Toronto Raptors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Toronto Raptors | |
 |
|
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Atlantic |
| Founded | 1995 |
| History | Toronto Raptors (1995–present) |
| Arena | Air Canada Centre |
| City | Toronto, Ontario |
| Team Colors | Red, White, and Black |
| Owner | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. |
| Head Coach | Sam Mitchell |
| Championships | 0 |
| Conference Titles | 0 |
| Division Titles | 0 |
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. They are currently the only National Basketball Association (NBA) club based in Canada and outside of the United States. The team is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
Contents |
[edit] Home arenas
- Air Canada Centre (1999–present)
- Rogers Centre (Formerly Skydome) (1995–1999)
[edit] Franchise history (by seasons)
The Toronto Raptors were established on September 30, 1993 when the NBA awarded its 28th franchise to a group headed by Toronto Businessman John Bitove. The Raptors along with the Vancouver Grizzlies played their first games in 1995. Both teams were the first NBA teams to play in Canada since 1946–47's Toronto Huskies.
[edit] 1995-96
After Isiah Thomas was named the General Manager in 1995, he quickly staffed the management with his own personnel, naming longtime Detroit Pistons assistant Brendan Malone the franchise's first head coach (who was later reunited with Thomas in the Knicks organization in 2003). During the summer of 1995, the league had an expansion draft to fill out the rosters of the new Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. As a result of a coin flip, the Raptors had the first pick of the expansion draft, and selected Chicago Bulls point guard and 3-point specialist BJ Armstrong. In a move that would seem to be a constant theme throughout Toronto's early days, BJ threatened not to come to camp and Isiah Thomas promptly moved him to the Golden State Warriors for power forwards Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander and the rights to 1995 second-round draft picks Dwayne Whitfield, Martin Lewis and Michael McDonald. Thomas selected a wide range of players in the expansion draft, including veterans Jerome Kersey, Willie Anderson and former Pistons teammate John "Spider" Salley.
As Toronto had selected first in the expansion draft, they subsequently selected after the Vancouver Grizzles in the 1995 NBA entry draft. Thomas chose to build the franchise around Damon Stoudamire, a point guard out of Arizona. The Raptors' selection of Stoudamire was met with boos from those present at the 1995 NBA Draft at SkyDome in Toronto, many of whom bought into the hype surrounding the National Player of the Year in the NCAA and NCAA Final Four MVP, UCLA's Ed O'Bannon. However, the selection of Stoudamire proved to be the right choice as he was named the 1995-96 Rookie of the Year by averaging 19 points and 9.3 assists per game. This team will also be known for beating the 72-10 Bulls despite being a first-year franchise.
- Pre Season Record: 3-5
- Record: 21 wins - 61 losses
[edit] 1996-97
The team's win record improved by nine games from its inaugural season and attendance was rising. Analysts predicted a playoff-contending or even a championship caliber team in a matter of a few seasons. Due to NBA regulations, the Raptors as a recent expansion team won the draft lottery but were denied the first overall pick (who turned out to be Allen Iverson) and selected Marcus Camby who was drafted second overall in the 1996 NBA Draft.
- Pre Season Record: 2-6
- Record: 30 wins - 52 losses
[edit] 1997-98
All optimism evaporated when the team was hit by numerous injuries in early 1997-1998 season. Although Thomas was a Hall of Fame point guard and skilled evaluator of talent (as evidenced by his selections of Damon Stoudamire, Marcus Camby and Tracy McGrady), his failed ownership bid for the Raptors led to his resignation. Glen Grunwald, a lawyer and former All-American basketball player was then hired as the Raptors' General Manager. With the exit of his mentor, Stoudamire immediately sought a trade and on February 13, 1998, Toronto's first "franchise player" was shipped to Portland 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. Kenny Anderson refused to report to Toronto and was subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics on February 18, 1998 with Zan Tabak and Popeye Jones for Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, Roy Rogers and John Thomas.
Toronto limped to a 16-66 record and Grunwald faced the unhappy fans on the last game of the season at Maple Leaf Gardens promising better days for Raptors fans. The largest step towards credibilty was taken when in a pre-determined move, Grunwald traded his 4th overall pick Antawn Jamison to the Golden State Warriors for Vince Carter, selected 5th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft.
