Great video from youtube planning channel About Here on potential obstacles to growing basketball in Canada.

TL;DR:

• The case for basketball: the game is growing, has a low barrier to entry and is space-efficient. This is in spite of a "curfew" where nets are taken down
• NIMBYs often lobby against basketball due to "noise," lower property values and worried that courts would attract crimes, drugs and 'disrespect to older people.' Studies debunk these issues while identifying the racism-coded language
• Most city parks were developed at the turn of the century and reflect design philosophies at the time to give open spaces to workers increasingly aggitated by poor work conditions, and "respectable sports" like tennis, horseshoe throwing so basketball missed the boat
• Some sports organizations and recreational players are very organized as a lobby, including soccer and pickleball
• There is poor organization of youth basketball compared to other sports to help promote lobbying for more accessible courts. This is because of how casual the game is at the rec level.
• Recommendation: fuck golf - build more courts for every single sport imaginable

I would also note that I made this post some time back on the politics of other sports vs basketball on this sub and so I'll make the same point here

Your communities are what you make of them, and even though it seems impenetrable, there ARE ways to expand your voice locally: Attend community meetings, send an email to your city representative, and most importantly VOTE for candidates that align with your values and what you want for your community.

https://www.reddit.com/r/torontoraptors/comments/wlb74v/public_basketball_courts_in_toronto_as_an_example/

I know drake attends some raptors games (not most), but i was wondering what were the chances that he attends the season opener against chicago with it being kawhis debut and all?