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The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the NBA. They originally played their home games in the SkyDome, before moving to the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in 1999.

Like most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early years. In time they saw success: following the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day trade in 1998, the team set league attendance records and made the NBA Playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was instrumental in leading the team to their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. During the 2002-03 and 2003-04 NBA seasons, they failed to make significant progress and he was traded in 2004. After Carter left, Chris Bosh emerged as a team leader, but they continued to struggle. However, with the appointment of Bryan Colangelo as General Manager and a revamp of the roster for the 2006-07 NBA season, they qualified for their first playoff berth in five years and captured their first division title. Bryan Colangelo was awarded the honour of 2007 NBA Executive of the Year for his work with restoring the Raptors, and Sam Mitchell was voted the 2007 NBA Coach of the Year.

Franchise history

Struggles of a new franchise

File:Isiah logo.jpg
Isiah Thomas, the team's first GM, unveils the Raptor's logo.

The Toronto Raptors were established on 30 September, 1993 when the NBA, as part of its expansion into Canada, awarded its 28th franchise to a group headed by Toronto businessman John Bitove.[1] The Raptors, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, played their first games in 1995, and were the first NBA teams to play in Canada since the 1946–47 Toronto Huskies.[1]

A nationwide contest was held to help name the team and develop their colours and logo. The final top-10 list, from over 2,000 entries in the contest, was composed mainly of animal names.[1] The final selection—Toronto Raptors—was unveiled on Canadian national television on 15 May 1994. The choice was influenced by the popularity of the film Jurassic Park. On 24 May, 1994, the team's logo and first General Manager, Isiah Thomas were revealed at a press conference.[1] The team's colours of bright red, purple, black, and silver were also revealed; "Naismith" silver was chosen as an ode to Canadian James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.[1] The team originally competed in the Central Division,[2] and before the inaugural season began, sales of Raptors merchandise ranked seventh in the league.[1]

The Skydome — now the Rogers Centre — was the original arena for the Raptors between 1995–1999.

As General Manager, Isiah Thomas quickly staffed the management positions with his own personnel, naming longtime Detroit Pistons assistant Brendan Malone as the Raptors' first head coach.[1] The team's roster was then filled as a result of an expansion draft in 1995. Following a coin flip, Toronto was given the first pick, and selected Chicago Bulls point guard and three-point specialist BJ Armstrong. Armstrong refused to report for training and Thomas promptly traded him to the Golden State Warriors for power forwards Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander.[1] Thomas then selected a wide range of players in the expansion draft, including veterans Jerome Kersey, Willie Anderson and his former Pistons teammate John "Spider" Salley.[1]

Following the expansion draft, Toronto was then given the second pick after the Vancouver Grizzles in the 1995 NBA entry draft. They selected Damon Stoudamire, a point guard out of University of Arizona, whom Thomas chose to build the franchise around. The selection of Stoudamire was met with boos from fans at the 1995 NBA Draft at the SkyDome in Toronto, many of whom wanted Ed O'Bannon of UCLA, the NCAA Final Four MVP.[1] After averaging 19.0 points and 9.3 assists per game, however, Stoudamire won the 1995-96 Rookie of the Year Award.[3] In the team's first official NBA game, Soudamire recorded 10 points and 10 assists in a 94–79 victory over the New Jersey Nets.[4] They concluded their inaugural season with a 21–61 win-loss record,[2] although they were one of the few teams who defeated the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls,[5] who set an NBA best 72–10 win–loss regular season record.

Attendance for Toronto games rose in the 1996-97 NBA season and the team improved on its win record by nine games.[6] They selected centre Marcus Camby with the second overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft.[7] By the end of the season, Camby earned a berth on the NBA's All-Rookie Team while Stoudamire continued to play well, averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 assists per game.[1] As in the previous season, the Raptors were one of only 11 teams to topple the eventual 1997 Champions, the Chicago Bulls.[7][8] The Raptors also defeated the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Miami Heat, all of which were eventual conference finalists.[7][9] Yet, the Raptors could not defeat teams who were not of championship calibre, including three losses to the 15–67 Boston Celtics.[9]

Early in the 1997-98 season, the team had numerous injuries and slid into a 17-game losing streak.[10] General Manager Isiah Thomas resigned after his ownership bid for the Raptors failed[11] and Glen Grunwald replaced him. With Thomas gone, Stoudamire immediately sought a trade.[12] On 13 February 1998, he was shipped to the Portland Trailblazers along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers for Kenny Anderson, Alvin Williams, Gary Trent, two first-round draft choices, a second-round draft choice and cash.[10] Anderson refused to report to Toronto and was traded to the Boston Celtics on 18 February with Zan Tabak and Popeye Jones for Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, Roy Rogers and John Thomas.[10] Following the trading deadline, the Raptors became the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.6.[10] They had five rookies on their roster, including the 18-year-old Tracy McGrady, who at the time was the youngest player in the NBA.[10] The inexperienced Raptors struggled throughout the season and their regular season record regressed to 16–66.[13]

During the 1998 NBA Draft, in what became a defining move for the franchise, Grunwald traded the team's 4th overall pick Antawn Jamison to the Golden State Warriors for Vince Carter, who was selected 5th overall.[14] To bring further credibility to the Raptors, Grunwald traded Camby to the New York Knicks for Charles Oakley,[15] a veteran with playoff experience. Kevin Willis, another veteran acquired from the trade, solidified the centre position, while the coaching staff temporarily rotated Dee Brown, Alvin Williams and Doug Christie to play point guard. Both Christie and Williams became talented players in their own right. Christie developed into one of the elite defenders in the NBA,[15] while Williams improved his play on the offensive end. New coach Butch Carter was also credited with much of the team's turnaround during the lockout shortened 1998-99 NBA season. Although the team did not make the playoffs, many were optimistic with the impressive performances of Rookie of the Year Vince Carter[14] and a much improved McGrady.

Three seasons of playoffs

The Raptors moved to the Air Canada Centre in 1999.

During the 1999 NBA Draft, believing that the Raptors still lacked a strong frontcourt presence, General Manager Glen Grunwald traded first-round draft pick Jonathan Bender for veteran power forward Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers.[16] In the backcourt, coach Butch Carter rotated Carter, Christie, Williams and Dell Curry at the shooting guard position and Williams and Muggsy Bogues at point guard. The rotation of Davis, Oakley and Willis in the frontcourt and the maturation of both Carter and McGrady helped the team make its first ever playoff appearance, fulfilling a promise Carter had made to the fans in the previous season.[17] However, without significant postseason experience, Toronto was ultimately swept 0–3 by the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.[17] Nonetheless, progressive team improvements and the ascendancy of Carter — who emphatically won the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest[14] — attracted many fans around Toronto, many of whom were previously not basketball fans. The season was also the first full year played at the Air Canada Centre, after having played four years at the cavernous SkyDome.[17] Overall, the Raptors concluded the season with a 45–37 record and ranked third in the Central Division.[18]

Morris Peterson, currently the longest-serving Raptor, was selected in the 2000 NBA Draft.

Still, playoff failures and Butch Carter's media altercations surrounding Camby led Grunwald to replace Carter during the 2000-01 NBA season with Lenny Wilkens, a Hall of Fame coach and player with more than 30 years of coaching experience.[19] The team roster was largely revamped as well, beginning with the signing of veteran playmaker Mark Jackson to a four year contract.[20] However, with the emergence of Alvin Williams as a clutch performer, Jackson was later traded to allow more playing time for Williams.[20] Vince Carter, who was originally assigned the small forward position, became more adept at playing the shooting guard position. As a result, Doug Christie, the former shooting guard, was traded for forward Corliss Williamson.[20] Williamson proved to have a disappointing season and was subsequently traded for defensive workhorse Jerome Williams.[20] Although McGrady and Carter showed impressive improvement at the same time, much of the media and fan attention was focused on Carter, who was the flashier player. Furthermore, McGrady and Carter shared the same natural position (small forward), making it impossible to keep both. Therefore, the Raptors management decided to trade McGrady to the Orlando Magic during the 2000-01 offseason for a first-round draft pick in a sign-and-trade deal.[21]

