When you think about Quebec, basketball is not the first thing that crosses your mind. While this Canadian province is known much more for its love of winter sports and Canadian football, it is increasingly warming up to the magic of hardwood. Driven by recent string of excellent results by Canadian teams and players, basketball is enjoying a honeymoon period within the country and Quebec is not too different from the other provinces in this regard.
This trend is certainly very interesting, and could transform the way Canadians consume sports in the future. Its development was gradual and driven by several converging factors, so it has to be understood in a long-term context.
History of Basketball in Canada
As the closest neighbor to the US which is the birthplace of basketball, Canada was among the early adopters of this beautiful team game. The first basketball associations started appearing in the 1920s, while the first basketball league was launched immediately after World War II. At the 1936 Olympics Canada won its only medal so far, taking home the silver. For decades, the nation remained in the second tier of global basketball powers, reaching the semi-final stage in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. A seminal moment for Canadian basketball occurred in the mid-1990s, when Toronto and Vancouver were awarded NBA franchises. Vancouver Grizzlies soon relocated south of the border, but Toronto Raptors stayed in Canada for nearly 30 years and remain a beloved team that competes at the highest level of North American basketball.
Lack of Local Infrastructure in Quebec
During the expansion of basketball in Canada, most of the action was centered in Toronto and a few other parts of the country. The French-speaking region that includes Quebec was a bit neglected in this regard as the level of interest for basketball was low initially. As a result, Quebec never had a successful local team competing in a high level league until very recently, and the list of big name basketball players born and trained in the province is very thin. This is changing lately, and cities like Montreal and Quebec City are becoming fertile grounds for talent hunting and hotbeds of basketball fandom. Quebec may still not be on the same level of basketball development as Ontario or British Columbia, but it’s progressing by leaps and bounds.
The Impact of Recent Success on the Popularity of Basketball
Over the past two decades, Canada has been one of the most productive nations in terms of developing basketball talent into NBA-ready players. There are some huge success stories, starting with Steve Nash winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 and making the nation proud. In 2019, the Raptors finally rewarded fans with their first NBA championship, which was celebrated across Canada. There are currently more than 20 Canadians playing in the best professional league in the world, including some highly paid stars such as Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Jamal Murray and Andrew Wiggings, all of whom contributed to a string of strong showings on the international scene. The national team won a bronze medal in the 2023 World Championship, and reached the quarterfinals in the 2024 Olympics after being one of the main favourites. This had a profound effect on the popularity of basketball in the country, including in Quebec.
Support for Local Teams in Quebec
Quebec residents who like to watch basketball in person have a few options at their disposal, albeit none at the highest level. Three professional teams are currently playing in the province – the Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and Montreal Tundra and Quebec Pioneers of the Basketball Super League. Since all of those teams had been founded in the last 5 years, they are still not widely known outside of their home areas. The games are usually played in front of just a few thousand spectators, due to small arenas and relative lack of basketball tradition in Quebec. However, this is a good start and it reflects the latest trends in the Canadian society, where basketball is increasingly becoming a popular pastime and a big business.
How to Grow Grassroots Interest for Basketball in Quebec
It takes a sustained effort to create a brand new basketball culture. The first steps were already made, but a lot remains to be done before Quebec can start producing NBA star on a regular basis. Most importantly, the province should build more outdoor and indoor basketball courts and invest in youth programs. Greater availability of TV broadcasts and the emergence of Quebec sports betting online platforms are creating an audience that might start going to games in the future. More eyes on the game means more dollars for growth of the game, and this is a cycle that can be sustained for a long time. Other parts of Canada managed to improve their pipelines of new players and create local demand for high-level basketball, so there is no reason for Quebec to lag behind. It could import the expertise and build up its own capacities, and the results are sure to follow.
