BASKETBALL LEGEND SUPERFAN NAV BHATIA PARTNERS WITH THE BRAMPTON HONEY BADGERS AS COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that Toronto-icon Superfan Nav Bhatia has joined the Brampton Honey Badgers as a Community Ambassador.
Through this partnership, the organization will be working closely alongside the Superfan Nav Bhatia Foundation to inspire youth in the community.
“Working as an ambassador for Canada Basketball and the Toronto Raptors has given me the opportunity to impact our youth on a global and national scale,” said Bhatia “What the Brampton Honey Badgers represent, is an opportunity to work much closer with the youth in my own backyard with the community I grew up alongside. I am looking forward to working with the Brampton Honey Badgers and launching new community initiatives with my foundation.”
As the first fan honoured in the NBA Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Nav Bhatia has quickly become a global icon for any basketball fan. You may know him as the “Toronto Raptors Superfan”, having attended every single Raptors home game besides what he was required to miss due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 season. After the Raptors won their first NBA Championship in 2019, Bhatia became the first fan in history to receive an official NBA Championship ring.
“Words cannot fully capture the impact Nav Bhatia has had on basketball in Canada,” said Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley. “This marks a significant milestone for the Brampton Honey Badgers. Nav’s influence on the game and his connection to communities across the GTA will help elevate our organization to new heights. We are proud to work alongside Nav and engage our community.”
The first initiative, titled the ‘Badgers Bench Mob’, was launched Monday, April 13 by the Brampton Honey Badgers in conjunction with the Superfan Nav Bhatia Foundation - with Mayor Patrick Brown and Deputy Chief of Peel Regional Police Marc Andrews in attendance. Beginning during the 2026 season, and aimed to empower youth by providing them with a live professional basketball experience, community leaders are able to purchase and donate courtside tickets to youth in the community.
“The Badger’s Bench Mob is a means to give our youth a feeling of ownership and camaraderie,” said Bhatia. “Nothing brings people together like sports. I have used basketball as a tool to bring people together my entire life, now with the Honey Badgers and the Bench Mob program, we can bring even more of the community together to rally and cheer on our team.”
The program is very simple. You may donate two tickets for the entire season at a special price of only $1100, or two tickets to one game at only $110. The games you cannot attend are donated to youth in the community and a charitable tax receipt is issued by Kids Up Front.
“This is a very exciting day for our organization,” said Honey Badgers Owner Leonard Asper. “Nav Bhatia is a Canadian icon and his contributions to the community and this sport have been inspiring and have changed so many lives for the better. Together, our shared values and commitment to the sport while creating opportunity for our youth is going to be a powerful combination. Having the opportunity to join forces with him is a true honour and we are thrilled to have him on our team.”
The Brampton Honey Badgers will begin their season with two home games on Friday, May 15 and Superfan Day on Sunday, May 17 versus the Ottawa BlackJacks and Calgary Surge, respectively. Click
here to get your Honey Badgers tickets today, starting at only $15 per game.
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About the Brampton Honey Badgers
One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, featuring 10 member clubs across six provinces. Powered by elite talent, a fast-paced game format, and deep community connections, the CEBL delivers high-level basketball and unforgettable summer experiences for fans nationwide.
The league boasts the youngest fan base in Canadian professional sport, half under age 34, and one of the fastest-growing audiences in the country, now reaching nearly 4.1 million Canadians. This momentum reflects the CEBL’s ability to deliver dynamic, thrilling gameplay while connecting deeply with a new generation of fans and expanding basketball’s cultural footprint across Canada.
The CEBL is where elite performance meets homegrown talent. In 2025, 17 players with NBA experience hit the court, while nearly 70% of the league’s roster was Canadian, the highest concentration of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. Running from May through August, the CEBL’s season is a showcase of top basketball talent and a summer hub for fast-paced, high-energy fan excitement.
About the Brampton Honey Badger’s Bench Mob
Badgers Bench Mob is more than a ticket program - it’s a movement built by the Brampton Honey Badgers to bring the next generation into the game. This initiative provides youth across the community with access to live basketball experiences - giving them a seat in the arena, a sense of belonging, and a chance to feel the energy of being part of something bigger than themselves.
Just like the bench in basketball, where players stay ready, support one another, and step up when it matters most, Badgers Bench Mob is about empowering young people to find their moment. It’s about showing them that they belong, that they matter, and that they are part of a team, on and off the court.
Basketball has the power to unite. It breaks barriers, builds confidence, and creates lifelong connections. Through shared experiences at games, youth are not just spectators - they become part of a culture rooted in resilience, teamwork, and fearlessness.
Badgers Bench Mob turns moments into motivation:
- Inspiring youth to believe in themselves
- Creating a sense of community and connection
- Providing access to experiences that can shape futures
Because when young people feel included, supported, and inspired - they don’t just watch the game… they become part of it.
Media Contact:
Elias Eldridge - Account Executive & Communications Specialist
Brampton Honey Badgers
