The Raptors in Montreal to make a difference

On the eve of Friday’s preseason game at the Bell Center against the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors took advantage of their time in the Quebec metropolis to sow seeds of hope among young Montreal basketball players.

Nicholas Richard
The Press

No less than 150 young people were gathered in different groups at the Sports Center of the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) as part of the community impact clinics offered by the Raptors.

The only Canadian club in the NBA is touring across Canada to offer young athletes, aged 10 to 14 and from different communities, the chance to learn basketball or refine their technique.

Shooting, ball control, cardio and positioning exercises were supervised by French-speaking coaches.

An important step

John Wiggins, vice-president of organizational culture and inclusion at the Raptors, explained that this type of initiative is essential for the Toronto team. According to him, it’s not just the results that make young people want to take a ball and shoot a basket. It is also the contact that these young people have with their team.

Rookie player Christian Koloko was also present at the event and he would have liked to be able to participate in this kind of camp when he started to dribble. “I didn’t have access to that when I was younger. Professional players did not come to see us in my city. »

Fabrice Vil, founder of the organization Pour 3 points, was happy to be able to contribute to this event and especially to see that so many young people had answered the call: “When we talk about amateurs, that also includes young people. They are also young people from communities who face different obstacles. So offering them an activity like this, fun and in a safe environment, helps create a bond with the Raptors. It is highly relevant. »

Take basketball as an example

Basketball is one of the most advanced sports in terms of diversity, inclusion and fairness. There is still work to be done, but it is clear that in a North American context, other leagues or disciplines could take a cue from what the NBA and WBNA are doing. At least that’s what Wiggins thinks: “We want to be leaders in these areas. We want people to see that sport is a platform and that the voice we have as professional teams helps change lives. »

He hopes that sports like hockey and soccer, popular disciplines in Canada, can follow suit and use their weight to make a constructive difference.

“What the NBA is doing is really amazing,” added Koloko, seven-foot-one.

He believes that this kind of alternative helps not only to create a link with the next generation, but also to popularize the sport, quite simply. He even quoted Nelson Mandela recalling that “sport has the power to unite everyone”.

This statement also resonates enormously with Fabrice Vil, who dedicates his life to bringing people together. Thus, being able to admire the smiles of the young people and parents present reinforces him in his primary mission.

“The different professional circles should really start watching what’s going on in basketball,” he said. He argues that the NBA is a forward-thinking league for its involvement in the community.

He also draws a parallel with the Alliance de Montréal, “which has done an extraordinary job of bringing the local community together. »

Overall, the other professional leagues are lagging behind, he believes. Hence the relevance of holding an event like this camp to prove that offering time and resources to young people is not an expense, but an investment.

The enthusiasm for basketball in Montreal is palpable and real and the Raptors organization is eager to play at the Bell Centre. Koloko, who was drafted into the NBA just a few months ago, had a hard time sitting still when it came to the start of the season. “I’m really excited,” he said with a smile on his face.

The Raptors and Celtics, finalists last season, will meet Friday at 7:30 p.m.