- Pre Season Record: 4-4
- Record: 16 wins - 66 losses
[edit] 1998-99
In order to bring credibilty to the Raptors, Grunwald traded Camby to the Knicks for a proven veteran in Charles Oakley, whose tough mentality and playoff experience helped the maturity of the young players. Many thought the trade would hurt the team, since he was trading away a promising prospect for an aging veteran. However, Oakley's leadership proved crucial to the success of the 1998-1999 Raptors. The coaching staff temporarily solved the lack of a true point guard by rotating Dee Brown, Alvin Williams and Doug Christie to play the position. This was an excellent move, as Christie greatly refined his defensive game and became one of the elite defenders in NBA. Alvin also showed improvement, on the offensive end. Kevin Willis, another veteran acquired from trade, solidified the center position. The new coach Butch Carter, besides doing an excellent coaching job, also helped develop the young players on the team, especially future All-Star Tracy McGrady. Although the team did not make the playoffs, many were optimistic with the brilliant performances from the Rookie of the Year Vince Carter and a much improved McGrady.
- Pre Season Record:2-0
- Record: 23 wins - 27 losses (a lockout-shortened 50-game schedule)
[edit] 1999-2000
Grunwald decided that the solution to the Raptors' lack of experience and a strong front court presence would have to come from mature veteran players. He also knew that the aging Willis and Oakley would eventually have to play fewer minutes or risk injury. Thus, during the 1999 draft, he decided to trade first-round draft pick Jonathan Bender for veteran power forward Antonio Davis from the Indiana Pacers, who had been forced to play off the bench behind teammate Dale Davis. In the backcourt, 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 Antonio, Oakley and Willis in the front court and the maturation of both Carter and McGrady helped the team make its first ever playoff appearance. However, without significant playoff experience, the Raptors were swept by the New York Knicks in the playoffs.
Progressive team improvements and the ascendancy of Vince Carter attracted many fans around Toronto, many of whom were not previously basketball fans. This was also the first full season at the Air Canada Centre, after four years of games at the cavernous SkyDome.
- Pre Season Record:4-4
- Record: 45 wins - 37 losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs
[edit] 2000-01
Playoff failures (and Butch Carter's media altercations surrounding Marcus Camby) led Grunwald to replace Carter with Lenny Wilkens, who was a Hall-of-Fame coach and player with more than 30 years of coaching experience. In addition, the team finally found a true point guard, when Grunwald signed veteran playmaker Mark Jackson to a 4-year contract with the team. The season marked the emergence of Alvin Williams as a clutch performer. He scored three quarters of his points in the 4th quarter during regular season. Jackson was later traded to give more minutes for Williams.
As Vince Carter familarised himself with the shooting guard position and played less time at small forward, Christie became expendable and was traded for forward Corliss Williamson. However, he was a disappointment and was traded during the season for defensive workhorse Jerome Williams. The loss of former star small forward Tracy McGrady was also a factor in the Williamson trade. 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, Raptors management decided to trade McGrady to the Magic during the 2000 offseason for a first-round draft pick in a sign-and-trade deal.
As predicted by analysts, the team clinched a playoff berth without much difficulty. Toronto beat New York in the first round. 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. In addition, Charles Oakley's remarks incited Vince to "play it like a man", and steady contribution from Antonio Davis prevailed over the less-talented Knicks.
The next series against the Philadelphia 76ers was a landmark for the Toronto Raptors: exciting, entertaining play, and the best playoff performance so far. 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 center whereas Toronto counteracted with a fast-break offense with their shorter but quicker players. The series came down to the last 4 seconds of Game 7, when Vince Carter narrowly missed a fadeaway jumper hitting the back rim, losing the series by 1 point. Carter was widely criticized for attending his graduation ceremony at the University of North Carolina the morning of Game 7. Despite the loss, the season is generally considered the high water mark for the franchise.
- Pre Season Record:4-4
- Record: 47 wins - 35 losses; eliminated in the second round of the playoffs
[edit] 2001-02
The Raptors' exciting playoff performance attracted even more fans and put unprecedented trust from the owners on Grunwald. In an attempt to satisfy Vince Carter so that he would re-sign with the team, long-term contracts were given to Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Davis, and former All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon was signed, to provide Carter with a good supporting cast. Although the team was guaranteed a powerful starting line-up for one season, it was a dangerous gamble as overall player salary almost reached the cap, making significant free-agent signing impossible. Expiring contracts had also been traded away, so unless the Raptors succeeded with their 2001-02 lineup, it was unlikely they would remain a very competitive team.