As predicted by analysts, the team clinched a playoff berth without much difficulty. Toronto beat New York 3–2 in the first round.[20][22] Wilkens was credited for having Williams defend shooting guard Allan Houston and Carter defend small forward Latrell Sprewell, the two major offensive threats of the Knicks. The next series against the Philadelphia 76ers was a landmark for the Raptors in terms of performance and entertainment value. The Sixers relied on Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo for their respective offensive and defensive abilities, along with steady help from Aaron McKie and other teammates. Toronto was the more balanced team with Carter, Williams and Davis providing much of the offensive game and Chris Childs and Jerome Williams providing the defensive pressure. Philadelphia took full advantage of the mismatch at centre whereas Toronto counteracted with a fast break offence with their shorter but quicker players. The series came down to the last few seconds of Game 7, when Carter's potential series-winning shot rolled off the rim.[23] Carter was later widely criticized for attending his graduation ceremony at the University of North Carolina on the morning of Game 7.[24][25] Despite the loss, the season is generally considered a watermark for the franchise, given the Raptors' best ever regular season record (47–35),[20] and finishing second in the Central Division.[26]

The relocation of the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001 left Toronto as the NBA's only Canadian team;[27] To ensure that Vince Carter would re-sign with the team, long-term contracts were given to Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis, while former NBA MVP centre Hakeem Olajuwon was signed to provide Carter with a good supporting cast.[28] The Raptors were seemingly on their way to another competitive season, with a 29–21 record going into the All-Star break.[28] For the third consecutive year, Carter was the top vote-getter for the All-Star game.[14] But Carter suffered a bout of tendinitis, which forced him to sit out the All-Star game and the rest of the season.[28] Without their franchise player, Toronto went on a 13-game losing streak.[28] Just as their season seemed lost, they were able to win 12 of their last 14 games, clinching a playoff spot on the last day of the regular season.[28] This comeback was characterized by some of the Raptors' best defensive games of the season, along with inspired performances by Antonio Davis and Keon Clark.

Despite Toronto's improved defensive performances, Carter's offence was sorely missed in the first-round series against the second-seeded Detroit Pistons. In the first game, Detroit overwhelmed Toronto 83–65 behind Ben Wallace's strong performance of 19 points, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals.[29] Detroit also won Game 2, but Toronto won the next two games at home to force a deciding Game 5 in Detroit.[28] Game 5 was tightly contested until the very end. With 10.7 seconds left in the game, the Raptors were down 85–82 with possession of the ball. Chris Childs raced down the court and hit a three-pointer that missed badly, apparently trying to draw a foul on the play,[30] instead of passing to a wide-open Dell Curry. In a post-game locker room interview, Childs repeatedly insisted that the Raptors had been down four points, not three. The Raptors' late-season surge was thus marred by this disappointing playoff exit; the Hakeem Olajuwon experiment was also a bust, with the 39-year-old averaging career lows in minutes, points and rebounds.[31] Furthermore, Childs, Clark, and Curry left the team, ensuring a new-look team for the next season.

A period of struggle again

The 2002-03 season began with the same optimism that the Raptors furnished in three consecutive playoff seasons, but much of it faded early in the season. Carter, while voted as a starter in the 2003 All-Star Game,[14] went through a series of injuries, Antonio Davis started to express disinterest in Toronto, and Wilkens' laissez-faire attitude created a team that lacked the motivation and spirit of the previous years' teams. The team was also ravaged with injuries, losing an NBA record number of player games due to injury.[32] The Raptors further recorded the dubious distinction as being the only team in NBA history to not dress 12 players for a single game in a season.[32] The Toronto media heavily criticized coach Wilkens for his inability to clamp down on his players when he had to, given this was the year that Wilkens overtook Bill Fitch for the lead in most losses by a NBA coach,[33] with his loss total getting dangerously close to his win total. The Raptors ended the season with a 24–58 record,[34] and Wilkens was sacked. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as this eventually transformed into the 4th overall pick in the 2003 draft and brought another star to Toronto: Chris Bosh.

