The NBA finals just wrapped up this past weekend, with the Lakers winning their 17th title in franchise history. But that also means that the Toronto Raptors’ reign has ended after 486 days as the NBA Champion, which is the longest single-season title defense in the NBA’s league history. 

Kyle Lowry holding the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2019. – Courtesy of Pixabay

When the Raptors secured the championship last summer, it was a great feeling as a sports fan to see but also as a Canadian to feel the victory. The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian NBA team that currently exists so it goes without saying that they are Canada’s team. But how many Canadians are actually loyal to the Raptors like Vancouverites are loyal to the Canucks, as opposed to becoming a fan during playoffs and especially when they win a championship. The Raptors have proven to be a worthy team to root for, but with how popular many American teams are it poses the question of how much Canadians truly see the Raptors as a favourite in their eyes.

I wasn’t old enough to experience the Vancouver Grizzlies tenure however I think that is something most Canadians are missing some days. It can be a bit demotivating to be cheering on one single team in a league with no chance at a true rivalry in the same country. Especially living out West, it feels like a far-fetched reality to experience the true feelings of being a passionate basketball fan. 

Basketball culture has definitely risen since I became passionate about it 7-8 years ago. Having more basketball teams nearby, whether it be in Seattle or Vancouver again, would without a doubt reignite the NBA market by giving more fans a chance to cheer for more teams — especially Canadians. The question is, can more basketball teams in a Canadian market do as well as the teams in America?