The NBA’s preseason spotlight returns north of the border as the 2025 NBA Canada Series presented by Bell tips off Monday, October 6, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The Toronto Raptors will take on the defending champion Denver Nuggets in what marks the Raptors’ preseason opener and the Nuggets’ second exhibition contest of the year.
Since its inception in 2012, the NBA Canada Series has become a staple event for basketball fans nationwide. Featuring 16 teams across 19 games in six cities, the series has drawn nearly 360,000 fans to arenas across the country. The 2025 edition marks the seventh game in Vancouver and the city’s first since 2023, when Toronto topped Sacramento 112-99 in front of a packed Rogers Arena crowd.
Toronto has made the series its own over the past decade, boasting a 12-2 all-time record in the showcase and entering this year’s matchup riding a six-game winning streak. Ironically, their last loss came in 2016 against the same Nuggets squad they now face, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this reunion clash.
Beyond the scoreboard, Monday’s contest will highlight a celebration of Canadian basketball talent. The home crowd will have plenty to cheer for with Toronto natives RJ Barrett and A.J. Lawson suiting up for the Raptors, while Jamal Murray, a Kitchener native and cornerstone of the Nuggets’ 2023 championship run, returns to play on home soil.
“It’s always an honor and a pleasure to get to return home to play basketball in Canada,” said Murray. “I’m excited for the opportunity for myself and my team to face off against the Raptors in front of the basketball-hungry fans of Vancouver—it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Barrett and Murray’s presence carries added weight, as both represented Team Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games, continuing a surge of national pride following Canada’s bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Fans will also get their first look at new additions for both teams. For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram is expected to make his long-awaited debut after recovering from an ankle injury, while rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, looks to impress in his preseason debut. Denver, meanwhile, showcases a refreshed lineup featuring Cam Johnson, Jonas Valančiūnas, and the returning Bruce Brown Jr., alongside MVP Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon.
With Canadian stars, fresh faces, and championship aspirations all converging, the 2025 NBA Canada Series promises to be a celebration of basketball’s booming presence in the North.
