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Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing?

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Re: OT: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#21 » by jimmy keys » Wed Nov 18, 2020 5:59 am

Got to meet the original Raptors team and watch them practice back when they use to @ Glendon.

Knew a girl who dated Bargnani for a couple of years. She said he used to make her split the bill with him anytime they went out.

Met many Raps over the years. Would agree that Mo Pete & Kevin Willis were the most chill down to earth amongst them.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#22 » by mdenny » Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:07 am

I work at tsn and on raptor games. The raptor guys and production team are way more enjoyable to work with then a certain unnamed other sport. The cfl guys are great too.

Meet lots of players all the time but it's not professional to interact much. The tv guys are great. Not a bad apple in the bunch (unlike another unnamed sport lol). I know that leo hasn't always been popular but trust me, you'd go to bat for him if u worked with him. That goes for all the guys. Raptor fans are lucky to have our team of guys.

When our schedules are released I am hoping for as many raptor shifts as possible and not just because I'm a ball fan. Alot of crew ppl who don't care about sports feel the same way.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#23 » by lolwut » Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:32 am

I was standing outside in line at a Service Ontario a few weeks ago to pick up my updated car permit (they don't mail them out). This old guy in front of me asked me to hold his spot in line as he needed to go back to his car to grab something. Of course I complied.

When he came back, he thanked me for holding his spot and started chatting with me. It turned out that he's the father of Andrew Wiggins' high school coach in Vaughan, Gus Gymnopoulos.
https://mobile.twitter.com/gusgymnopoulos

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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#24 » by 6ixSideSniper » Wed Nov 18, 2020 7:52 am

I met Thon Maker at Pearson airport, it was a couple days or a week after the draft, I was there dropping off a friend when I saw this massive black dude with an NBA backpack and a Bucks shirt. I wished him the best of luck in Milwaukee. Seemed like a nice dude.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#25 » by livnthedream416 » Wed Nov 18, 2020 1:48 pm

Met Kyle Lowry at Toronto Pearson in June 2015, he was heading back home to Philly. Surprisingly no one else recognized him (or bothered to care), I was the only one that asked for a pic.

In December 2016, DeRozan and Lowry were having dinner at Cactus with a couple G-leaguers, caught them on their way out. They actually asked me to take this picture for them:
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#26 » by Coach Smiley » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:05 pm

Got autographs from entire team, coaches and announce crew (minus fvv, he was too focused) at a road game last season

Met Alex mckenchnie when I was standing outside real sports, this was right after the championship, shook his hand and said thanks for taking care of Kawhi lol

Talked to Jamal Murray's dad after a Canada Basketball game

Took a selfie with Bobby Webster at a game

Have been in reaching distance to Shaq, Chuck, Kenny, Danny Green, Drake, oak, Alvin Williams, jyd, Bron, cb, Wade, giannis :)
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#27 » by Fairview4Life » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:08 pm

My man, have I got a thread for you:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1341511
9. Similarly, IF THOU HAST SPENT the entire offseason predicting that thy team will stink, thou shalt not gloat, nor even be happy, shouldst thou turn out to be correct. Realistic analysis is fine, but be a fan first, a smug smarty-pants second.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#28 » by DG88 » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:10 pm

Met DeMar DeRozan during the NBA 3 on 3 tournament in Toronto.

Met Jamal Magloire and shook his massive hands when I was at the ACC.

Met Jack Armstrong having lunch at Real Sports.

Saw Norman Powell last year at a Jamaican restaurant 2 years ago.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#29 » by DIEHARD_005 » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:12 pm

Saw mopete live at wonderland in the early 2000s. This was before he left the raps iirc (actually it was cuz it was before 06) but there were rumors of him going to the new Orleans hornets- and by fluke I was wearing a bdiddy hornets jersey lol.

