You keep bringing up this anecdote as if there is any conclusion that should be drawn from it other than that the supposed player in question is painfully stupid.
Again, I'll repeat: how familiar are you with Montreal and its boroughs? Are you from the city? If so, which part? Like, even in the context of a player believing a wrong thing, you act as if folks can't be corrected about places they don't know. It's an absurd stance.
Not from Montreal and don't live there. From my limited experiences visiting there it's a great place and easy for people to enjoy and live in. And from many people , it's a terrific city.
I also know, as it gets talked about here often, in the hockey context , that many hockey players don't like coming to Canada in general, but also specifically to Montreal for a variety of reasons ( taxes, language, media scrutiny , crazy fans- which I grant you most may not apply to basketball ). But we understand many players have Canada as a no trade place.
I also know, because it's stated as a problem by people in the know, and from what I see, aside from dumb young kids, that top basketball players do not sign in Toronto. I'm guessing, but maybe I'm absurd, that the Raptors have tried and try to correct people about Canada and the Raptors. Seems to not have worked these past few decades.
So no, I'm not absurd. It's fair and reasoned comment.