The Raptors were seemingly on their way to another competitive season, with a 29-21 record going into the All-Star break. For the third consecutive year, Carter was the top vote-getter for the All-Star game. Unfortunately, the increasingly injury-prone Carter was hit with another bout of "jumper's knee" (tendinitis) that forced him to sit out the All-Star game and the rest of the season.
Without their franchise player, the Raptors went through a horrific stretch where they lost 17 of their next 18 games. 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. This remarkable comeback was characterized by some of the Raptors' best defensive games of the season, along with inspired performances by Antonio Davis and Keon Clark.
However, Carter's offense was sorely missed in the first-round series against the second-seeded Detroit Pistons. In the first game, Detroit blew out Toronto 83-65 behind Ben Wallace's monster performance of 19 points, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. After falling behind 0-2, Toronto won the next 2 games at home to force a deciding Game 5 in Detroit.
Game 5 was tightly contested until the very end, despite a poor 5-point (1-of-10 from the field) performance from Detroit's leading scorer Jerry Stackhouse. With nearly ten seconds left in the game, the Raptors were down 85-82 with possession of the ball. Chris Childs raced down the court and jacked up a wild three-pointer that missed badly, apparently trying to draw a foul on the play, instead of passing to a wide-open Dell Curry (Toronto's best 3-point gunner). In a post-game locker room interview, Childs repeatedly insisted that the Raptors had been down 4 points, not 3.
If the Raptors' late-season resurrection was a "miraculous comeback", then their subsequent playoff exit had to be a colossal disappointment. Unfortunately, the Hakeem Olajuwon experiment had been a bust, with Olajuwon averaging career lows in minutes, points and rebounds. And key components of the team's limited success left through free agency or retirement: Chris Childs, Keon Clark, and Dell Curry. It was pretty clear, that for better or worse, the Raptors would be a very different team the next season.
- Pre Season Record: 5-2
- Record: 42 wins - 40 losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs
[edit] 2002-03
The 2002-03 season began with the same optimism that the Raptors furnished in three straight playoff appearances. However, right from the beginning of the season that optimism was lost: Carter went through a series of injuries, Davis started to express disinterest in Toronto (reportedly because his wife could not land a TV job in Toronto) and Wilkens' laissez-fair attitude created a team that lacked the motivation and spirit of the previous years' teams. The team was ravaged with injuries, losing an NBA record number of player games due to injury. From day one, the Toronto media went straight for the jugular when it came to Wilkens, chastizing him for his inability- or, perhaps, unwillingness- to really clamp down on his players when he had to (The Toronto Star's Dave Perkins once wrote that all Wilkens could do during a game where the Raptors self-destructed was sit and stand, instead of yelling at his players like Perkins says he should have been doing). This was the year that Wilkens overtook Bill Fitch for the lead in most losses by a NBA coach, with his loss total getting dangerously close to his win total. At the end of the disastrous season (a year marred by defensive breakdowns that still occur today), Wilkens was unceremoniously dumped, ending a three-year stint with the team that started with so much promise but ended with too much disappointment.
- Pre Season Record: 3-5
- Record: 24 wins - 58 losses
[edit] 2003-04
The Raptors were inconsistent throughout 2003-04, partly due to injuries to key players Jalen Rose, Alvin Williams and Vince Carter, with Davis and Jerome Williams traded early in the season for Rose and Donyell Marshall. After 50 games, though, they were 25-25 and in position to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Raptors suffered key injuries. This time, Jalen Rose missed sixteen games with a broken hand (from Feb. 10 to March 10). Carter also missed six games during that period of time, with a sprained ankle. While Rose was injured, the team lost 13 of 16, including a nine-game losing streak in February, dealing them a serious blow in the standings.
With eight games to go in the regular season, the Raptors fired Glen Grunwald, the general manager on April 1. Grunwald had been the GM since 1997. The Raptors finished up the season 3 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The star individual performers were Carter, with 22.5 points per game, Donyell Marshall, who led the team with 10.7 rebounds per game, and rookie Chris Bosh, a 6-10 forward-center who averaged 11.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Immediately following the season, on April 17, head coach Kevin O'Neill was fired after making some remarks which were taken to question the team's commitment to winning. He was replaced with Sam Mitchell, a former NBA forward who had been an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks the previous two seasons. Rob Babcock was named general manager on June 7, 2004.
