Casey proud of his influence on the Raptors, Canadian basketball
TORONTO — Dwane Casey might be gone, but he certainly is not forgotten.
The capacity Scotiabank Arena welcomed the 61-year-old Detroit Pistons coach back to Toronto with a long and loud standing ovation while a video tribute played during Wednesday’s game.
The game between the Raptors and Pistons was Casey’s first time back on the basketball court where he’d left so much “blood, sweat and tears,” he said, over his seven-year tenure in Toronto.
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry made a beeline for Casey just before tipoff, and wrapped the coach in a huge hug. During the video tribute, Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas and Pascal Siakam stood together at halfcourt applauding their former coach.