The Toronto Raptors are hosting their training camp in Quebec for the first time.
The club announced Wednesday that it will prepare for its title defence in 2019-20 at Laval University in Quebec City
“As Canada’s team, we felt it was important to go out and visit somewhere we’ve never been before,” said Raptors head Coach Nick Nurse.
“We’re really looking forward to taking advantage of the excellent facilities at Laval, which we know is one of Canada’s great sporting schools, and to soaking in the incredible old-world atmosphere of Quebec.”
Practices are slated to take place between Sept. 29 and Oct. 3, with the final one at Amphitheatre Desjardins-Universite Laval being open to the public.
Three of the Raptors players who are francophones — Chris Boucher of Montreal, Pascal Siakam from Cameroon and Serge Ibaka from the Republic of Congo — should feel at home in the provincial capital.
The Raptors held training camp in Vancouver last year, but have also made trips to Victoria, Halifax, Treviso, Italy and Buffalo, N.Y., in the past.
Once camp wraps, Toronto will depart for a pair of pre-season tilts against the Houston Rockets in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.
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