Another former Toronto Raptors player has spoken up following Thad Young’s recent controversial remarks about playing in Canada.
Young, who played parts of three seasons with the Raptors, joined the Tidal League’s Out The Mud Podcast and didn’t have the most glowing review of his time spent in Toronto.
“I ain’t gonna lie, being in Toronto was kinda tough,” Young said. “It’s cool to visit, be there for like four or five days, but to live there, it was tough. It was tough on my family.”
This comment has angered Canadian fans and quickly blew up on social media, to the point that another former Raptor, Charlie Villanueva, weighed in on the matter. While the 40-year-old seemed to understand the comments to a certain extent, he made it clear he thought Young sounded somewhat privileged.
“I love Toronto. I love it. It’s a great city,” Villanueva said on Tidal League’s Run Your Race Podcast. “My time in Toronto was nothing but amazing, shoutout to the city of Toronto. But I will say it is an inconvenience, but bro, you’re in the NBA making millions of dollars. What are we talking about? Come on, don’t be a little bougie now.
“Don’t forget where you’ve come from… He’s being a little Hollywood.”
Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva reacts to Thad Young’s comments about living in Toronto:
“My time in Toronto was nothing but amazing but I will say there’s an inconvenience, but bro you in the NBA making millions of dollars. Come on now, don’t be a little bougie now… He’s… https://t.co/vDjSTofdIB pic.twitter.com/NxVpeXI98S
— Hassan O (@YourBoyH2O) March 20, 2025
The main complaints from Young came down to things such as how far away he was from his family, as well as having to go through customs each time he returned to Toronto from a road trip.
While these complaints do seem a little over the top, given the money NBA players make, Young isn’t the only former Raptor who has had negative things to say about living in Toronto.
Goran Dragic, who the Raptors traded to acquire Young, had similar things to say about the city before having played his first game with the organization.
Lou Williams, who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in his only season with the Raptors in 2014-15, has also been vocal about the challenges of playing in Canada.
