Michael Linklater facts for kids

Michael Linklater, born on September 25, 1982, is a retired Canadian basketball player. He last played for the Saskatchewan Rattlers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Michael is a Nehiyaw person, which is another name for Cree. He received the 2018 Tom Longboat Award for his great contributions to sports in Canada. He also won the 2018 Inspire Award in the sports category.

Early Life and Education

Michael Linklater was born in Trenton, New Jersey. He is a Nehiyaw (Cree) and comes from the Thunderchild First Nation. This nation is located on Treaty 6 Territory. Michael was raised by his great-aunt Maria and her husband, Walter. They became his legal guardians in Thunder Bay, Ontario. When he was 10, he and his guardians moved to Saskatoon. He legally changed his last name to Linklater to match his guardians.

Learning Basketball

Michael learned to play basketball in grade school. He attended an inner-city school. He went to Mount Royal Collegiate for high school. There, he was named Athlete of the Year for three years in a row. He was on the track and field and cross country teams. He also captained both the football and basketball teams.

College Basketball Journey

After high school, Michael went to United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. He played basketball there. For his second year, he studied Nutrition at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. After a year off due to an injury, Michael transferred 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 U Sports) National Championship. Michael was the team captain during this successful season.

Professional Basketball Career

Michael Linklater played for the Edmonton Energy in the International Basketball League. He also became a top 3-on-3 basketball player. In 2017, he was ranked first in Canada and ninth in the world.

3x3 Basketball Success

Michael 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 Masters tournament in Saskatoon in 2017, Team Saskatoon reached the Final. They had a great 4–0 record but lost to Ljubljana. At that time, Team Saskatoon was ranked 5th in the world by FIBA. Three-on-three basketball became an Olympic sport in 2020 at the Tokyo Games.

CEBL Championship with Saskatchewan Rattlers

In 2019, Michael joined his hometown team, the Saskatchewan Rattlers. This was for the first season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Saskatoon was chosen to host the league's first CEBL Championship Weekend. The Rattlers finished the regular season with 11 wins and 9 losses. They then won the league's first championship. They beat the Hamilton Honey Badgers 94–83. Michael had announced before the playoffs that he would retire after the season. After winning the title, he said it was an amazing feeling to end his career with a championship.

Community Advocacy

Michael Linklater has done important work off the court too. He started a campaign called Boys With Braids. This campaign helps people understand the cultural importance of braided hair for Indigenous boys and men. He wants to teach everyone about 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 and how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle.

Awards and Recognition

Michael Linklater has received many awards for his work. These awards recognize his efforts as an advocate for Indigenous youth and his community involvement.

• 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 honors Aboriginal athletes for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada.