PHOENIX — For people who work in the NBA, the long, unforgiving schedule often means missing some moments with loved ones.

But on a late-March Saturday under the unseasonably intense Arizona sun, the schedule provided some magic, and Toronto Raptors assistant coach Mike Batiste — known to everyone around the team as “Big Mike” — took full advantage.

The Raptors’ recent trip to Phoenix coincided with Batiste’s son’s, Mike Jr.’s, trip through Arizona on Canadian Premier, an under-18 travel team of elite Canadian baseball prospects, playing showcase games against rookie pros on MLB teams based in the Phoenix area.

The Raptors had an optional practice, but his fellow coaches covered for him, allowing Batiste to head out to the Seattle Mariners’ spring training facility.

The temperature crested above 40 degrees Celsius by noon, but Batiste couldn’t have been happier.

Also in town was Batiste’s wife, Sarah, his daughter Sydney, and Mike’s sister, Maureen, who played college basketball with Sarah at Cal State Northridge — which is how Mike, who played at Arizona State, and his wife were introduced. Both of Mike Jr.’s grandmothers were on hand, too.

The family gathered under the tree nearest the backfield diamond, seeking the best combination of shade and sightlines.

But Big Mike was up against the fence, soaking up as much of the experience as he could, shade or no shade.

“Sometimes in a schedule, things just work out,” he said. “My son got this invite. We're sitting looking at the schedule, and we (the Raptors) were in Arizona at the same time. It's awesome.”

It’s been an awesome off-season, in general, baseball-wise for the Batistes.

The Raptors ShowSportsnet's Blake Murphy and two-time NBA champion Matt Bonner cover all things Raptors and the NBA. Airing every weekday live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN from 11 a.m.-noon ET.Latest episode

Sportsnet's Blake Murphy and two-time NBA champion Matt Bonner cover all things Raptors and the NBA. Airing every weekday live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN from 11 a.m.-noon ET.

Just after the NBA all-star break, Mike Jr. learned he had been ranked as a top-10 prospect for North America in the 2028 high school class.

Six weeks later, the 16-year-old’s face still splits into a smile at the thought of it.

“That was amazing. I can't even express my emotions,” said Mike Jr. “I remember I had got up immediately and went straight upstairs to my mom. She was on a call for work, and I was like, ‘Mom, you gotta get off the phone, you gotta get off the phone, look, look!’ And she didn't understand what it was. I was like, ‘Mom, I got ranked 10th in America!’ And then she was like, ‘Oh my God!’

His next move was to call his Dad, who was walking to the Apple Store in downtown Chicago, where the Raptors were preparing to play the Bulls in their first game back after the break. He was with fellow........

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