‘Rexdale’s finest’ feeling more confident in second season with the Raptors
Posted November 16, 2022 10:10 am.
He is known as ‘Rexdale’s finest’ and had a career night earlier this week when the Toronto Raptors defeated the Detroit Pistons. Toronto’s Dalano Banton scored a career-high 27 points to help the Raptors defeat the Pistons 115-111 in Detroit on Monday night.
The 23-year-old is in his second NBA season and prior to Monday, his career high was 14 points.
“I feel like the year I had last year, getting that experience in the league and now being able to come in and just have a little bit more confidence in myself,” Banton told CityNews on how he felt his game has changed from his rookie year to today.
“And the guys out there on the court they are trusting in the work that I put in. They have confidence in me to make plays and when you have that in your team you can go out there and play freely and do what you can.”
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Banton made history when he was drafted 46th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, and became the first Canadian drafted by the team. He told CityNews how he is living his dream but also is still in awe over just how many Raptors fans he has seen in the other arenas around the league.
“It’s crazy. They’re screaming, they are chanting sometimes it feels like we are at a home game. So honestly, it’s pretty crazy.”
The Raptors are hoping to continue their winning ways on Wednesday when they host former Raptor Kyle Lowry and the Miami Heat, a player Banton grew up watching.
“It’s going to be fun,” Banton said about the environment fans will bring to the arena for Wednesday’s game. “He’s [Lowry] is coming back to the city and they will show him a lot of love. Just playing against all these guys, it’s a blessing. Growing up watching them and watching a lot of basketball and being able to be on the court with the best talent in the world it’s not something I take for granted.”
Something Banton also says he doesn’t take for granted is the platform he has with being an NBA player. Both Banton and his teammate Pascal Siakam are once again the faces of a special collaboration between the Raptors and The Bay. All of the net proceeds from the sale of the collection will go towards Hudson’s Bay Foundation Charter for Change, an initiative to accelerate racial equity in Canada.
“I’m trying to be a part of a positive movement and use your influence where you can. Just seeing guys do it before me like Pascal, who is always in the community, always looking to help out and just being able to help where you can. It goes a long way for kids in the city. Like I used to go to Raptors camps and stuff like that and see like DeMar DeRozan and I know the role that played for me. So I’m just grateful to be able to do that and help out.”
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The forward joked that it took a moment to get comfortable being one of the faces of the campaign.
“I was new to photo shoots the first time I did the collection when they gave me the opportunity last year. Coming back and seeing some of the same faces I was a lot more comfortable and it didn’t even take that many takes, I feel like I’m a professional now,” Banton said with a laugh.
Banton and the Raptors host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. You can watch the game at 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.
Spoke to Rexdale’s finest about growing up in Toronto watching DeRozan and Lowry and within the last few weeks being able to play against them in Toronto as a #raptor. Lowry back in the city tonight as the Raps host the Heat. pic.twitter.com/PuSWGOIhR1
— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) November 16, 2022
