While the euphoria and cheers from Ontario’s capital continue to waft through the stratosphere after the Toronto Blue Jays’ game seven win on Monday night, the NBA season is set to kick off on Tuesday night.
There are 135 international players on NBA rosters this year, with 25 of those from Canada.
Five of those are from La Belle Province, including Montreal North’s Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers and NBA champions Luguentz “Lu” Dort and Chris Boucher.
The Dorture Chamber, OKC Thunder
The 26-year-old, 6′4," 220-pound shooting guard will get a championship ring before Tuesday’s game against the Houston Rockets.
Dort made the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time last season before helping his team to the title.
The undrafted Montreal-native with roots in Haiti is the son of a taxi driver (father) and a clothes maker (mother). He played soccer as a goalkeeper growing up and spoke Haitian Creole with his family.
@ctvmontreal Toughness, competitor, hungry! Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort speaks about baskeball in Montreal North. NBAchampion NBA OKCthunder ludort thunder
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Maple Mamba, Indiana Pacers
The highest-ever draft pick for a Montrealer (First round, sixth overall), Benedict Mathurin starts his season Thursday against Dort’s Thunder.
The Pacers will be without injured star point guard Tyrese Halliburton, meaning fans will get to see much more of the 6′5," 210-pound shooting guard/small forward.
Mathurin’s sister, Jennifer, played college ball in the NCAA and his brother Dominique Jeune had dreams of playing in the NBA before he was struck and killed by a car while riding his bike home from school when he was 15.
Mathurin, who was 12 at the time, says his brother is his inspiration.
Slimm Duck, Boston Celtics
After playing seven seasons and winning a championship (2019) with the Toronto Raptors, Chris Boucher signed a one-year contract with the Boston Celtics this year.
The 32-year-old, 6′8," 200-pound centre born in Saint Lucia moved to Montreal North when he was five months old.
He dropped out of school to work at St-Hubert restaurant when he was 16, often sleeping on the 380 bus and riding it to the end of the line.
After finding basketball, he got a scholarship at the University of Oregon and made the NBA in 2018.
OMax, Memphis Grizzlies
The 6′7," 230-pound small forward, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, was waived by the Dallas Mavericks in September and signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies/Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) two days later.
The 23-year-old son of Haitian parents played in 92 NBA games for Dallas over the past two seasons.
The Grizzlies play the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Jahmyl Telfort, L.A. Clippers
After a strong final preseason game, the undrafted 24-year-old 6′7″ guard, who played his college ball at Butler University, signed a two-way contract with the L.A. Clippers/San Diego Clippers (NBA G League).
The Montreal native, like Dort, stood out in the preseason for his defensive consistency and adaptability.
The Clippers play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
