We have to deal with a lot of troubling stories in this job.

So I really do rejoice in writing about stories that touch the heart.

The story of Nav Bhatia is exactly that.

Nav Bhatia isn’t a basketball player or a coach, he’s a car salesman. But he was just inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame over the weekend along with people like Kobe Bryant, as English journalist Joe Pompliano explained.

Bhatia moved to Canada in 1984, fleeing turmoil in India. But Bhatia, a Sikh, had trouble finding a job because of his “long beard & turban” despite the fact that he had a degree as a mechanical engineer. So instead, he took a job selling cars.

Now some might be discouraged by such a situation. Not Bhatia. In his first 90 days, he sold 127 cars, apparently setting a car selling record that still stands. I’m not even sure how that’s possible, but he made it happen. He then became a general manager of a dealership which he turned into one of the largest and which he then subsequently bought. He also bought the original dealership that had hired him when he came to Canada and became a self-made millionaire.

That’s where the basketball comes in. Once he became financially secure, he was able to indulge his love of the game.

8) When the Toronto Raptors were named the NBA’s 28th franchise via league expansion in 1995, Nav Bhatia purchased season tickets.

The team was terrible, but Bhatia didn’t care.

He showed up to every game and was the loudest guy in the arena — cheering from start to finish. pic.twitter.com/jyoSzrO7Gu

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 19, 2021

Bhatia was there at every home game no matter how badly the team was doing. As a result of his great and loud loyalty, he got a very special honor.

9) In 1998, after years of Nav Bhatia’s loyalty and dedication to the struggling franchise, General Manager Isiah Thomas took notice.

He called Bhatia to center court during halftime of a game & bestowed upon him his new official title…

“Superfan”

Nav was ecstatic. pic.twitter.com/GsjwsZufOW

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 19, 2021

In 25 years, he never missed a home game. So after all that time, he got an even bigger honor for a fan.

11) After the Raptors won their first NBA title in 2018, Nav Bhatia became the only fan in NBA history to receive an official championship ring.

He also participated in the championship parade.

Now, @superfan_nav is also the first fan to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/0Bj5CLX8Io

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 19, 2021

Bhatia was the first fan so recognized in the Hall of Fame and he was so grateful for the recognition of that love.

Today was a dream.
In the greatest building basketball has, the name Superfan Nav Bhatia will be immortalized.There is now a turban and the first fan honoured within Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. I am overcome with emotions today.
📸 @ADBPhotoInc pic.twitter.com/TFe7cpwDAK

— Nav Bhatia Superfan (@superfan_nav) May 17, 2021

Joe I wanted to personally thank you for all the effort put into this thread. I hope to meet you one day. Thank you for helping spread positivity. Basketball is a beautiful game and brings people together. We can use alot more of that in this world. God bless you and stay safe.

— Nav Bhatia Superfan (@superfan_nav) May 21, 2021

But the story isn’t only about him. Because Bhatia wanted to share that love of the game he had. So he used his wealth to send thousands of kids to Raptors games, spending $300,000 on tickets each year so people can enjoy the games, bringing people from different backgrounds together to be with each other.

We can use some more Nav Bhatias in this world.