Home / Arts / TOtimes Books: Raptors Superfan, Nav Bhatia’s new book scores as instant #1 Bestseller

TOtimes Books: Raptors Superfan, Nav Bhatia’s new book scores as instant #1 Bestseller

Nav’s riveting life story is chronicled in new book entitled, “The Heart of a Superfan: A Memoir of Grit, Love, Family and Basketball“

Anyone who follows the Toronto Raptors has no doubt heard of Nav Bhatia, better known as the Raptors Superfan. He is a Toronto entrepreneur, car dealership owner, motivational speaker, philanthropist and passionate basketball fan. Bhatia has never missed a Raptors home game! When the Raptors won the 2019 NBA Championship, Bhatia became the first fan in history to receive an official championship ring. His life story is now the subject of a new book called The Heart of a Superfan: A Memoir of Grit, Love, Family and Basketball by Nav Bhatia with Tamara Baluja and Foreword by Vince Carter.

This instant #1 bestselling memoir takes us courtside as we witness the extraordinary life of Bhatia. He runs the Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation which raises money to build baseball camps and courts for kids across Canada. In 2020, Bhatia was honoured for his commitment to the game at the new superfan gallery at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a story of struggle, perseverance, adversity, passion and triumph.

*The Heart of a Superfan: A Memoir of Grit, Love, Family and Basketball* by Nav Bhatia with Tamara Baluja, foreword by Vince Carter is published in Canada by Doubleday Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Limited. Copyright © 2024 Yellow Mango Films Inc.

Bhatia was born in New Delhi in 1952 and moved to Toronto in 1984. He struggled to find work as a mechanical engineer and took a job as a car salesperson at Hyundai Mississauga. Proving himself to be a natural salesperson, Bhatia achieved a record number of sales in three-months time. He was later named General Manager and two years later he had an opportunity to buy the dealership. Today at age 72, he is the proud owner of four Hyundai and Genesis car dealerships across the GTA including Hyundai locations in Mississauga on Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga Road, Hyundai Rexdale, plus a Genesis dealership on Glen Erin Drive also in Mississauga.

The memoir delves into the struggles Bhatia faced when he immigrated to Canada and in his early years as a business owner. It was during these difficult early times that Bhatia discovered his passion when a new basketball team came to town. He cheered on the Toronto Raptors through losses and wins as he discovered inspiration and community while forming life-long bonds with many of the players

Bhatia shares lessons learned that ultimately propelled him to success in many facets of his life. Readers will discover intriguing stories about the Raptors as Bhatia gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what happened during several games, including their first game in 1995 to their 2019 Championship win.

The book is written with Tamara Baluja, an award-winning journalist who is a producer for CBC News in Vancouver and previously worked for The Globe and Mail, Newstalk 1010 and the Toronto Star. Several well-known basketball players and sports leaders heap praise in the book including Toronto Raptor Scottie Barnes who says: “Nav Bhatia was one of the first people I met in Toronto. I have never met someone so passionate about basketball. How he brought everyone together using his love for the Raptors is a story worth reading.”

According to the book’s back cover jacket, Bhatia’s life story is currently being adapted for the big screen with the role of Bhatia being played by actor Kal Penn. The 80-minute film is called Nav Bhatia: the Story of a Superfan.

Nav Bhatia’s life story is currently being adapted for the big screen with the role of Bhatia being played by actor Kal Penn. The 80-minute film is called *Nav Bhatia: the Story of a Superfan*.

Bhatia’s feel-good story tells us of how following one’s passion can lead us to do extraordinary things. An inspiring read- 8 out of 10.

The Heart of a Superfan: A Memoir of Grit, Love, Family and Basketball by Nav Bhatia with Tamara Baluja, foreword by Vince Carter is published in Canada by Doubleday Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Limited. Copyright © 2024 Yellow Mango Films Inc. Foreword copyright © Vince Carter and Michelle Carter. Book jacket images by George Pimentel Photography. Author photo by Push Marketing Group. Excerpted with Publisher permission. All rights reserved.