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Basketball may have been created by a Canadian, but the sport itself has never been more popular than it is today in Canada. It started in the mid-1990s when the NBA expanded across the border with two new teams (Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors). From there, the Raptors’ Vince Carter attracted fans from east to west with his hyper athletic dunks. As a result, more and more Canadians started watching basketball, and more and more fans started playing the game.
And then, in the mid-2000s, Steve Nash became Canada’s pride and joy. The Canadian born superstar and two-time MVP played for a system (with the Phoenix Suns) that was fast, high scoring, and entertaining to watch. Not only did this attract more viewers, but it also attracted more young players.
Nash, who retired from the NBA in 2014, now spends his time as the general manager of Canada Basketball and a player development consultant for the Golden State Warriors. Earlier this week, the Toronto Star (who worked with Tangerine Bank) posted an interview they did with Nash, where he talked about Team Canada Basketball and the growth of the game in the nation:
As well, the news organization also interviewed some up-and-coming Canadian players. Check it out:
