For the first time in nearly a decade, Canada’s only NBA team, the Toronto Raptors, are in Calgary. This time, the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson Gymnasium and other facilities are hosting the team for their annual training camp.
Raptors star and Canadian RJ Barrett complemented the school’s facilities.
“It’s been great, good facilities here, weight room up there and stuff, no complaints at all,” he said.
Similarly, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said the facility allowed the team to have a productive first day of camp.
“I was really impressed with the facility, the floorway was awesome,” the third year coach said.
“We were able to go out there and really compete on a high level today, so it’s a beautiful facility here.”
Training camp marks Barrett’s first time in Calgary. The Toronto native said he was excited to be in the city.
“It’s cool to be here just to bring Raptors basketball to a different part of the country,” he said.
Though practices are closed to the public, an open gym will be held in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., the team’s final day in the city.
Rajakovic expects the Calgary fans to be electrifying.
“I expect everybody could come in great spirits over here to enjoy seeing our guys,” he said.
“I know that our guys are really excited to go out there and play. It’s going to be great.”
Basketball aside, the team has a planned outing to Banff for the week.
“There was like 20 people (saying) ‘you have to go, it’s amazing,’” the coach said.
Jamal Shead said that a teammate had him research the national park.
“(Raptors forward) David Roddy made me look it up on TikTok, he says it’s one of the most beautiful, like, natural wonders of the world, so I’m really excited about that,” he said.
Every year, the team looks for opportunities to travel across Canada, Rajakovic said that coming to Alberta was very important for the team.
“I heard so many things about Calgary, how great the city is, and how people over here are welcoming. I know how much Canada is supporting the Toronto Raptors, that’s not just the team in Toronto, but the whole country of Canada.”
Ben Matchett, UCalgary Athletics Director, said the school has done their best to roll out the red carpet for the Raptors.
“Anytime you can have an organization from the best professional league in the world in your facility, you want to take advantage of that and provide them the best opportunity that they can to get what they need done, done during their time here,” he said.
Matchett was appreciative of the Raptors’ praise for UCalgary’s facilities. He said that new additions have been made recently, including basketball hoops and a new video board.
After their stop in Calgary, the Raptors will head further west to Vancouver for a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 6.
