Community events give new era of Raptors players chance to connect with fans

SCARBOROUGH, Ont. — The Toronto Raptors are currently in the beginning stages of what many would describe as a rebuild.

Rebuild, retool, reshape – whatever you want to call it, the team is ironing out who and what defines its path moving forward.

Part of that process is creating an identity.  

After saying goodbye to OG Anunoby (with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn) and Pascal Siakam, two pillars of the previous, and arguably most identifiable iteration of Raptors basketball has come to a close.

Toronto and its overturned nucleus of players are headed in a new direction (the kind that preaches patience), and along with figuring out the on-court stuff they have to determine who they are for the fanbase that supports them.

That's a reality not lost on Garrett Temple, who saw the organization’s appearance at Variety Village in Scarborough, Ont., on Wednesday as an opportunity to start that process.

“Especially after all the trades,” the 14-year NBA veteran said. “With the new players we have it’s definitely a good thing to get out in the community and let people know who we are and let them get to know you as a person.

"For a team like the Raptors, where Toronto has the only basketball team in the country... the fans are the reason why we're able to make a living playing basketball."

Even though Temple’s personal starstruck moment didn’t come until 2009 when he first met Michael Jordan during a pre-draft workout with the Charlotte Hornets, he understands that some children and parents see himself and his teammates as those larger-than-life figures, and spending time with them goes a long way.

“At the end of the day, they may see us as a stat line or guys in a video game,” Temple said. “But when they get to know you as a person, they pour even more into you and want you to do well.”

Seven players from the Raptors made an appearance at Variety Village — a local organization that’s spent the last 70 years helping young people with various needs reach opportunities in an accessible way.

Among the players was Jontay Porter, who signed a two-way contract with the Raptors on Dec. 8. The forward saw the event on Wednesday as his opportunity to show the fanbase how committed he is to being on the team and in Toronto.

“I’m the new kid on the block,” Porter said. “For me, just being able to invest in them and show them I’m here and present, not just trying to get through the day. I’m here to have fun and hang out with them, that’s most important to me… this is a day I’ll remember for a while.”

The rest of the team was with head coach Darko Rajakovic at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), visiting patients. Earlier in the day, Rajakovic and his wife Gaga announced they’d be donating $20 for every assist the team accumulated this season to SickKids and two other children's hospitals.

Charitable gestures and community appearances might be considered a routine part of the job for prominent figures in a given city, but the impact of those moments can often withstand the test of time.

Just ask Joshua MacDonald, a spokesperson from Variety Village who without hesitation said “Pascal Siakam,” while pointing at his Siakam jersey, when asked who his favourite player was.

MacDonald, like many of the other participants at the event donning Siakam’s name on their back, had no reservations about repping No. 43 even after he’d been traded away.

Part of the reason for that is the long-lasting legacy the former Raptor left on the city (and country) through the work of his PS43 foundation. Siakam felt so connected to the community that he decided to keep his charitable organization rooted in Toronto despite no longer being on the team.

As things currently stand, the longest-tenured Raptor on the roster is Chris Boucher. The same Boucher who’s been attached to a handful of trade rumours ahead of a fast-approaching deadline on Feb. 8.

If the Montreal native were to be dealt, the new title holder for longest-tenured would be… well, it depends. Based on games played, Jakob Poeltl has suited up 198 times for Toronto over the span of four seasons, albeit in two separate stints after being dealt to San Antonio in 2018 and then returning via trade halfway through the 2022-23 season.

Or there’s the Raptors' heir apparent Scottie Barnes, who has played 195 games over the span of three consecutive seasons.

The point is the identity of this Raptors team is in flux and this version doesn’t have the same connections, roots, or legacy as versions of the past (yet). None of these players have stamped themselves within Toronto like Siakam or Kyle Lowry before him.

Days like Wednesday, full of visits around the city, will ultimately go a long way in creating those ties for this team and the fanbase.

Someone who knows firsthand what it means for a kid from Canada to have those experiences is Mississauga, Ont., native RJ Barrett.

“I remember being a kid and having players come and speak to me,” Barrett said. “That’s something a kid might remember for the rest of their lives… especially me being from Mississauga, my dad being from Scarborough, it’s cool to be here.”

Barrett has been a member of his hometown Raptors for almost a month now and one of the main things he has tried to communicate to his teammates is the support he knows the fanbase has to offer.

“It’s priceless,” Barrett said. “I think it’s good for new guys to understand the country they’re playing for … just always telling guys the love we have in this country is amazing.”