Since the trade of Vince Carter in 2005, Chris Bosh has been the face of the Raptors franchise.

Canadian country singer Shania Twain helped launch the new red Raptors alternate road uniform at the start of the 2003-04 NBA season.[35] The jerseys made their debut in a 90–87 season-opening victory on 29 October, 2003 against the defending Conference Champion New Jersey Nets.[35] However, the Raptors were inconsistent throughout the season, partly due to injuries to key players Jalen Rose, Alvin Williams and Carter, with Davis and Jerome Williams traded early in the season for Rose and Donyell Marshall. On 1 November, 2003, the Raptors even tied a NBA record for fewest points scored in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 56–73.[35][36] After 50 games though, Toronto was 25–25 and in a position to make the playoffs, but injuries to key players again sent the Raptors plummeting down the standings. Rose, Carter, and Williams all suffered injuries as the Raptors struggled to a record of 8–24 in their remaining games.[35] The Raptors subsequently fired GM Glen Grunwald on 1 April, 2004, after the team ended the season three games short of the eighth and final playoff spot.[35] The star individual performers were Carter, with 22.5 PPG, Marshall, who led the team with 10.7 RPG (rebounds per game), and rookie Bosh, a 6-10 forward-centre who averaged 11.5 PPG and 7.4 RPG and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.[37]

Immediately following the firing of Grunwald, on 17 April, 2004, head coach Kevin O'Neill was fired after making some remarks which were taken to question the team's commitment to winning.[38] He was replaced with Sam Mitchell, a former NBA forward and assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.[39] Rob Babcock was named GM on 7 June, 2004, alongside the appointments of Wayne Embry as senior advisor and Alex English as director of player development.[40] In this transitionary season, the Raptors improved on their regular season record to 33–49.[35]

Raptors v. Sixers, 19 December 2005.

In the 2004-05 NBA season, the team moved into the Atlantic Division. One of Babcock's first moves was to pick Rafael Araújo — selected 8th overall — in the 2004 NBA Draft. This move was criticized by fans and analysts.[41] Soon after, franchise player Carter demanded a trade during the offseason.[42] The trade of Carter finally came to fruition mid-season, ending his seven-year tenure with the team. Upon his trade, Carter admitted to not pushing himself as hard as he should have for the past few seasons.[43] In return for Carter, Toronto received Alonzo Mourning, forwards Eric Williams and Aaron Williams, and two mid-to-late future first round picks from the New Jersey Nets. Mourning chose to not report to Toronto, forcing Babcock to buy out the remainder of his contract[44] at a reported $10 million, leaving Mourning free to sign with the Miami Heat. Eric and Aaron Williams were supposed to add defensive toughness and rebounding, but they were generally under-utilized for the entire season. Analysts had predicted Babcock got the bad end of the deal,[45] and the trade eventually cost him his job.

Forward Matt Bonner signing autographs prior to a game.

After three seasons of mediocre regular season records, the departure of Carter firmly placed Toronto at the threshold of a new era. Bosh stepped up to take the helm of franchise player,[46] and performed well in his sophomore campaign, ranking tenth in the league in defensive rebounds.[37] However, in contrast to Bosh's emergence, Araújo struggled to keep a spot in the line-up, and became unpopular among fans and the local media.[47] Although the ACC was often well attended with the Raptors putting up a 22–19 record at home,[48] the Raptors' inability to win on the road (11–30) and poor defensive record made Sam Mitchell's first year as head coach unimpressive. Additionally, Mitchell had problems dealing with Rafer Alston, who openly expressed his unhappiness with Mitchell in a post-game interview.[49] Later in the season, Alston was suspended two games for "conduct detrimental to the team" for reportedly walking out of a scrimmage during practice.[50] Notwithstanding the unrest, in its first season competing in the Atlantic Division, Toronto maintained the same regular season record of 33–49 as the previous season.[46]

