We see players and coaches often steal the spotlight in every sport. However, lurking in the shadows of arenas across the nation are the unsung heroes of the sport: the superfans. From the infamous Spike Lee courtside at Madison Square Garden to the Golden State Warriors’ “Dance Cam Mom” Robin Schreiber, superfans have become an integral part of the NBA experience. But what happens when a superfan’s dedication goes beyond mere courtside antics and ventures into the realm of philanthropy? Such a revelation was recently made by the Toronto Raptors veteran Vince Carter.

Carter while giving his speech during the induction ceremony of this year’s Hall of Fame took some time to praise the Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia for his contribution to the Raptors and also to the community. “Nav Bhatia. Thank you, my brother. Superfan Nav Bhatia, appreciate you for being a family friend. Always supported me. I did a charity game many years ago, for those of you who don’t know. Those who knew in Toronto. We were about 3,000 tickets short of selling out 19,800. This man bought everyone of those tickets and gave it to the community and said, ‘Sorry Magic work with me here.’ He said and I quote ‘Magic Johnson, he’s doing his game there. We got to sell out arenas to outdo Magic Johnson.’ Thank you, Nav,” said Carter during the ceremony.

Bhatia has been a constant presence during the Raptors games and likely spends more than $300,000 per year on tickets. And it’s not only that. When the Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019, Raptors President Masai Ujiri presented him with his very own ring. This was the first time in history a fan had received a player’s ring.

This car dealership owner believes that basketball is a powerful tool to bring people together. It can also be said that he wanted to give the same effort that the Los Angeles Lakers veteran has been giving for so many years. Johnson’s philanthropic measures are well recorded. In 1991, after it was revealed that he was suffering from HIV, the former point guard had set up the ‘Magic Johnson Foundation’ which was aimed to provide basic education and aid to the HIV-stricken community. Over the years, the foundation has raised over $20 million and has given nearly $4 million towards scholarships that helped in the growth of the community.

On the other hand, Bhatia’s efforts towards the game don’t go any less. The 73-year-old back in 2018 had founded the Superfan Foundation which was aimed to bring people in Canada and around the world together through sport. Also every year, he spends $300k to send thousands of children to Raptors games. “Thank you Vince. Humbled to call you family. I have waited for this moment since day 1 of your career. You deserve all the accolades. Congratulations!” wrote Bhatia on a new Instagram post where he congratulated the Raptors standout.

Superfans are truly the backbone of a sport and their passion and dedication continues to shape the league in profound and unexpected ways. But why is the 72-year-old regarded as a superfan?

The reason why Nav Bhatia is regarded as a Toronto Raptors superfan

Before we get into the story of Bhatia, we first need to know who is referred to as an NBA superfan. According to the NBA superfan community, a superfan is “someone who is truly, madly, deeply passionate about NBA, the one who loves talking about basketball and NBA in their day-to-day life and on social media.” Bhatia also for his unwavering passion and dedication to the team of Toronto Raptors is referred to as a superfan.

Bhatia’s journey began in 1995 when he attended his first Raptors game, and instantly being captivated by the energy and excitement of the NBA, he became a devoted supporter. “I was in love with this game sooner than I was in love with my wife,” said Bhatia once during an interview. Unfortunately, his streak of visiting every home game of the Toronto Raptors was broken in 2021 when he was moved to isolation due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa Gala, which he attended.

He also became the first fan to get inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2021 and Bhatia’s story serves as an inspiration to fans around the world, demonstrating the power of passion and the positive impact one individual can have on a community.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger