Training camp began today for the NBA鈥檚 Toronto Raptors, but players weren鈥檛 practicing on their home court at the Air Canada Centre, instead they worked through drills at the University of Victoria.
The team is holding a four-day training camp in Victoria before jetting off to Hawaii for two preseason games against the LA Clippers early next month.
鈥淚 love coming out here,鈥� said Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. 鈥淲e really represent the country of Canada and we understand that we have a lot of places to touch, a lot of people to touch, and I think it鈥檚 great for the organization to come out here and touch fans and touch people and give them the chance to see us up close and personal.鈥�
READ MORE:
This was the fourth consecutive year the team has held its training camp in the province.
Coach Dwane Casey said it鈥檚 been a good first day for his players, with some very competitive practices taking place on Tuesday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to visit a different part of Canada and prepare for our season in the first-class facilities at the University of Victoria,鈥� said Casey last month, when the training camp schedule was first announced. 鈥淲e are extremely proud being Canada鈥檚 only NBA franchise. Our players and staff feel enthusiasm for basketball in every city we have visited. We don鈥檛 ever want to take that for granted.鈥�
Canadian National Team player and Raptors forward Kyle Wiltjer is hoping to crack the squad this season. The son of former UVic Vikes standout Greg Wiltjer was born in Oregon but enjoys dual citizenship and helped the national team to a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. This followed an illustrious college career that began with a National Championship at Kentucky in 2012 before transferring to finish his college career at basketball powerhouse Gonzaga.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just a buzz around Canada right now 鈥� a lot of young players coming out. And when you have a lot of young talent, it creates opportunities,鈥� said Wiltjer, who noted his only focus right now is on the Raptors.
READ MORE:
Twenty players have been invited to camp, but only a maximum of 15 players can be part of an NBA roster (13 of which can be active each game).
The team鈥檚 intra-squad game goes Thursday night at UVic鈥檚 Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA). The facility will seat 2,300 for the game. Tickets sold out in less than 20 minutes leaving many basketball fans scouring the secondary ticket market. UVic has since announced that standing room only tickets will be available for fans beginning at 5:30 p.m. ahead of the game鈥檚 7 p.m. start.
Proceeds from the game will support the local Golf for Kids Charity Classic, which directly supports a number of charities including the Help Fill a Dream Foundation.
"We really representing the country of Canada."
鈥� Toronto Raptors (@Raptors)
Full videos:
ragnar.haagen@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on
