A Toronto Raptors fan has won 2025-2026 season tickets after he sunk a half-court shot at the team’s final home game at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
Liam Rodrigues, who describes himself as a “huge sports fan,” said he was nervous as he headed into the game.
“It was definitely a crazy series of events,” he said.
Rodrigues scored tickets to the final home game after winning a layup event at the Stackt Market on Saturday. On Sunday, he says, he practised in the court outside his downtown Toronto apartment, taking about 50 shots and getting one in the net.
On Wednesday, he was invited to take his chances on the half court — and the practice paid off.
“I took the shot,” Rodrigues told CBC Toronto on Thursday. “I honestly thought I left it a little bit short. I wasn’t expecting it to go in and then it just fell through and then it was just a bit of a blur from there.”
The crowd erupted into applause after the ball went into the net, he said.
Rodrigues was there with his mom, who was attending her first Raptors game. He said she was “super happy” for him.
The Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 126-96, but Rodrigues spent much of the game stunned by his own win.
“The rest of the game we were just buzzing a little bit, just couldn’t believe what happened,” he said.
For Rodriguez, the reaction to his once-in-a-lifetime shot was special.
“Honestly, the best part has probably been just all the people reaching out to me. And there’s some people I haven’t spoken to in years that have just reached out to say congrats. And I think that’s been really cool,” he said.
“And then I was at the game with with my mom. That was a really cool experience to share as well.”
His fiancée, father-in-law to be and close friends are on the list of people he plans to bring to the games.
“I’m definitely excited for next season,” he said.
To other fans hoping to win big on the half court, he says: “Shoot it harder than you think.”
