The Saskatchewan Rattlers get set for the start of the 2024 C-E-B-L Season tonight when they host the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Going into this year, the team brings back four players from last and a nice group of new players, including former Toronto Raptor Jalen Harris. On top of that, the Rattlers brought in Larry Abney as their new head coach, who has plenty of experience in basketball where before Saskatchewan, he was an assistant coach with the Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League, affiliate of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Abney was also a Player Development Coach with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017 until 2022.
Coach Abney didn’t just bring coaching experience to Saskatchewan, he brought some recruitments along the way from Ontario, including Bryson Williams and Elijah Harkless who both bring a lot of NBA G League experience. As for the returning players from last year, Anthony Tsegakele, Adong Makuoi, Julian Roche, and Regina product Isaac Simon are the players back and excited to be back with the Rattlers with something to prove. The league released the odds for teams winning the championship going into this season, with the Rattlers ranked last in the 10-team league. Head Coach Larry Abney and Julian Roche were both asked their thoughts on that, both saying if the team wasn’t motivated now, they should be….
Head Coach Larry Abney
Julian Roche
One of the biggest signings this offseason came in the form of former Toronto Raptor Jalen Harris, but isn’t a stranger to the C-E-B-L. Aside from the Raptors, Harris spent two seasons with the Scarborough Shooting Stars and most recently with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Looking back to last season, the Ratters had a strong team that was led mostly by Justin Wright-Foreman, who was the team leader in Average Points, Field Goal Percentage, 3-Points Attempted, 3-Points Made, Average 3-Points Made, Average Total Rebounds, and Average Assists. There is no question his absence will be felt, but with additions like Jalen Harris as well as Williams and Harkless, GM Barry Rawlyk fells this season is a better constructed team where they won’t have to rely on one player. Our full discussion below:
GM Barry Rawlyk with Jackson Imrie:
This team shouldn’t be passed over this early in the season, but after not qualifying for the playoffs last season there is some pressure on the players and coaches, but this team will be competitive night in and night out and won’t be an easy win for any opponent, as Head Coach Larry Abney explained during media scrum after the final practice of training camp….
Head Coach Larry Abney
Adong Makoui
As for the league, they are trending upwards after a record setting 2023 season that included a record 52% increase in total attendance over 2022. Last season the league record for attendance at one game was set during an August 4th playoff match between Winnipeg and Edmonton where 10,580 fans were at Canada Life Centre. This has since been broken already during this season, last nights season opener between Edmonton and Calgary at the Saddledome had a record 12,327 in attendance.
Total broadcast viewership was up 75% over 2022, social media had an 88% year-over-year growth in followership across all platforms, and 82% yearly growth in C-E-B-L Mobile App downloads, just to name a few. Overall the league is in a great place heading into their sixth season already setting records during training camp. Going into this season there are,
– 10 players on rosters with NBA experience (most ever)
– 43 players on rosters with NBA G League experience (most ever)
– 107 Canadians are on rosters which accumulate 75% of all rosters
– 90 Players come from NCAA Programs
– 74 Players come from U-Sports/CCAA
That’s just a few of the impressive marks heading into this season but Jackson Imrie had a chance to talk with League Commissioner Mike Morreale to discuss the State of the League, continuing to grow their product, and the Rattlers upcoming season….
Jackson Imrie with League Commissioner Mike Morreale
Safe to say, this is shaping up to be a very entertaining C-E-B-L season and it all gets started for the Saskatchewan Rattlers tonight at home with opening tip-off from SaskTel Centre at 7:30p.m.
