Toronto Raptors News: Basketball Hall of Fame Honors Raptors Superfan

The Toronto Raptors sure know how to keep their fans happy. The Basketball Hall of Fame launched a new Superfan Gallery. This gallery will honour all deserving superfans, henceforth

Toronto Raptors: Nav Bhatia the Superfan

The Basketball Hall of Fame honoured Toronto Raptors superfan, Nav Bhatia.

According to CBC, Bhatia became one of the first honourees of a new superfan gallery. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts will house this gallery.

“You are a super fan,” Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo told Bhatia on Friday.

“I want to say thank you for being who you are and thank you for being a part of the Hall of Fame. And I want to congratulate you for all of that.”

The Superfan Speaks

Nav is a Toronto-area businessman and philanthropist. He found out about the honour ahead of the NBA’s All-Star weekend festivities. Bhatia tweeted about the same.

“Can’t say this is a dream come true because this isn’t something you dream about as a fan,” Bhatia tweeted. “To be honoured into the @Hoophall as the first honouree into the Superfan Gallery.

“What an incredible day. Don’t wake me up please. Thank you to the Hall and the @Raptors organization.”

“Me being in the presence of such great basketball talent in the world right here, this is so unreal … I’m still in shock and that’s why I’m accepting this on behalf of not just the Toronto fans, Raptors fans, but all the fans, basketball fans and the NBA fans all over the world. I want to thank you,” he said.

Born and raised in Delhi, India, Bhatia moved to Canada in the 1980s. He attended his first Raptors game in 1995.  He received the title of “Superfan”. This was after three years of attending the games. Former Raptors general manager and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas did this.

In the time since, Bhatia has been an active philanthropist, helping young fans attend games, putting on watch parties and other events to share his love of basketball and spread a message of inclusivity.

Bhatia dedicated the honour to the Toronto Raptors.

Bhatia has attended almost every home game in the franchise’s 25-year existence. He has become friends with NBA superstars, corporate CEOs and internationally-known musical artists along the way.

 Raptors present Nav Bhatia with the gift of a lifetime

Furthermore, Nav Bhatia received a Championship Ring. Team president Masai Ujiri presented it. This followed the Raptors’ historic NBA Finals win.

Peter Kanis, president of Baron Championship Rings commented on the ring. The Ontario company that created the ring said, it’s the “most expensive championship ring ever made.”

However, they have not said how much it’s actually worth.

The 640-plus diamond and gold rock broke several records. It includes the most diamonds ever used. It is also the heaviest in total carat weight. This makes it the biggest championship ring in NBA history.

Kyle Lowry inspired the design, which features 74 diamonds on its face, one for each of the Raptors’ 2018-19 wins.