Many, myself included, took Chris Broussard’s comments saying it is different for Black Americans living in Toronto because it is not America as him saying that he was saying they would have a worse experience.
Here is his exact quote.
“I don’t think KD will want to go to Toronto. I visited there many times. Obviously, I was there covering the league. Great city, but it’s not America. And you feel it when you’re there, I’m telling you, especially as an African American. It’s a different situation than African Americans are used to being in.”
The point of contention was Broussard saying, especially Black Americans, that they feel the difference of not being in America. It is so different than someone like Kevin Durant wouldn’t want to go there.
Broussard said that was not what he was implying, that black Americans were treated worse, but that living there is different because the population is only 8% black.
Here is his exact quote about that.
I never said Blacks are “treated worse in Toronto” than in America. Never! That’s ridiculous. I said living there is different and “not the same as living in America for Blacks.” Very diverse city. But just 8% Black. I love visiting Toronto. Visiting.
I am going to assume (but until Broussard gives more clarification, I could be wrong, but I will reach out) that he is speaking about Canada just being a different country and, therefore, things that black athletes are comfortable with in the states aren’t readily available in Canada.
The issue with that is while Canada is another country if we are just going off percentages, I’d imagine as a black man you would be more comfortable as a whole in Toronto than, say, Utah or Oklahoma City.
A good portion of America isn’t great or safe for Black people. I think athletes, in general, would prefer to play in big market states like California, New York, Texas, etc., but if you surveyed 100 black NBA players. They had their choice of playing (pretend they didn’t know the players on the teams) Sacramento or Toronto. I would be curious how that would shake out.
Don’t get me wrong, Toronto, for legitimate reasons, may have issues keeping stars or recruiting free agents, but I think it is a bit short-sighted to say that is because of some racial element. Brooklyn couldn’t keep KD, Kyrie, and James Harden. Harden wanted out of Houston. Ben Simmons wanted out of Philly. Meanwhile, Giannis stayed in Milwaukee, and Jokic is staying in Denver.
There are many reasons players decide where they want to play. In my opinion, Broussard could have left the black Americans part out unless he was specifically told that by Kevin Duran.
Flip the page for Broussard’s full comments and him clarifying his remarks.