The Raptors continued to rebuild during the 2005 NBA Draft, selecting Charlie Villanueva, Joey Graham, Roko Ukic and Uros Slokar. The selection of Villanueva however caused a stir amongst basketball pundits and Raptors fans alike.[51] The Raptors then started their training camp by trading Alston to the Houston Rockets for Mike James, and signed free agent José Calderón as a backup to James. Despite the infusion of new players, Toronto's overall 2005-06 season was a disappointment. They set a franchise record by losing their first nine games[52] and 15 out of their first 16 games.[53] With losses mounting and media scrutiny intensifying, the Raptors hired legendary ex-Purdue coach Gene Keady as an assistant off the bench to help develop the young Raptors team, as well as establish a defensive persona for the team.

Raptors v. Nuggets, 10 March 2006.

But, the Raptors' erratic form was exemplified when on 15 January, 2006, they set a franchise record for points in a game in a 129–103 win over the Knicks after Villanueva hit a three-pointer late in the game;[54] yet less than a week later, the Raptors gave up an 18-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers, and allowed Lakers star Kobe Bryant to score 81 points, the second highest single-game total in NBA history.[55] With media scrutiny intensifying once more and the Raptors entrenched bottom of the league in defensive field goal percentage,[56] Toronto fired GM Rob Babcock soon after.[57] Nevertheless, the 2005-06 season was not a total disaster. Villanueva's play impressed both fans and former critics as he came in second in NBA Rookie of the Year[58] and recorded 48 points in an overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the most points scored by any rookie in franchise history and the most by a rookie in the NBA since 1997.[59] Bosh was also named a reserve forward for the Eastern All-Star Team in the 2006 game,[37] becoming the third Raptor after Vince Carter and Antonio Davis to appear in an All-Star Game. On 27 February, the team named Bryan Colangelo, the 2004 NBA Executive of the Year, the President and GM of the Raptors.[60] Known for his success in transforming a lottery Phoenix team into a 62-win offensive juggernaut, his hiring gave hope to many fans. Still, Toronto ended the season weakly when Bosh suffered a season-ending thumb injury.[61] The Raptors lost 10 in a row after Bosh's injury[62] and finished the season with the 5th worst record (27–55) in the NBA.[63]

Return to the playoffs

Main article: Toronto Raptors 2006-07 season
A packed ACC in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on 3 November 2006. Toronto introduced an alternate logo for the 2006-07 season, seen here in the centre of the court.

The 2006-07 season represented a watershed year for the Raptors franchise as they captured their first ever division title, captured third seed in the Eastern Conference, made the playoffs for the first time in five years, equalled their best ever regular season record, and secured homecourt advantage for the first time in franchise history.[64]

File:Accnov22scoreboard.JPG
The Raptors scoreboard showing Bosh, current leader of the Raptors, 22 November 2006.

The 2006-07 Raptors roster was largely overhauled, including the selection of 2007 NBA Draft number one pick Andrea Bargnani, the acquiring of point guard TJ Ford in exchange for Charlie Villanueva, and the signing of shooting guard Anthony Parker and small forward Jorge Garbajosa.[65] Bosh was given a three-year contract extension,[65] while Maurizio Gherardini of Benetton Treviso was hired as the club’s vice-president and assistant general manager.[66]

The first half of the season produced mixed results as Toronto struggled towards the .500 mark after a 2–8 start.[67] However, Toronto ended the regular season with a 47–35 record, securing them the third seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2007 NBA Playoffs.[68] Bosh recorded career-highs in ppg and rpg,[37] and was voted as a starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.[69] The Raptors were also lauded for their improved defense and ball-sharing over previous seasons.[70] Colangelo, Gherardini and Mitchell were largely credited for Toronto's turnaround this season,[71] which was one of the best in NBA history in terms of league standing and defensive ranking.[72] On 24 April, 2007, the Raptors won their first playoff game in five seasons, with an 89–83 victory over the New Jersey Nets,[73] but lost the series 4–2.[74]

Fanbase

The Raptor Mascot rallying the crowd during a game.

