The Raptors’ Garrett Temple and six-year-old William McLean take a timeout for a chat at Variety Village in Scarborough.
Richard Lautens / Toronto Star
The Raptors used a break in their schedule to do some good in the community, splitting up Wednesday to visit the Hospital for Sick Children and Scarborough’s Variety Village.
The excursions came on the same day head coach Darko Rajakovic and his wife Gaga announced a $20 pledge for each assist the Raptors makes this season, with the money going to SickKids in Toronto, a children’s hospital in Belgrade, Serbia, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
“Assists are something that are important on the court but also off the court. When we’re in a position to help others, to help those in need, that’s kind of like our civic duty,” Rajakovic said.
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“When you’re sick you have only one desire, to get healthy. And to see those families and those kids fighting so bravely — and all the support staff is there for them, day in and day out — it’s something that’s very, very inspiring and it’s a great cause.”
Sharing the ball has been one of the positive attributes of the Raptors during a tumultuous season. Toronto is averaging 29.6 assists per game, second in the league heading into Wednesday. Their 1,302 assists add up to $26,040 so far.
Inside the Variety Village gym, Raptors Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl joined young wheelchair basketball players, Jontay Porter and Garrett Temple engaged in lacrosse, RJ Barrett rolled on the floor with toddlers and helped them learn how to dribble, and Gary Trent Jr. showed kids the fundamentals of a good shot.
They signed autographs and took pictures with the children, many of whom could not stop screaming in excitement.
“I love NBA, I love the Raptors, I love them all,” said a giddy Joshua MacDonald, a basketball ambassador at Variety Village who helps others with disabilities to play the game. A huge fan of former Raptors star Pascal Siakam, he said it was “pretty awesome” to meet the players for the first time.
