‘Superfan’ Nav Bhatia is isolated, for the first time in history to miss the game against the Raptors

Friday night’s Toronto Raptors game was notable because of the people who didn’t attend.

The Raptors’ COVID-19 scare kept “Superfan” Nav Bhatia out of Toronto’s game against the New York Knicks.

This is the first home game he has missed since the Toronto franchise joined the NBA in 1995.

Bhatia attended Masai Ujiri’s African Giants event on Sunday night. On Wednesday, Ujiri, the group’s vice president and president, announced that he had tested positive for the virus.

Bhatia posted on her Instagram account, telling Raptors fans: “I’ve been there for you and our team since day 1. I need your help tonight.”

Bhatia said he is following a request from the Toronto Department of Public Health that everyone attending the Giants of Africa event be isolated, calling it an “incredible event following all protocols.” ” and he had no symptoms.

“My heart is breaking right now and all 19,800 of you in the arena are the only ones who can help,” Bhatia wrote. “I need two things from you. 1) cheer as hard as I can for our team! I’ll stay home screaming and screaming too!

2) Take good care of my friend Kal Penn. I want you all to show him why this is the best fan base in the league and give him a lot of love tonight. “

Penn, an actor who will play Bhatia in an upcoming mega-fan movie, was seated in Bhatia’s chair along the baseline.

The Raptors canceled Thursday’s practice “out of an abundance of caution” after Ujiri’s positive test result.

This Canadian Press report was first published on December 10, 2021.