Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter.
The NBA’s Toronto Raptors are no strangers to playing preseason games in Vancouver. This year will mark the seventh time Canada’s only NBA franchise has brought a game to Rogers Arena, and this one could feature arguably the best basketball player alive.
The Raptors will take on the Denver Nuggets on October 6, marking the league’s 20th Canada Series game since 2012. That included Kawhi Leonard’s first game in a Toronto Raptors jersey.
The Nuggets, of course, feature three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, as well as Canadian star Jamal Murray.
“This will be the seventh time we’ve started our year with a preseason game in Vancouver and we’re really excited to be back to tip off 2025-26,” said Toronto Raptors general manager Bobby Webster in a release. “We love the vibe, the city, the arena and especially the fans. Part of the experience is seeing the players on our young team realize how much support the Raptors have across Canada. It’s awesome—the realization that they play for a country, not just a city, is an important moment. It’s also really fun. We’re looking forward to being back.”
Added Murray: “It’s always an honor and a pleasure to get to return home to play basketball in Canada. 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!”