Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame
Legends Brunch In partnership with
Sunday, July 10, 2022 PROGRAM
Welcome letter from Michael Bartlett: Canada is a basketball nation. It’s undeniable and it’s been that way for a long time, even if we didn’t shout it from the rooftops (so Canadian of us!). While many talk about NOW being the golden era of basketball in our country, we know that any future success is built on the solid foundation that past athletes, coaches and builders have created. As we relaunch our Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame celebrations, we are proud to welcome you to our Legends Brunch in partnership with SLAM. Today we will honour seven valued contributors to the game and each of them have paved the way for the current generation as we work to achieve our ambition of being a unified basketball nation. On behalf of Canada Basketball, I wish to express our gratitude to Stewart, Steve, Angela, Michèle, John, Rick, and Tony for all they have contributed to basketball in Canada - and around the world. You all have many accomplishments to be proud of and can now add Canadian Basketball Hall of Famers to this list. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do, as ambassadors of our basketball nation. It’s time to shout from the rooftops (and be somewhat un-Canadian) as we are proud of our past and VERY excited about our future. Canada Basketball will continue to work hard to support our system - from the grass roots to most elite teams - and we invite you to be part of our winning journey. Sincerely, Michael
Michael Bartlett President & CEO, Canada Basketball
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH
Schedule of Events 11:00am
DOORS OPEN
Mimosa and coffee bar 11:45am
PROGRAMMING
Inductee: Angela Johnson Straub Inductee: Rick Fox Trailblazers panel: Tony Simms, Stewart Granger, Michele Belanger Host for panel: Natalie Achonwa 12:15 – 1:00pm
BRUNCH SERVICE
Sweet and Savoury Duo Main English muffin, peameal bacon, hollandaise sauce Banana french toast served with vanilla ice cream 1:00pm
PROGRAMMING
Inductee: Steve Nash Building Basketball in Canada Panel: John Bitove hosted by Mark Starkey 1:45 PM
SHUTTLE
Complimentary shuttle to Mattamy Athletic Centre for the GLOBL JAM gold medal game 3:30 PM
GLOBL JAM Women’s Gold Medal Game Special inductee presentation at halftime
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH
CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
CLASS OF 2021 STEWART GRANGER One of the best point guards in Senior Men’s National Team history, Granger represented the country at the 1982 and 1990 FIBA World Championship for Men. Granger made history as the first Black Canadian to be drafted into the NBA when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him 24th overall in the 1983 NBA Draft. In three seasons in the NBA, Granger appeared in 80 games for the Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks. Prior to the NBA, Granger spent four years at the Villanova University where he played in 125 games for the Wildcats and was a All-Big East Second Team selection in back-to-back seasons (1982, 1982) after being named to the Third Team in 1981. Originally from Montreal, Granger was a three-year starter and led the team in assists for three straight seasons.
STEVE NASH Representing Canada internationally for over ten years, Nash is best remembered for leading the team to the quarter-finals of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2012, Nash returned to the team as the General Manager of the Senior Men’s National Team. Selected 15th overall by Phoenix in the 1996 NBA Draft, Nash enjoyed a 19-year playing career in the NBA with the Suns (1996-1998, 2004-2012), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), and Los Angeles Lakers (20122015). Nash earned league MVP honors in back-to-back seasons (2005, 2006) with the Suns, becoming just the 10th player in NBA history to win the award in consecutive seasons and first Canadian to earn the prestigious Maurice Podoloff Trophy. An eight-time NBA AllStar (2002-2003, 2005-2008, 2010, 2012), Nash, a 6’3” point guard, was also a three-time All-NBA First Team member (2005-2007). Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
ANGELA JOHNSON STRAUB From 1972-77, Straub proudly represented Canada as a member of the Senior Women’s National Team at the 1973 World University Games in Moscow, the 1975 World Championship for Women in Cali, Colombia, the 1975 Pan Am Games in Mexico City and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where women’s basketball made its debut. Straub also led the University of Winnipeg Wesmen to the Provincial Senior Women’s Championship and Canadian Junior Women’s Championship in 1972, where she was recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Following her career at the University of Winnipeg, she played in the senior league from 1978-1986 where she was a perennial all-star and top scorer at the National Championships in 1978. An award winner and all-star at every level of her career, Straub previously has been inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Manitoba Highschool Sports Hall of Fame.
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH
CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
CLASS OF 2022 MICHÈLE BÉLANGER A Canadian university coaching icon, Bélanger led the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball program to 854 wins over 41 years after joining the team in 1979. An eight-time OUA Coach of the Year recipient, Bélanger guided the Varsity Blues to nine OUA championship titles, as well as the school’s only women’s basketball national CIAU (U SPORTS) title in 1986. Internationally, she coached Canada at four FISU Universiade competitions, including a silvermedal finish at the 2015 FISU Games, in Gwangiu, Korea.
JOHN BITOVE Lead founder / owner of the Toronto Raptors, Bitove is one of Canada’s most influential basketball executives. Bitove led the NBA franchise-bid process, launched the team in 1993 and was involved in the creation of the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Bitove was also one of the driving forces behind bringing the 1994 World Championship for Men to Canada, the most notable international basketball tournament that Canada has hosted in the past 25 years. His efforts have directly led to a grassroots swell of amateur players across Canada who are making a significant impact in top leagues around the world. A passionate fan of the game, Bitove created the Raptors Foundation to help give back to disadvantaged youth and was the founding member of the Sixth Man Club for Canada Basketball men’s program.
RICK FOX One of Canada’s first NBA stars, Fox remains today one of the country’s most well-known players, both on and off the court. Internationally, Fox represented Canada on multiple occasions, including a 12th place finish at the 1990 World Championship for Men and seventh at home in Canada the 1994 World Championship for Men. Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1991 NBA Draft, Fox appeared in 81 games his rookie season and was selected to the All-Rookie 2nd Team becoming the first Canadian to receive the honour. Fox would appear in 930 games over the course of his 13 seasons in the NBA with the Celtics and was a three-time NBA champion with the Lakers from 1999-2002.
TONY SIMMS Proudly representing Canada for 10 years, Simms was a key contributor for Canada at the 1983 World University Games and led the country to a historic gold medal on home soil in Edmonton. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Simms led Canada to a fourth-place finish, which remains the highest finish for the men’s team at an Olympics since the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. He also represented Canada twice at the FIBA World Championships in 1982 and 1986. Selected by the New York Knicks in the 6th round (128th pick) of the 1983 NBA Draft, Simms would go on to play professionally in Spain, Philippines, Portugal, Belgium and Mexico. Collegiately, Simms played three years at Boston University, where he averaged 15.8 points per game and his 76 steals during the 1982-83 season remains a school record today.
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH
EVENT PARTNER
GIFTING PARTNER
UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
CANADA BASKETBALL FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC KING VALLEY GOLF COURSE 15675 Dufferin St, King City, ON L7B 1K5 Canada Basketball Foundation Golf Classic
Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame LEGENDS BRUNCH