The NBA will return to Canada this autumn with two preseason games featuring the Toronto Raptors, bringing top basketball talent to fans in Quebec City and Vancouver.
The Raptors will first take on the Miami Heat at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City on 3 October before travelling west to face the LA Clippers at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on 10 October. The games continue the league’s efforts to expand its presence across Canada while giving fans the opportunity to watch NBA action on home soil.
The contest in Quebec City will mark a historic occasion, becoming the first NBA game ever played in the city. It also makes Quebec City the seventh Canadian city to host an NBA game. Vancouver, meanwhile, is no stranger to the league, with the upcoming matchup set to be the eighth NBA game staged there. Overall, the two fixtures will bring the total number of NBA games played in Canada since 2012 to 22.
One of the biggest attractions of the preseason schedule will be Miami’s revamped roster. The Heat now feature Giannis Antetokounmpo, who joined the franchise from the Milwaukee Bucks in June. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player also enjoyed a memorable Olympic journey, serving as Greece’s flagbearer at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony and leading his country to its first Olympic basketball victory in 16 years.
Antetokounmpo will be joined by Bam Adebayo, who claimed Olympic gold medals with the United States at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Miami’s lineup also includes Canadian forward Andrew Wiggins, adding further local interest to the team’s visit north of the border.
The Raptors will also showcase Canadian talent, with RJ Barrett expected to feature after helping Canada reach the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Reflecting on the significance of the Canadian preseason tour, Wiggins said: “Growing up in Canada, I always dreamed of seeing the game continue to grow back home, and now I get to be part of that history.”
Fans eager to attend the preseason contests will not have to wait long, with tickets for both the Quebec City and Vancouver games scheduled to go on sale on Thursday, 20 August. The two matchups are expected to draw strong interest as the NBA continues to strengthen its connection with basketball supporters across Canada.
