

Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com

The Toronto Raptors doubled the number of Canadians players on their roster heading into training camp. They will open camp in Vancouver on Tuesday with two Canadian-born players after signing 2013 first overall pick Anthony Bennett on Sunday afternoon. Cory Joseph signed with the team in July.

“I feel like it was the perfect situation for me,” Bennett said. “Coming home, playing in front of family, friends, fans, it's just being comfortable. Comfortable and just going out there and playing with confidence.”

Toronto will be the third stop in as many seasons for Bennett, who was the first Canadian to be selected first overall in an NBA Draft when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him.

After a rough rookie season, Bennett and fellow Canadian Andrew Wiggins, were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the deal that sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers. Minnesota worked out a buyout with Bennett and after clearing waivers, he signed with his hometown team.

“I feel like we were beginning to establish something over there [in Minnesota], but at the same time I feel like it was the best option for me to come out here and play at home.” Bennett said.

Despite one of the roughest starts imaginable to his pro career, Bennett’s spirits are high after spending the summer suiting up for Team Canada in the Pan Am Games and FIBA Americas tournament.

Bennett said he’s going into camp ‘the most healthy I’ve been since probably UNLV,’ and broke into a huge smile as he talked about his time with Team Canada.

Although being a first overall pick has led to Bennett having to deal with a level of pressure most rookies and young players are exempt from, he says he doesn’t spend much time thinking about his draft order and wouldn’t change it if he had to go through it all again.

“Honestly, yeah, why not?” Bennett said. “It comes with a lot of pressure, but at the same time, I'm ready to work. [This is] a new situation for me. Starting fresh again. Hometown.

“I can stay level-headed with the many ups and downs that I had,” he continued. “Just stay focused and the end goal is always the main key.”

It would be easy to say that Bennett was a natural fit for the Raptors because he’s Canadian, but the team is intrigued by him and didn’t want to pass up on his potential.

“We got a good chance to get him,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said. “We jumped on it. I think it’s a good opportunity for him, a good opportunity for us. He’s coming in and he’s going to have to play and prove himself a little bit…He’s going to have to work.”

Head coach Dwane Casey is looking forward to getting to know the newest Raptor in training camp.

“This is an opportunity,” Casey said. “This is a good place for him. It’s home. He should feel comfortable. But again all the time and everything else, he’s going to have to come in and earn it which I’m sure the other players would be happy to hear. That doesn’t mean anything is going to be given to him. And I don’t think he wants anything given to him. He’s a super young man and a young talent. He’s only 22 years old and it was a good situation for us to bring him back. Not only because he’s Canadian, because he’s a very talented young man who needs a good opportunity.”

Joseph, Bennett’s teammate on the national team, spent much of the summer training alongside him then witnessing his progress on the court. The point guard was one of the Team Canada teammates Bennett credited with helping to make the game fun while suiting up for his country this summer. Not-surprisingly, Joseph is firmly in Bennett’s camp.

“Obviously one of my great friends,” Joseph said. “I feel like there’s a new beginning there. I think he’ll do great for us, for the city and the country. I think he’ll revive his NBA career.”