Saw Kris Humphries twice at Rockwood. The first time I was hammered and mentioned something about him and the Wendy's baconator, I think there was a thread or two here back in the day with him and his love for those. Pretty sure I pissed him off lol. Second time was right before a fight broke out and he ran off.

I have a pic with colangelo the night of our 07-08 home opener where he met fans in the acc concourse. Back when he was our saviour lol.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#30 » by bboyskinnylegs » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:27 pm

not me personally, but I know someone that ran into Shawn Marion, Will Solomon, and Jake Voskuhl in a washroom at Fairview Mall. Said that Shawn exuded supreme confidence.
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Re: OT: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#31 » by Kevin Willis » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:42 pm

metafisical wrote:Not me, but a friend of mine was in a Vegas casino after the Spurs won the championship in 2003. Some of the Spurs players was there, including former Raptor Mengke Bateer. Bateer went into the bathroom. My friend is Chinese, so he wanted Bateer's autograph. My friend waited outside the washroom for a long time. He goes into the washroom and Bateer was taking a dump. My friend just left. He said it smelled.


That fictional story was hilarious.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#32 » by Brinbe » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:49 pm

saw dikembe at the king of prussia (big mall in the suburbs outside philly, think sauga square one) apple store many, many years ago. couldn't mistake that voice and that height and he and his traveling party (think his kids?) were all wearing matching suits lol.

i'm pretty sure i've seen others around but i'm not the type to notice too much or get starstruck.

oh here's another one, not nba related but still funny. i was travelling from ottawa to newark like twenty years ago, and when we exited the gate, the undertaker and a few other wrasslers were standing around/waiting to get on the same plane to head back to ottawa. think there was probably a house show there that night. just thought was funny for some reason. it was the last thing i expected to see lol.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#33 » by pilkoids » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:50 pm

Ran into Chris Bosh many years ago (the year we drafted Charlie Villanueva) on a Saturday night. Was walking down the street with some friends downtown and as we crossed a Pita Pit I saw him waiting for his order. As he came out I introduced myself, shook his hand, and wished him the best for the year. One thing I remember - his hand was VERY soft.

*edit - Also used to see Sherman Hamilton a lot at the YMCA i used to go to like 20 years ago (by Scarborough Town Centre). He was always on the court getting some shots up and frequently helped kids out with their game - running drills with them etc.

Also, late 2013, I ran into Amir exiting the Ikea in Etobicoke (by Queensway). Him and his really short female companion had bought a baby crib. It was just before the beginning of the season and our first game was against the Cavs the next day. I said something along the lines of "Hey Amir, good luck against the Cavs tomorrow - and don't forget, we're tanking for Wiggins". He smirked and gave me a head nod.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#34 » by Inklink » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:51 pm

Fairview4Life wrote:My man, have I got a thread for you:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1341511

Loool I was contemplating firing up my PC to find this bookmark. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: OT: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#35 » by whitehops » Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:53 pm

probably not the best story but my friend and i were at a raps game (vs. pistons) two seasons ago and we were watching the teams warm up. eventually both teams went to their locker rooms but reggie jackson stayed on the floor because he was rehabbing his knees at the time.

anyways, my friend and i went to go to the bathroom before the game started and as we're walking around the upper level i look over and reggie jackson is walking right beside me. i was so surprised because this was like thirty seconds after i saw him on the court way below. he must've left the same time i did and take an elevator up. it was only for about twenty feet but he was walking beside my friend and i to go to the practice gym.

i didn't say anything to him but some observations: i'm 6'2 without shoes and he's listed at 6'3 but it felt like he was two inches taller than me. also, he's as sweaty in person as he looks on tv.

jimmy keys wrote:Knew a girl who dated Bargnani for a couple of years. She said he used to make her split the bill with him anytime they went out.


if i was a celebrity i think i might do that too, at least earlier in the relationship. hopefully it weeds out the gold diggers.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#36 » by Duffman100 » Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:01 pm

Went to a Raptors dinner thing. Was served by Anthony Parker and he was absolutely the nicest person. So humble and cool.

