NBA stars thrill youth at Ottawa Y
Such are the rigours of NBA stardom: dozens of teenage boys chanting your name from the balcony, swarming round your departing car in the underground parking lot, uttering such breathtaking challenges as: “I’ll play you for your shoes.”
It’s all just part of the buzz that surrounds basketball in Canada, reigning NBA rookie of the year and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins told reporters Tuesday night at the Taggart Family YMCA after participating in an NBA FIT Clinic and a news conference to announce an “NBA Cares” contribution to the refurbishment of outdoor basketball court in Almonte, birthplace of the game’s inventor, James Naismith.
It’s an honour to be the new face of Canadian basketball, Wiggins noted.
“With that comes a lot of responsibility, a lot of young kids looking up to me, older kids looking up to me. I’m just here to be a role model. I’m here to try and do everything positive I can to try to give them faith and hope and confidence to do the same thing.”
That, along with 25 free tickets, which Wiggins provided to youngsters from Almonte (part of the amalgamated town of Mississippi Mills) to attend the third game of the 2015 NBA Canada Series on Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre between the Toronto Raptors and Timberwolves.
Toronto Raptors point guard Cory Joseph, though, topped that by providing tickets to 25 YMCA youths “and their families,” during a news conference to unveil the refurbishment of an outdoor community basketball court in Almonte.
NBA Cares and Bell Canada combined to cough up “just over (US)$19,000,” while Almonte used-clothing outlet The Hub and the non-profit citizenship organization Civitan raised the remainder (roughly $9,000) of the $28,000 needed to pave the outdoor court and put up new basketball standards, backboards and nets, says Mississippi Mills Mayor Shaun McLaughlin.
Resuscitation of Augusta Street Park in downtown Almonte was undertaken at the impetus of a youngster named Sarah Spinks, who, four years ago, began urging the community to restore the park’s rundown 40-year-old court, says Jeff Mills, co-ordinator of community development for Mills Community Support.
It seemed apropos for NBA Cares to make a contribution to the revitalization of the court (one of two NBA cares projects for 2015), given that it’s the 125th anniversary of the first hoops game played in Canada, McLaughlin told a media conference.
It’ll help “to bring people back to Naismith, back to the roots of basketball,” he said
Wiggins, Joseph, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine and interim coach Sam Mitchell later put roughly 100 youngsters through a FIT Clinic, providing tips to improve their game, as well as what Naismith’s grandson Jim called advice on how to “live a good
I’m here to try and do everything positive I can to try to give them faith and hope and confidence to do the same thing.
life.”
Wiggins called it “cool” to be around a surviving member of the Naismith family.
“His family is so historic. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Basketball is my comfort zone. They helped create my comfort zone.”
The 2015 NBA Canada Series gives youngsters a chance “to really experience NBA basketball first-hand. We’re giving them a chance to see and have a taste of it,” he added.
As for his fan club in the balconies, Wiggins noted: “It’s all love. I try to give back and be as good as I can to every person in Canada. They love and support me. I do the same. … I enjoyed it. It made me feel good.”
Joseph told reporters that venturing to Ottawa, near where Naismith was raised, has reminded him of the magnitude of the contribution made by the former YMCA instructor (who was born Nov. 6, 1861, on a farm just outside Almonte).
“To have that vision that he had, you know, so long ago, is unbelievable. (The impact) is well beyond the years.”
Joseph added that he was delighted to be part of the NBA Canada Series to promote the game north of the 49th parallel.
“As a Canadian, we got one team right now. So whenever we get a chance to go to different cities and perform for them, and show them what we do best, is an amazing feeling.”
Asked how much it cost him to cough up tickets for 25 youths and their families, Joseph replied: “It’s not about the cost. It’s about love.”