The Toronto Raptors captivated the hearts and minds of a nation by taking out the Golden State Warriors in last season’s NBA Finals.
While Toronto won’t be the same team without reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, it opened this season on a great note with an overtime win Tuesday evening.
It was also the most-watched NBA regular-season game in the history of Canada. The numbers aren’t necessarily close.
Even as one of the three newest expansion teams in the NBA, the Raptors have become somewhat of an institution in Canada.
It’s interesting in that the nation has in the past been all about hockey. But success will certainly bring in more viewers.