Armenian Association of Toronto to host online interview with NBA, Team Armenia coach Rex Kalamian
TORONTOHYE—The Armenian Association of Toronto's Public Awareness Committee will host an online interview with Rex Kalamian, assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and head coach of Armenia's national basketball team, on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m. The event will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams, providing participants from across the community with the opportunity to tune in and participate.
Kalamian speaking with Toronto -Armenian youth at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto in 2016 (photo courtesy of Homenetmen Toronto)
Kalamian, an Armenian-American, has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA over a career that spans more than three decades. He has served on the coaching staffs of the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, and, most recently, the Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto basketball fans will remember his time with the Toronto Raptors from 2015 to 2018, when he played a crucial role in shaping the team’s defensive identity and contributed to its emergence as a consistent contender in the Eastern Conference.
In 2022, Kalamian was appointed head coach of Armenia's men's national basketball team, a role that has given him the chance to combine his professional expertise with his heritage. Under his leadership, the program has taken steps to become more competitive by introducing professional training standards, organizing talent from both Armenia and the diaspora, and building a more substantial presence in international basketball. For Kalamian, whose grandmother survived the Armenian Genocide and immigrated to the United States, the opportunity to represent Armenia on the world stage carries a personal significance in addition to professional responsibility.
The interview will be moderated by Armen Zargarian, producer and technical director at Sportsnet 590. Zargarian, a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's Sport Media program, has developed his career covering basketball and other sports through positions with The Eyeopener, 6ixBuzzTV, and the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association before joining Sportsnet in 2022.
Community members are encouraged to submit questions in advance (info in flyer in comments) or to ask them live during the Q&A session following the interview. The event offers an opportunity for the Toronto Armenian community and basketball fans to connect directly with Kalamian and learn more about his experiences in the NBA and with Armenia's national team.
