Basketball is a growing and thriving culture here in the Lower Mainland. There is no greater evidence of that than the recent success of the Vancouver Bandits (Formerly Fraser Valley Bandits). Once upon a time there actually was an NBA franchise here known as the Vancouver Grizzlies. The Grizzlies had some notable names on the roster such as Mike Bibby, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Bryant “Big Country” Reeves. The culture seemed to be poppin’ but the team just never performed to a level that drew the necessary crowds. Many folks have tried to explain the phenomena and perhaps none have done a better job than Kathleen S. Jayme, who created two documentaries about the team called “Finding Big Country” and “The Grizzly Truth“. If you’re a sports fan or a fan of documentaries in general I would highly recommend you check them out.
Why did the Grizzlies fail in Vancouver?@Jon_Wertheim investigates 🧐 https://t.co/ykr5W0E6XO pic.twitter.com/wMcXVs5MBD
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 15, 2022
That was then however, and this is now. The Toronto Raptors winning the title in 2019 just further expedited the evolution of basketball culture here in Canada and the forward momentum will keep on going no matter what the future of the NBA looks like. I have had the privilege to work at several basketball related events including the UFV Cascades varsity games, BC Highschool basketball championships and the aforementioned Vancouver Bandits. What I can safely tell you is that the culture is here to stay. No matter whether the NBA decides to return or not, the players, coaches fans and families will still be here, working to continue the legacy of basketball in British Columbia. If you are like me and enjoy the game of basketball then you should definitely come down to the Langley Events Centre next summer to take in what the Vancouver Bandits will be up to.
A new energy, fuelled by the west. 🔥
Introducing your Vancouver Bandits.
Learn more at https://t.co/jtwemGSt8T pic.twitter.com/vPizfZSiAV
— Vancouver Bandits (@vancitybandits) September 13, 2022
Nothing I’ve been a part of has encapsulated the beating heart of the basketball culture here in the Lower Mainland quite like a Bandits game day. Maybe the NBA will come by too and learn what BC basketball culture is all about once and for all.