Michael Linklater facts for kids

Michael Linklater (born September 25, 1982) is a retired Canadian basketball player. He played as a guard. His last team was the Saskatchewan Rattlers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Michael is a Nehiyaw (Cree) person. He won the 2018 Tom Longboat Award. This award honors Indigenous athletes for their great contributions to sports in Canada. He also received the 2018 Inspire Award in the sports category.

Early Life and Basketball Dreams

Michael Linklater was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on September 25, 1982. He is a Nehiyaw (Cree) person. His family comes from the Thunderchild First Nation. This nation is located on Treaty 6 Territory.

Growing Up and Moving

Michael was raised by his great aunt Maria and her husband, Walter. They became his legal guardians. They lived in Thunder Bay, Ontario. When Michael was 10, he and his guardians moved to Saskatoon. At age 16, he officially changed his last name to Linklater. This matched his guardians' name.

Discovering Basketball

Michael learned to play basketball in elementary school. He went to a school in the inner city. His guardians made their home a safe and spiritual place. From a young age, Michael often took part in cultural ceremonies.

Setting Big Goals

In elementary school, Michael set three important goals for himself. He wanted to play basketball for a college or university. He also wanted to play basketball professionally. Finally, he dreamed of playing for Team Canada. He achieved all three of these goals!

High School and College

Michael attended Mount Royal Collegiate. He was named Athlete of the Year from grades 9 to 11. He competed in track and field and cross country. He was also the captain of both the football and basketball teams. After high school, he went to United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. There, he played basketball.

For his second year of college, Michael moved back to Saskatoon. He attended the University of Saskatchewan. Later, he took classes in Nutrition at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). After a year off due to an injury, Michael went to Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta. He played basketball there too. He finished his college basketball career at the University of Saskatchewan. In the 2009-10 season, his team won its only CanWest Conference Championship. They also won the Canadian Intercollegiate Sport (now USport) National Championship. Michael was the team captain.

Basketball Career Highlights

Michael Linklater played for the Edmonton Energy. This team was part of the International Basketball League. He also entered and won a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Edmonton. His team then went to the World Tour Finals in Istanbul. They finished in sixth place.

3x3 Basketball Star

Michael was one of Canada’s best 3-on-3 basketball players. In 2017, he was ranked first in Canada. He was also ranked ninth in the world! He was the captain of Team Saskatoon. He played in several FIBA 3x3 World Tour Finals. He joined the 3-on-3 world tour in 2012.

At the 2017 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters tournament in Saskatoon, Michael helped Team Saskatoon reach the Final. They had a perfect 4–0 record. They lost to Ljubljana in the final game. At that time, Team Saskatoon was ranked 5th in the FIBA world rankings. Three-on-three basketball made its Olympic debut in 2020. It was played in Tokyo.

Winning a Championship

Michael joined his hometown team, the Saskatchewan Rattlers, in 2019. This was the first season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Saskatoon was chosen to host the league's first Championship Weekend. The Rattlers had a regular season record of 11 wins and 9 losses. They then won the league's first championship! They beat the Hamilton Honey Badgers 94–83.

Before the playoffs, Michael had announced he would retire. After winning the title, he said, "It's a phenomenal feeling to go out with a championship... just to be part of this family has been amazing."

Community Advocacy Work

Michael Linklater started a campaign called Boys With Braids. This campaign helps people understand the cultural importance of braided hair. Indigenous boys and men wear their hair in braids. Michael's goal was to teach everyone about the meaning of Indigenous traditions.

He also founded Prime Basketball Development. This program works with Indigenous communities. Prime Basketball Development holds basketball clinics. It teaches Indigenous youth about basketball. It also teaches them about living a healthy and positive lifestyle.

Awards and Recognition

Michael Linklater has received many awards. These awards recognize his work as an advocate for Indigenous youth. They also honor his involvement in the community.

• Saskatchewan CBC future 40 under 40
• Chief of Police award for community service
• Circle of Honour for Sport
• Sasktel Aboriginal Youth Award of Excellence
• Indspire Award, in the sport category (2018)
• Tom Longboat Award (2018), in the men’s category. This award is given to Aboriginal athletes. It recognizes their amazing contributions to sport in Canada.