The NBA is returning to Montreal.

On Thursday, the league announced that the Toronto Raptors will take on the Washington Wizards at the Bell Centre in a pre-season game on Oct. 6 as part of the 10th edition of the NBA Canada Series.

The annual series has seen 15 teams play 18 pre-season games across six Canadian cities. It’s the eighth NBA Canada Series game to be played in Montreal, the most of any city outside of the Raptors’ usual home.

Montreal fans the Detroit Pistons take on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort in 2023. The Raptors last played a game in Montreal in 2022.

This year’s game against the Wizards will also see a number of Canadians on the floor, as Montrealers Chris Boucher and Quincy Guerrier are both on the Raptors’ training camp roster. Kelly Olynyk and RJ Barrett, who are both representing Canada at the upcoming Summer Olympics, are also expected to suit up for the Raptors.

The Wizards will also bring a Canadian connection with them, as they selected Kyshawn George in this year’s NBA Draft. George, who was born in Switzerland, is the son of Montreal’s Deon George, a former member of Canada’s men’s basketball team.

The game against the Wizards will be the conclusion of the Raptors’ Montreal-based training camp.

The NBA Canada Series has become a highly anticipated event for basketball fans across the country, and this year’s edition will feature an exciting pre-season game in Montreal for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, who are coming off a historic championship win in 2019, will be facing off against a yet-to-be-determined opponent at the Bell Centre on October 19th.

This will mark the first time in three years that the NBA Canada Series will include a game in Montreal, and fans in the city are sure to be thrilled at the opportunity to see their beloved Raptors in action. The game will not only provide an exciting showcase of top-tier basketball talent, but it will also serve as a celebration of the sport’s growing popularity in Canada.

The NBA has been making a concerted effort to expand its presence in Canada in recent years, with the success of the Raptors undoubtedly playing a significant role in this initiative. The team’s championship run in 2019 captured the hearts of fans across the country and helped to solidify basketball as one of Canada’s most beloved sports.

In addition to the game in Montreal, the NBA Canada Series will also include a number of community events and initiatives designed to engage fans and promote the sport at all levels. These events will give fans the opportunity to interact with NBA players and legends, participate in basketball clinics, and learn more about the game they love.

Overall, the NBA Canada Series promises to be an exciting and memorable event for basketball fans in Montreal and across the country. With the Raptors set to take the court in one of Canada’s most vibrant cities, this pre-season game is sure to be a highlight of the NBA calendar and a testament to the growing popularity of basketball in Canada.