An opportunity to express themselves

 

The Windsor Express are preparing for what they hope to be an exhibition game of historic proportions.

 

On Nov. 5, the Windsor Express will make NBLC history as they become the first team in the league to play against a team connected with the NBA. They will play against the Raptors 905, a team from Toronto in the NBA’s development league. Express head coach Bill Jones said playing an NBA D-League team is meaningful to the organization.

 

“It’s very exciting, especially playing a Canadian team,” Jones said. “For us to be able to play the Toronto Raptors affiliate – a playoff caliber team – with NBA and NBA quality players in our building is very special.”

 

Express marketing and group sales manager Houssain El-Kadri said it will be an opportunity for the team to impress the NBA.

 

“It’s great for the organization and the players,” said El-Kadri. “They can test their skills against the D-League players because everyone is trying to get to that level in the NBLC.”

 

Usually, team starters play little or no minutes in exhibition games in order to make way for the reserved players or new members on the team. According to Jones, the game is important to represent Windsor and the league at a championship level.

 

“Our approach as a champion is putting our best foot forward,” Jones said. “We’re going to out there with the idea of putting on a good show for the fans, definitely represent the league in a professional manner and ultimately go and win.”

 

For El-Kadri, he said this is an opportunity to bring the nation together for basketball.

 

“They (NBA D-League) kept their word to help us grow our league and keep the Canadian content,” said El-Kadri. “It helps Canada basketball as a whole when the two leagues play each other.”

 

The Express are coming off back to back championship seasons, in hopes of making it three championships in a row. Jones said the mindset for the team’s 2015-16 season has been the same since their first championship in 2014.

 

“Our thoughts after winning our first championship was to repeat and this year will be the same,” Jones said. “We start our season with the mindset that we’re going to get a three peat and go out there and achieve our goals.”

 

The Windsor Express and the Raptors 905 will play each other on Nov. 5 at the WFCU Centre. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 P.M.