It was a cool moment bridging generations of Canadian basketball.
The Raptors had finished their final practice in Victoria and Dalano Banton, the basketball pride of Rexdale, was standing on the court listening intently and getting advice, instruction and a ton of encouragement from Canadian coaching icon Ken Shields.
Shields, who got to know Raptors coach Nick Nurse when both worked with the British women’s and men’s teams at the 2012 London Olympics, was a constant presence at Toronto practices at the University of Victoria. He’d developed an affinity for the 22-year-old Banton and took one last opportunity to impart some of his considerable knowledge to the intriguing six-foot-nine youngster.