The game of basketball is expanding rapidly in Canada. Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse believes that the recent boom in popularity, as triggered by the Raptors' recent championship victory this past season, will eventually lead to the growth of local talent, per Ted Wyman of Canada.com.

“The most important thing is the talent growth,” said Nurse.

“The number of young players that are landing in big-time programs, going on to play in the NBA, that, to me, is the single biggest thing you need to see.

“That will start filtering down too and it will only help Canadian universities as we go along. There’s just more talent and it will be everywhere.”

The 2019 NBA Finals marks the first time that the Finals went north of the border. Canadian fans surely made the most out of the opportunity. They flooded the streets of Toronto to cheer for their beloved Raptors en route to their first NBA championship.

As short-lived as their title now looks to be with the departure of their superstar leader and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, there is no denying the magnitude of the impact that their first championship has on the entire country.

Former Raptor Vince Carter put Toronto on the map with his high-flying antics in the early 2000's. Two-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer Steve Nash paved the way for some the current Canadians in the league right now.

As it currently stands, there are 22 Canadians that will suit up for an NBA team this upcoming season. Some of the more notable names include Denver Nuggets budding star Jamal Murray, former no. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and this year's no. 3 overall pick R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks.