Bennedict Mathurin

Mathurin grew up in Montreal, making him part of a remarkable wave of Canadian NBA talent that emerged in the 2020s, following in the footsteps of Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and other Canadian stars.

He trained at the Athlete Institute in Orangeville, Ontario — the same prep program that developed multiple Canadian NBA players and has become one of North America's most respected basketball academies.

Mathurin was nicknamed 'The Villain' during his Arizona career for his intensity, trash-talking, and performance in big games — a persona he has carried into the NBA with confidence.

His scoring ability first gained national attention when he dropped 30 points against UCLA in a nationally televised game that convinced scouts he was a top-5 talent — an assessment that placed him one pick lower than expected at 6th overall.