The Raptors have enjoyed a consistent fanbase throughout their history. From 2000 to 2002, the Raptors led the league in sellouts. They drew high attendances in the 2006-07 regular season, averaging 18,258 fans per game—92.2% of the ACC's seating capacity.[75] Combined with the continued popularity of the Raptors, the value of the franchise has risen from US$125 million in 1998 to $315 million today, according to a 2007 Forbes report.[76]

The Raptors are the only NBA team with their own television station, Raptors NBA TV. Their television ratings, however, are considerably lower than other Toronto sports teams and other sporting events shown on Canadian television.[77]

On game day, the fans are usually entertained by the Raptor mascot, the Raptors Dance Pak, and the 4 Korners Raptors Soundcrew during pre-game, time-outs, and intervals. Giveaways are usually bundled with tickets to encourage attendance.

Community service

The Raptors Foundation is the charitable arm of the Raptors, dedicated to assisting Ontario’s registered charities that support programs and sports initiatives for at-risk children and youth. The Foundation strives to lift spirits and change lives for young people by supporting local and provincial organizations that provide recreational, educational and other youth-oriented activities. Through its community ties and with the help of its corporate partners, donors, Raptors players and volunteers, the Foundation has successfully raised more than $14 million since 1995 and reached out to thousands of charities.[78] The Raptors Foundation is one of three parts of the Raptors' community service program. The other projects are Raptors Community Relations and Raptors Basketball Development, both of which focus on providing basketball development programs. The Toronto Raptors lead the NBA for amount of money donated to the community.

Franchise and NBA records

Further information: Toronto Raptors' Accomplishments and Records

Season-by-season records

Note: W = wins, L = losses, % = win–loss %

Season W L % Playoffs Results
Toronto Raptors
1995–96 21 61 .256    
1996–97 30 52 .366    
1997–98 16 66 .195    
1998–99 23 27 .460    
1999–2000 45 37 .549 Lost First Round New York 3, Toronto 0
2000–01 47 35 .573 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals		 Toronto 3, New York 2
Philadelphia 4, Toronto 3
2001–02 42 40 .512 Lost First Round Detroit 3, Toronto 2
2002–03 24 58 .293    
2003–04 33 49 .402    
2004–05 33 49 .402    
2005–06 27 55 .313    
2006–07* 47 35 .573 Lost First Round New Jersey 4, Toronto 2
Totals 388 564 .408    
Playoffs 10 16 .385    

(*) - denotes Division Championship

Notable former players

  • Vince Carter — Raptors' all-time leading scorer; 4 All-Star appearances as a Raptor; NBA Slam Dunk champion.[14]
  • Doug Christie — solid defensive player and helped push the Raptors playoff campaign; all-time team steals leader.
  • Antonio Davis — all-time team rebounds leader; made sole All-Star appearance as a Raptor; led team to playoffs following Vince Carter's season-ending injury in 2002.
  • Tracy McGrady — often overshadowed by Carter, McGrady was the team's defensive stopper; became a perennial All-Star for the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets.
  • Alvin Robertson — scored first NBA points in Raptors history.[79]
  • Jalen Rose — 1999–2000 Most Improved Player of the year;[80] one-time highest-paid Raptor and highest-paid professional athlete in Toronto.[81]
  • Damon Stoudamire — First-ever draft pick and the Raptors' first franchise player; recorded the first triple-double in Raptors history.[3]
  • Alvin Williams — all-time assist leader; hit arguably the biggest shot in franchise history over New York in the 2001 first round, sealing the Raptors' first and only playoff series win.

Current roster

List of head coaches

List of general managers

List of TV commentators

See also

References

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