- Pre Season Record:5-2
- Record: 33 wins - 49 losses; 10th in the Eastern Conference
[edit] 2004-05
With new GM, Rob Babcock, new assistant general manager, hall of fame ex-general manager and player Wayne Embry, new director of player personnel, Alex English, and head coach Sam Mitchell, it was evident that restructuring of the organization was in operation. Soon after, franchise player Vince Carter, demanded a trade during the off season. The eventual trade of Carter finally came to fruition mid-season, ending his seven-year tenure with the team. Later in the year Carter admitted to half-hearted on court performances, forcing Rob Babcock to trade him.
In return for Carter, the Raptors received former All-Star Alonzo Mourning, forwards Eric Williams and Aaron Williams, and two mid-to-late future first round picks from the New Jersey Nets (Joey Graham, picked 16th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft). Mourning chose to not report to Toronto, forcing Babcock to buy out the remainder of his contract at a reported $10 million, leaving Mourning free to sign with the Miami Heat, where he had spent seven years of his career prior. Eric and Aaaron Williams were believed to be able to add defensive toughness and rebounding; however, they saw few minutes, and were generally under-utilized for the entire season. Many fans believed that first year GM Babcock got the bad end of the deal, and there were calls from Raptors fans for Babcock to step down.
After the Carter trade, Chris Bosh stepped up to take the helm of franchise player, and performed admirably in his sophomore campaign; he ranked tenth in the league in defensive rebounds for the season. However, in constrast to Bosh's emergence, rookie first round draft pick Rafael Araújo struggled to keep a spot in the line-up, and became unpopular among fans and the local media.
Veterans Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall also shined on an otherwise lacklustre team. There was much speculation that Marshall would be traded before the trade deadline since he would be a free agent after the season. However, Babcock held on to Marshall, a move which many believe contributed to an identity crisis for a team that was committed to neither rebuilding nor winning. Nevertheless, Marshall would eventually have a good finish to his 2004-05 campaign.
The Raptors' inability to win on the road (11-30) and generally poor defense made Sam Mitchell's first year as head coach unimpressive. However, the home fans were generally entertained as the team managed to thrive off the often well attended Air Canada Centre putting up a record of 22-19 at home. Coach Mitchell was also mired in controversies off the court. Of note, point guard Rafer Alston in a post-game interview contemplated retiring after a tough loss, as he continued to butt heads with Mitchell. Later in the season, Alston was suspended two games for "conduct detrimental to the team" for reportedly walking out of a scrimmage practice. In addition, Eric Williams requested a trade, unhappy with the lack of minutes he was receiving. Vince Carter's mother also made comments to the media about an alleged "wrestling match" that took place in the locker room between the coach and her son prior to his departure.
- Pre Season Record:3-5
- Record: 33 wins - 49 losses; 4th in Atlantic Division, 11th in Eastern Conference
[edit] 2005-06
The Raptors' 2005-06 season was viewed as a disappointment. They lost fifteen out of their first sixteen games, and eventually finished last in the league in defensive field goal percentage. One of the most notable moments of the season came when the team gave up an 18-point lead to the Los Angeles Lakers in a January 22, 2006 game, and allowed Lakers star Kobe Bryant to score 81 points, the second highest single-game total in NBA history.
The Raptors entered the 2005 NBA Draft with two first round picks (7th and 16th) and two second round picks (41st and 58th). They selected Charlie Villanueva (7th overall) out of Connecticut and Joey Graham (16th overall) out of Oklahoma State. In the second round, they selected Roko Ukic (41st overall) out of KK Split (Croatia) and Uros Slokar (58th overall) out of Snaidero Udine (Italy). Once again, the Raptors' high selection of a player ranked much lower in the draft (Villanueva) caused a stir amongst basketball pundits and Raptors fans alike. Many fans feared a repeat of the Rafael Araujo situation. However, those fears were soon put to rest as Villanueva's play impressed both fans and former critics alike, more than justifying his selection number. He was among the top performers of the season out of his draft class, coming in 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting to Chris Paul of the Hornets.
After a quiet offseason, the Raptors started their training camp by trading Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets for Mike James. To back up starting point guard James, the Raptors signed free agentJosé Calderón, who had played the last six seasons in Spain. The Raptors also re-signed Pape Sow and Matt Bonner, but lost Donyell Marshall to free agency and released Lamond Murray.
