As the Raptors prepare for their fifth playoff game, the team’s self-proclaimed biggest fan is predicting Toronto will beat the Brooklyn Nets, but the game will be close.
Nav Bhatia describes himself as a Raptors "superfan." Bhatia owns 10 season tickets that he has purchased every year since the team's debut in 1995.
The 62-year-old has never missed a regular-season home game, and spends about $300,000 per year on tickets.
Bhatia owns a luxury car dealership, selling models from Bentley, Lexus, Porsche and more, but he said his true passion is for Canada's only NBA team.
"I love this game of basketball and I love the players," Bhatia told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
He even helped player Jonas Valanciunas with his English when the team's centre moved to Canada from Lithuania.
"I feel like I'm their dad," he said. "Like Jonas (Valanciunas) came two years ago. He didn't speak English well, he needed a lot of help. I guided him along whenever I could with him."
"We have a relationship of a dad and son."
Bhatia's presence at the games has not gone unnoticed. The New York Times published an article on Bhatia's passion last week, after a reporter noticed him on the sidelines, shouting to Knicks players that they were washed up.
"Whatever I'm doing, I'm in to the game," he said.
Sharing his predictions, Bhatia said that the game Wednesday night will be tough, but he expects the Raptors will win by two or three points.
