AJ Lawson couldn’t help himself when he stepped on the Raptors’ new practice court 905.
Lawson, who is on a two-way contract that sees him play regularly for the G-League team in Mississauga, Ont., and the Toronto Raptors, his parent club, got to try every move he could think of on the new practice court 905 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
“I tried to do some tricks to be able to say I was the first person to do this on this court,” Lawson said Friday. “But it never feels as good as when I dunk, so I think it’s a good gym.”
Lawson and his 905 teammates have been doing some practices at the new facility attached to their home arena — allowing him to break at the rim — but the practice court was officially dedicated in a ceremony attended by Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chief operating officer Nick Eaves and Raptors 905 vice president Courtney Charles.
The new 16,000 square foot practice facility was built in partnership between the City of Mississauga and MLSE, owner of the Raptors and Raptors 905.
It has a full-sized court, including three baskets, state-of-the-art locker rooms, a large fitness and training room, extensive medical and rehabilitation areas as well as a dining area and player lounge.
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Raptors 905 head coach Drew Jones said the facility will help his team’s mission of developing basketball talent for NBA teams.
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“It allows us to train with great purpose and consistency,” Jones said. “In the G League, with roster changes and travel, the level of consistency can vary greatly.
“I think when you’re trying to grow and develop talent, one of the biggest things the NBA is able to provide is a level of consistency in terms of work, atmosphere and environment.”
Charles said the best feature of this facility is that players and coaches can train whenever they want.
“When you have a space that you can access 24/7, you can have that time where you can be face-to-face with people when they’re shooting free throws, when they’re dribbling, when they’re practicing their plays,” Charles said. “We know that when our culture allows us to be more human with someone, and there’s a comfortable space for people, then it’s a development opportunity.”
Raptors 905 is the first G League team to have an exclusive basketball court according to NBA regulations.
“It was amazing to be honest,” Lawson said. “It just shows that 905 cares and they really work hard to help whoever they can, to help their players develop.”
Due to MLSE’s partnership with the City of Mississauga, the facility will be allocated to a number of basketball development camps and community groups both during the G League season and outside of it.
“Mississauga is a place that produces great players and coaches and is home to top sporting venues,” Parrish said in a statement. “Our long-term partnership with Raptors 905 and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment allows us to continue to improve the quality of sports in Mississauga.
“This new gym is a big win for us and will benefit Raptors 905 as their new practice facility while offering access for residents.”
Lawson, who is from neighboring Brampton, Ontario, but attended high school in Mississauga, is pleased that local youth will benefit from the new facility.
“As a kid I felt like I played more outdoors than indoors, because there weren’t many facilities I could practice in,” he said while sitting at his locker at Scotiabank Arena. “The fact that there is another place where you can train for kids in Mississauga or the GTA is amazing.
“They’re going to love it because it gives them extra motivation. They can see the next step, like the 905, the NBA, everything that’s ahead of them.”
Saturday’s opening ended with Raptors 905 players leading a basketball clinic featuring more than 50 kids from the Erin Mills Youth Centre, Mississauga Monarchs and PDM Basketball, who were the first community groups to play on the new practice courts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
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