Windsor Express

by Shaneka Williams

The National Basketball League of Canada has launched a new team for the city of Windsor.

The Windsor Express was announced at the end of August. The team’s CEO Dartis Willis and head coach Bill Jones drafted 12 individuals who they believe will hold the key components to the success of the team.

The introduction of the NBL’s newest team has created a lot of buzz and excitement for locally.

“I love basketball and the fact that Windsor has a professional team is great for a city that is so sports-oriented,” said Windsorite Michael Yeboah, 30.

It took Willis and other associates about six months to determine if Windsor would be a good city to introduce a new team to. One player the team has invested in is Kashif Watson, 25, a two-guard from Los Vegas who has been playing basketball since he was six.

“I like to think I came out my mother’s womb with a basketball,” said Watson. “The try out process wasn’t easy, it was long and hard. We had combinations in Toronto and work-outs in Detroit.”

This is the second year the league has been around. It began in May 2011 with seven teams, the Saint John Mill Rats, Halifax Rainmen, the Quebec Kebs, the London Lightning, Moncton Miracles, Oshawa Power and Summerside Storm. Windsor Express was the only team added for the 2012-13 season.

“It’s a great way to get some exposure, meet new people and hopefully one day gets drafted into the NBA,” said Watson. While building team chemistry is not always easy, Watson said “we look out for each other.”

He also said any time you have a team willing to work hard to get better and fight through adversity, you have a winning team.

Although the season just started, the players on the Windsor Express and coaches believe to have a championship team.

“Of course we have things we need to work on like defense, but we play really well together as a team, pass the ball well and look for the open man,” said Watson.