The National Basketball Association announced on Thursday that the Canadian cities of Montreal and Vancouver will each host one pre-season game ahead of the 2023-24 NBA regular season.
The NBA Canada Series aims to promote and grow the game of basketball in Canada. The series will kick off with a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings on October 8 in Vancouver.
The showcase will conclude with a game in Montreal on October 12, where the Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Canadian players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, will take on the Detroit Pistons.
Since its inception in 2012, the NBA Canada Series has seen 15 NBA teams participate in 16 preseason games across six Canadian cities.
Canada has been well-represented in the NBA, with a record number of 22 Canadian players on NBA rosters at the start of the 2022-23 NBA season. It has become the most-represented country outside of the United States for the ninth consecutive year.
The 2023-24 NBA regular season will commence on October 24. These pre-season games in Montreal and Vancouver will serve as an exciting buildup to the upcoming NBA season, further fostering the passion for basketball in Canada.
(With Reuters inputs)