Bumped into Calderon at Starbucks once. Said "Raptor forever man, hope you stay here" or something like that. He was pretty good and smiled and said he appreciated it.

Walked past Bargnani on the street. Such a huge human being. Didn't say anything though because ... it's Bargnani.

Met Jay Triano briefly, again super nice guy.

I've told the Babcock story so many times. But I emailed all the email addresses of variations of his name, asking for advice for someone looking to get into ball. He actually called me and we spoke for 5 minutes.
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#37 » by Ramed Nazored » Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:22 pm

Plenty.

Kevin Willis : he begrudgingly autographed my ticket. Not a cool guy. Hurried and annoyed.
Pape Sow : Club district. Shook hands. I was drunk and high, he was with a few girls. Didn't seem impressed with how I approached him.
Kris Humphries/Derek Martin: Outside of a restaurant downtown. They were playfighting their way into a back of the cab.
Chuck Swirsky : Really cool guy. We talked basketball. Approachable. Easy to chat with.
Lou Williams : Eaton Center. Said hi. He was preoccuped on his phone.
Fred Van Vleet : At the Starbucks on Fleet Street. We spoke for a bit. Asked him how he liked Toronto. Said he loved it. Said the weather was no adjustment given where he's from. This was 2017. He was ordering a hot chocolate and cookie. Cool, down to earth dude. No one else in the coffee shop knew who he was.
Masai: he was on my flight back from Chicacgo in May 2019. Was there for the draft combine. I shook his hand, thanked him for what he's done for the city. He was very gracious and chill.

Others I never met, but close friends did.

Vince Carter: My friends used to work at his old club.
Andrea Bargnani: A friend of mine went on a date with him. Said he was awkward and dull.
Keon Clark: I never met him, but my boys did at Classic Bowl. Smoked a blunt with him. Said his hands were so large the blunt was like a toothpick between his fingers.

There's more that
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#38 » by Raptors_Dynasty » Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:32 pm

Met Jamal Magloire in Indiana at the shopping mall back in 16' when we were playing the Pacers in the PO. Super nice down to earth guy, took time to talk to us (although it wasn't like other people there noticed him)

Saw Stanley Johnson at Bay and Dundas with a BestBuy bag, went up to him to say hi but he seemed like he didn't want to really talk as he was waiting for his ride so i kept it breif.

Not a Raptor but I played Jamal Murray 1 on 1 back in 15' in Waterloo at RIM park when I had no idea who he was. He was training at one end of the gym and his trainer asked if I could play dummy defence. I actually tried super hard for whatever reason and I could tell it got him annoyed because he tried dunking on me, but his trainer told him to focus on jumpers :lol: Almost scored a mid range jumper on him, looking back I wish that shot went in so i can tell my kids I scored on Jamal Murray :D
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#39 » by Oakville_Raptor » Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:43 pm

I ran into Amir Johnson as I was entering my hotel in Las Vegas a few years back. Great times!! :lol: :lol:

Also met Jack Armstrong at my local rec centre in Oakville...one of the nicest guys ever met
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Re: Has anybody ever bumped into Raptors/NBA players or personnel? Got any stories worth sharing? 

Post#40 » by Skeezo » Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:50 pm

Ran directly into Big Cat (Jamal Magloire) after getting pepper sprayed at a Mobb Deep concert outside of the Kool Haus. This was some time in the middle of his playing career and he was home for the summer. Apologized for running into him from being blinded. He simply commented "it was crazy" what was going on.

Back in the VC days, I was able to snag amazing baseline seats (1st Row after the walking track) for a couple of the NYK games. Was able to say hello Vince's Mom, Spike Lee, and Samuel L Jackson

My most recent encounter was a retired Raptor who I wouldn't even have recognized if somebody didn't tell me it was him, but I was able to say hello to Donyell Marshall at a pretty seedy bar in the Dominican Republic in 2012.

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