With he 2020-21 NBA season well underway, fans are excited to be cheering on their favourite teams again. And if you happen to be a Toronto Raptors fan, you know Nav. Nav Bhatia, the dedicated fan who has attended every single home game. For the past 20 years, Bhatia has remained positive no matter what the scoreboard numbers show. Adored by both players and fellow fans alike, his infectious smile can always been seen from his floor seats.. His genuine big smile and enthusiasm during games is often a highlight for TV cameras and fans at home alike. Canadian rapper Drake and Bhatia have both become exciting features at home games. And like Drakes generosity (he donated $1 million to Miami residents in his “God’s Plan” video), Bhatia has also demonstrated what Toronto already knows, he has a huge heart.
One would expect that a serous fan like Bhatia would have an impressive collection of basketball collectables. And one would be right. Bahtia’s memorabilia is seriously envy worthy, with signed tickets by superstars like Allen Iverson; sneakers from Shaquille O’Neal; and keepsakes from his close friend Vince Carter.
But three years ago, Bhatia started to say goodbye to his precious collection. And with every “see you later” are smiles. So many smiles.
“I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE KIDS INTEGRATE WITH EACH OTHER AT A YOUNGER AGE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY RESPECT EACH OTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER. BECAUSE WHEN THEY’RE WATCHING THE GAME, IRRESPECTIVE [OF WHETHER] THEY’RE CHINESE OR JAPANESE OR INDIANS OR HINDUS OR SIKHS, THEY HAVE ONLY ONE THING IN THEIR MIND: ‘LET’S GO, RAPTORS! LET’S GO, RAPTORS!’”
“I was subject to a lot of challenges when I first came to this country,” says Bhatia, who moved to Canada from India in 1984. “I want to make sure all these kids integrate with each other at a younger age and make sure that they respect each other and love each other. Because when they’re watching the game, irrespective [of whether] they’re Chinese or Japanese or Indians or Hindus or Sikhs, they have only one thing in their mind: ‘Let’s go, Raptors! Let’s go, Raptors!’”
“In ’95, I was working seven days a week,” Bhatia says. “I had no hobbies, I was a boring guy, so I bought two tickets [to the Raptors] and thought, ‘I’ll entertain myself.’ I didn’t know I would end up with 14 tickets in the arena or that I’d be buying thousands of tickets to give away to the kids. But God is good, Canada is good and this opportunity was given to a guy like me. Now it’s my time to give it back.”
We now have another reason to love Nav Bhatia.
Click here to read the full story in The Toronto Star.
