Chelsea F.C., Big Ben and The Tube: What are Raptors doing in London?
As part of the NBA's 2015-16 Global Games, the Toronto Raptors face the Orlando Magic in London. While in the U.K., the team has enjoyed their tourism.
#WeTheNorth ???? pic.twitter.com/tp2ovqxG0r
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 12, 2016
The game is the sixth regular-season NBA match in London. The players have had a lot on their agenda, including all of the site-seeing you'd expect out of new travelers. They took a photo in front of Big Men. They rode The Tube. According to The Toronto Star, some players even went to Wednesday's Premier League game between Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion.
Raps on the tube. ?? pic.twitter.com/3S4CBytA3D
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 13, 2016
“It was my idea to make sure that we see a soccer match while we’re out here,” said Man City F.C. fan Patrick Patterson, in the report. “You’ve got to see a Premier League match, you’ve got to. I’ve always wanted to see a Premier League match.”
Patterson also told Complex that he'd like to see the incredibly popular British boy band One Direction sitting courtside at the O2.
Toronto's star DeMar DeRozan hosted an event at London's Niketown. DeRozan and his fans collaborated to design custom, London-themed NIKEiD Kobe 11 Flyknit shoes. DeRozan will wear those shoes when the Raptors play the Magic on Thursday at 3 p.m. EST.
Check out the London inspired Kobe XI iD’s I’ll be wearing tonight, designed by one of my fans @NikeLondon. pic.twitter.com/gkvTQ6MLt5
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) January 14, 2016
The Raptors, led by Kyle Lowry and DeRozan, had "tourist type things" to do while traveling abroad. But Toronto's head coach Dwane Casey assured The Toronto Star that this is still a business trip.
“It’s great to be in another city in another country but we’re professionals. We’re here to do a job. We’re here to play a game," said Casey, via The Toronto Star.
"That’s our number one goal. Our families are enjoying the city and everything but our guys are professional enough and mature enough to understand we’re here for a game.”
Bryan Kalbrosky produces digital content for FOXSports.com. For more, follow him on Twitter @BryanKalbrosky.
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