New faces, different mood at this season’s Raptors training camp
BURNABY, B.C. — Fred VanVleet stepped into the middle of a semicircle of reporters on Wednesday, his hands resting on a gaudy faux gold WWE championship belt cinched around his waist.
Two days into Toronto Raptors training camp, the plastic belt was one of the small details that signalled a new era with the team.
“I’m just the champ for the day,” VanVleet said with a grin. “I don’t really know what I won it for . . . I think they said deflections, I had a couple of wins, five-on-five. I had a pretty good day today.”
Players come and go, but this year’s camp has a significantly different feel than previous years. For the first time in eight seasons, there’s a different man in charge. Nick Nurse begins his rookie season as head coach, promoted after the firing of Dwane Casey.