ranked him as the #7 and #11 prospect nationally, respectively. He was also designated a Jordan Brand Classic All-American and a participant in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game.

Cory declared for the NBA draft after his phenomenal contribution in the 2011 NCAA March Madness. This resulted in his subsequent selection by the San Antonio Spurs as the 29th overall in the 2011 NBA draft. This historical event marked the first time three Texas Longhorn basketball players were chosen in the first round as Cory’s former collegiate teammate Jordan Hamilton was also drafted as the 26th overall to Dallas Mavericks.

He debuted for the Raptors in their season opener on October 28, 2015, and quickly started making his mark in the games. Cory quickly became a pinnacle for his home team and continually helped them secure significant victories. His promising career took another step ahead when he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2017. In his debut match for the Pacers, Cory scored 11 points contributing to a 140-131 win against the Brooklyn Nets. He later went on to represent Sacramento Kings in 2019, and the Detroit Pistons, who he had signed for in 2021, followed by a contract with the Golden State Warriors the subsequent year.

As the captain of the Canadian men’s national basketball team, Joseph has represented Canada in numerous tournaments, both domestic and international. He brought home the bronze medal from the 2008 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship and played for Canada at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.

Moreover, he has also led the team in scoring at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship where he played alongside his brother, Devoe. Cory agreed to a three-year commitment to play with the Canadian senior men’s national team in 2022, showcasing his continued commitment to representing his country on an international level.

Throughout his illustrious career, Cory Ephram Joseph has continually proved to be a dedicated, disciplined, and powerful player. Despite numerous transfers and trades, he has successfully embodied the spirit of sportsmanship and dedication in every match he’s been a part of. His journey is a testament to his love for basketball, his ceaseless hard work, and his commitment to his team and his country, making him one of the brightest stars of the sport.