‘Something to celebrate’: Raptors unite Canadians during NBA Finals

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The last time Canadians coast to coast celebrated a major sports championship was 26 years ago when the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, and the Toronto Blue Jays captured the World Series, and the Toronto Raptors were not even a team yet.

Over a quarter of a century later the Raptors look to make history as they are one win away from defeating the Golden State Warriors for the NBA championship and making the Great White North into a 4828km Jurassic Park.

Peter Klein with Sportsnet 960 The Fan says that this is a part of why the Raptors have turned into Canada’s team since facing the Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals.

“It is something to celebrate about for Canadians,” Klein said. “For basketball fans, speaking as one specifically, it has been so great to see the sports celebrated the way it has been the last little while. It’s one of our own doing something finally.”

RELATED: Toronto Raptors set another Canadian TV record for Game 4 of NBA Finals

Klein said that the country coming together is something that he has only seen a handful of times, the last time was 2015 when the Blue Jays lost in the ALCS to the Kansas City Royals, and even then he never thought that basketball would be able to do this.

“I knew baseball because a lot of people grew up with the Jays and remember 92 and 93 — so there is an ok this is what I remember mentality. But there isn’t a long, proud history with the Toronto Raptors; it is a very frustrating history for a matter of fact, so to have this many people come together is amazing.”

Klein continues saying that it shows the power sports has over people, and it is a power that he thought was exclusive to the Olympics is being seen now, where for three hours people can come together and watch the game.

He says while this playoff run may not translate into more Canadians teams in the NBA, like the resurrection of the Vancouver Grizzlies, we could expect to see a new crop of players from north of the border.

“I think the days of a Jamal Murray or a Steve Nash being special because they are the only ones, I think those days are numbered.”

READ MORE: O Canada: Raptors go for celebrity-free national anthem in Game 5 of NBA finals

Klein sees a time in basketball in Canada where we are going to get to a point where NBA players are going to be left off Olympic teams and national teams, in contrast to players being begged to play for national and Olympic teams because they are in the NBA.

He said that that he sees a period of an up period for the sport of basketball due to several reasons and this the Raptors playoff run is a big part of it.

CityNews and 680 NEWS reporters are tweeting about the game from across the country:

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today