Raptors honor victims of Monday’s deadly van attack before Game 5 of first-round playoff series against Washington, teams and NBA pledge donation to fund.
The Toronto Raptors honored the victims the deadly van attack Monday with a moment of silence Wednesday night before Game 5 of their playoff series against the Washington Wizards/
Players from both teams held up banners with the hashtag #TORONTOSTRONG as they stood on the court during the tribute and the national anthems that followed.
The Raptors, the Wizards and the NBA will make a donation to a fund for victims and those affected by the incident.
Raptors President Masai Ujiri spoke about the attack after the Raptors practiced Tuesday.
« What we do doesn’t really matter sometimes, » Ujiri said. « I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on that sidewalk. »
Guard Kyle Lowry said he was impressed by the actions of Const. Ken Lam, who earned international acclaim for peacefully arresting of suspect Alek Minassian.
« In America he would definitely have been shot up, » Lowry said. « He did an amazing job of making a judgment call. I think more people could learn from that. »
Coach Dwane Casey was struck by how close the carnage occurred to his own Toronto neighborhood,
« It’s not too far from up the street from where I live, » Casey said.
Casey and his coaches were in the midst of a meeting Monday afternoon when assistant Rex Kalamian’s phone buzzed with someone informing him of the tragedy. The coaches stopped their meeting and turned on a television to find out what had happened.
« It’s very unfortunate, » Casey said. « Just this weekend I was talking to people saying how safe Toronto is, how it’s a melting pot and you don’t have the same crime. Hopefully though, sport can offer a relief, some reprieve. »
Like Casey, Ujiri said he is proud of Toronto’s reputation as a safe, welcoming place.
« Everywhere I go, I brag about this city, » Ujiri said. « It’s the safest place in the world. It’s the best city in the world and it’s going to continue to be the best place and the best city in the world. »
Toronto police said the 10 people killed and 14 injured in the attack were « predominantly » women, but have declined so far to discuss a motive. The 25-year-old Minassian has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
