For the first 15 years of the Toronto Raptors, there was nary a Canuck on the squad side (except for Jamaal Magloire at the end of his career). Last year, there were two from the Toronto area alone. This year, Cory Joseph is the lone representative of The 6. He grew up watching the Raptors, as well as Canadian superstar Steve Nash, and was signed to his hometown team in 2015 after a few years with San Antonio learning under the great point guard Tony Parker. Now, Joseph and his fellow Raptors are ready for a new season and another run at the NBA championship.
The team lost a popular player in Bismack Biyombo, someone you seemed to enjoy playing with. Tell me about that loss.
It was a big loss for us. Obviously, we all know the great year that he had. He was a beast on the court blocking shots, a defensive beast. We all know it’s a business as well, so things like that may happen. You know, I’m happy for him, of course. He’s a good friend of mine. We got Jared [former Boston Celtic Jared Sullinger] this year, and he brings a different game than Biz, and he brings a lot to the table as well. So we’re excited.
Who has impressed you the most from this year’s crop of rookies?
I think they’re all doing a pretty good job, you know. Jakob [Poeltl] is a big, 7’, 7’ 1” guy, long, good touch, geat hands around the rim, physical, big. Pascal [Siakam] brings the energy every day and plays extremely hard. And the guys out of training camp trying to make the roster are impressing me too.
Does seeing the fans hyped over the Jays and T.O.’s other sports teams motivate you guys?
Yeah, it’s a lot of motivation. I think we feed off of each other. Jays do well, we all see that, and we want that same kind of fan support. And we got to give our fans that same amount of energy that they’re providing for their fans. So likewise with the FC, I think we just feed off each other, and we all do a good job of just winning.
You studied under San Antonio’s Tony Parker. What did he teach you that you’ve applied here in Toronto?
When I got there I was young, you know. I was only 19. Not that I’m old now. So I was 19, I came from college and didn’t really know what it meant to be a professional. I think I just embody some of those characteristics that he’s learned from Pop [legendary San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich]. He taught me how to be a complete professional whether that’s taking care of your body off the court, how you eat, how you sleep. And obviously on the court, he taught me over four years a countless amount of things.
What was it like playing youth ball here in Toronto and matching up against Steph Curry when his dad Dell was playing for the Raptors?
I played for Scarborough Blues, yeah, and pretty sure he played for [youth team] Toronto 5-0. Me and my brother would play against him and his younger brother. It was always good time, fun but very competitive.
Who do you most enjoy matching up against during the season?
Well, I think now that I’ve left San Antonio, it would be the Spurs. Going back, I’m kinda familiar with the San Antonio gym, the lifestyle, the city. So I always enjoy going back and playing in that arena again and playing against those guys. I get excited about that.
How do you like to unwind in the city?
Oh man, I eat a lot. Toronto is so diverse. You can get so many different kinds of foods at any time: one day Indian, Caribbean, Italian. Other than that, I’m kind of a homebody and try to get out to some sports events.
You host a youth camp during the summer in the GTA. How important is it for you to give back?
Whenever I get a chance, I always try to give back, whether a camp, charity ride, whatever I do. I hold this city close to my heart; it’s where I’m from. I know the struggle from when I was young of trying to find a gym and trying to get taught.