The Toronto Raptors started the 2005-06 season on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 with a loss against the Washington Wizards at the Air Canada Centre. Over the next two and a half weeks, the Raptors set a franchise record by losing their first nine games of the season. The losing streak ended with a surprisingly decisive victory over the Miami Heat (albeit minus Shaquille O'Neal) on November 20, 2005.
With losses mounting and media scrutiny intensifying, Raptors management hired legendary ex-Purdue coach Gene Keady as an assistant off the bench, helping develop the young nucleus of Raptors as well as establishing a defensive persona for the team.
On January 15, 2006, the Raptors set a franchise record for points in a game with a 129-103 win over the Knicks when Charlie Villanueva hit a 3 pointer late in the game. In contrasting conditions however, on January 22, 2006, the Raptors found themselves on the wrong side of history, gaining the dubious distinction of being the team Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against.
With media scrutiny intensifying once more, it was announced on January 26, 2006, that the Raptors had fired GM Rob Babcock. on an interim basis. On February 2, 2006 interim GM Wayne Embry completed the trade his predecessor was well known to be hesitant on, sending the maligned Jalen Rose, a first round draft pick and cash to the New York Knicks in exchange for one-time Raptor Antonio Davis. Unlike Rose, Davis was in the final year of his contract, which would free up payroll with which to sign free agents in the off-season. Davis was later released on March 24, 2006 after suffering a serious back injury from being fouled by the Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem.
Days after the Davis-Rose trade, budding superstar Chris Bosh was named a reserve forward for the Eastern All-Star Team in the '06 game in Houston, Texas. Bosh was the third Raptor to suit up in an All-Star Game, following Vince Carter and Antonio Davis.
On February 22, Raptors management reportedly finalized a contract that would see Suns President/GM Bryan Colangelo as the successor to Babcock. The official announcement of Colangelo's hiring was made in a press conference on February 28, 2006.
On March 10, Mike James tied the record for most consecutive games with a 3 point field goal against the Denver Nuggets. On March 12th, the Raptors set a new NBA record with most consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal. Morris Peterson shot the record breaking 3 pointer against the Indiana Pacers. They have had 629 games with 3 pointers as of November 29, 2006.
On March 26 Charlie Villanueva proved his critics wrong again by scoring 48 points in a 9 point overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the most points scored by any rookie in franchise history and equaling Vince Carter (2000) for the second highest point total in a regular-season game by a Raptor. Earlier in the same game, Chris Bosh suffered a season-ending thumb injury. The Raptors would go on to lose 10 in a row after Bosh's injury.
On April 14, the Raptors unexpectedly halted their losing streak with a win against the Detroit Pistons, preventing them from clinching the NBA's best record. Mike James scored a career-high 39 points in the game, with 20 in the 4th quarter alone. He hit 8 straight free throws to finish the game, leading him to a franchise record for consecutive free throws in a single game without a miss, at 18-18 from the line. While stopping their 10 game slide, the win, combined with a loss the same night by the Atlanta Hawks, all but guaranteed that the Raptors would finish the season with the 5th worst record heading into the 2006 NBA draft.
- Pre Season Record: 3-5
- Final Record: 27 wins, 55 losses, 4th Atlantic Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference.
[edit] Present
At present, the Toronto Raptors have an excellent, but success-starved fan base. Despite having only one playoff series victory in franchise history, the Raptors continue to draw attendances in the top half of the NBA. The Toronto Raptors are the only team granted permission to have their own TV Station as they are "Canada's Team" which allows them to broadcast games nationally. The Raptors have struggled especially after the trading away of Vince Carter, in which the team received relatively little in return. In an attempt to change this, the Raptors fired General Manager Rob Babcock and replaced him with interim GM Wayne Embry on January 26, 2006. On February 27, 2006, the team named former Phoenix Suns President and GM Bryan Colangelo, the 2005 NBA Executive of the Year, the President and General Manager of the Raptors. Known for his success in revamping a lottery Phoenix team into a 62-win offensive juggernaut, his hiring gave hope to many fans, leading to record season ticket renewal rates (91%).
