Luguentz Dort will have the opportunity to play an NBA game in his hometown in October.
Dort, a 24-year-old Montrealer, fellow Ontarian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their Oklahoma City Thunder teammates will face the Detroit Pistons at the Bell Center on Thursday, October 12.
This will be one of two preseason games to be played on Canadian soil as part of the ninth NBA Canada series.
“After growing up and learning to play basketball in Montreal, it will be a special experience to play a preseason game in my hometown. Canada, and particularly Montreal, is one of the best basketball fans in the world. I can’t wait to hit the Bell Center court,” Dort said, via a press release.
The leaders of the Pistons also expressed their pleasure at the idea of coming to play a game in Montreal.
“The Detroit Pistons organization is very excited to be part of the NBA’s Canada Series in the upcoming preseason schedule and playing in a great city like Montreal,” said Pistons general manager, Troy Weaver, in the press release.
The other NBA Canada Series game is Sunday, October 8 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and will see the Toronto Raptors face off against the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings will be represented by forward Trey Lyles of Saskatoon and assistant coach Jordi Fernandez, head coach of Canada’s senior men’s basketball team.
Last year, the Raptors played in both NBA Canada Series games, in Montreal against the Boston Celtics and in Edmonton against the Utah Jazz.
In another vein, the Raptors have unveiled the rest of their preparatory schedule. There will be three more games, including one against the Cairns Taipans, a team from Australia’s National Basketball League, on October 15 in Toronto.
Two days later, the Raptors will be in Chicago to take on the Bulls before hosting the Washington Wizards on October 20.
