The Toronto Raptors have landed in Calgary.
And while they plan to put in plenty of work to gear up for their NBA season, their ‘to-do’ list also includes playing the role of tourists, as this is the first time the organization has ever held training camp in Alberta.
“I heard so many things about Calgary, how great a city it is, and how people over here are welcoming,” head coach Darko Rajakovic shared after day one of practice. “I’m looking forward to meeting local fans over here.”
“I know how much Canada is supporting the Toronto Raptors. That’s not just a team of Toronto, but a whole country of Canada. We’re really excited to be here, and every year we’re always looking for opportunities to visit different places. Coming to Alberta now is very important for us, and I want guys to have the opportunity to meet locals and to get to know Calgary best.”
One of the highlights of the jam-packed itinerary is a trip to Banff, which will be a first for Canadian star RJ Barrett.
“That’s an experience, it’s one of those ones, especially as a Canadian that I probably should have already had, but, you know, we’ll see,” he said with a smile. “This is my first time in Calgary, so I’m excited to be here.”
Both Rajakovic and Barrett emphasized the importance of connecting with the Raptors’ fan base across the nation.
“Forty million people are pulling for one team,” the head coach acknowledged to the large throng of media, both national and local, that gathered on the hardwood at the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson Gymnasium.
“It’s a great honour, it’s a great responsibility. We feed off our fans, and we always look forward to interacting with our fans across the whole country.”
Friday, they’ll have a chance to meet their Calgary faithful during open practice.