The beginning of the new era began with Toronto jumping 5 places in the NBA Draft Lottery to win the 1st overall pick. In preparation for their eventual draft choice, the Raptors traded their 2004, 8th pick Rafael Araujo to the Utah Jazz for their 2004 14th pick Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley on Thursday, June 8, 2006. On Wednesday, June 21, 2006 the Toronto Raptors traded Matt Bonner, Eric Williams and a second round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to the San Antonio Spurs for Rasho Nesterovic and cash considerations.
They utilised their 1st overall pick on June 28, 2006 to select Italian prodigy Andrea Bargnani, making him the first European drafted number one overall. This followed the hiring of Benetton Treviso general manager and European executive guru Maurizio Gherardini as the club’s vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager on June 22, 2006, making him the first European elevated to an NBA executive job. Colangelo swiftly moved to round up the roster, controversially trading 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up Charlie Villanueva to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for TJ Ford and cash considerations on June 30, 2006. Chris Bosh was rewarded with a three year extension worth approximately $60 million (USD), with a player option for a fourth year.
Colangelo continued to surround All-Star Bosh with complementary players. On July 13, the Toronto Raptors signed the 2-time consecutive Euroleague MVP Guard/Forward Anthony Parker from Maccabi Tel Aviv. They later picked up John Salmons via sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, but Salmons backed out of the contract and did not join the Raptors. He was basically replaced by the twin signings of free-agent forward Jorge Garbajosa on July 24, and free-agent guard Fred Jones on July 26. Garbajosa, signed to a multi-year contract, has much experience playing with Raptors guard Jose Calderon, as they have played on the Spanish national team together. Jones, signed to a three-year deal worth $11 million, had spent the first four years of his career with the Indiana Pacers and is best known for his victory at the 2004 slam dunk contest, where he de-throned two time defending champion Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors.
The Raptors changed their colour scheme and uniforms for the 2006-07 season, downplaying the original dinosaur logo and removing the purple elements of the team jerseys in favour of the newer "paw-print" logo and the colour red. This was likely the next step in a recent campaign to promote the Raptors as "Canada's team" - an ongoing effort on the part of the organization since the departure of the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis in 2002, and which has included the introduction of a popular red alternate jersey with the maple leaf prominently featured, the dropping of "Toronto" from the team's road jerseys and a red repaint of the Air Canada Centre's hardwood floor.
On September 29, the Toronto Raptors re-signed The 11-year point guard Veteran Darrick Martin wrapping up the offseason transactions for Byran Colangelo.
On October 15, the 119 points by Toronto marks the third highest total in a preseason game in franchise history (124, Oct. 15, 1997 vs. Philadelphia and 120, October 14, 1995 vs. Philadelphia in Halifax).[1]. On October 27, the Toronto Raptors finished the pre-season 7-1; the best record in the league, and a franchise record. The Raptors franchise also announced the "Nicholson seats" (two pairs of seats, one pair adjoining each bench to the scorers table) that cost $1500/season because of their proximity to the team and the basketball court; they are sold out for the season.
Pre-Season Record: 7-1 Regular Season Record: 7-14
[edit] Raptors accomplishments
- Further information: Toronto Raptors' Accomplishments and Records
[edit] Notable individual player records
- Playoff record for most three-point field goals in one half with 8 - Vince Carter, Toronto vs. Philadelphia, May 11, 2001
- Playoff record for most three-point field goals in one game with 9 - Vince Carter, Toronto vs. Philadelphia, May 11, 2001 (tied with Rex Chapman, Phoenix at Seattle, April 25, 1997 and Ray Allen, Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia, June 1, 2001)
- NBA record for most three point field goals in one game with 12 - Donyell Marshall, Toronto vs. Philadelphia, March 13, 2005 (tied with Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers vs. Seattle, January 7, 2003)
- Franchise record for most points scored by a rookie with 48 - Charlie Villanueva, Toronto vs. Milwaukee, March 26, 2006
- Franchise record for most consecutive free throws without a miss in one game by shooting 18 of 18 from the free throw line - Mike James, Detroit vs. Toronto, April 14, 2006
[edit] 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 | 7 | 14 | .333 | ||
| Totals | 344 | 538 | .390 | ||
| Playoffs | 8 | 12 | .400 | ||
(*) current league standing Stats updated December 12, 2006
[edit] Not to be forgotten
- Rafael Araujo – Known for being from Brazil.
- Matt Bonner – named the "Red Rocket" for his recognizable red hair and because he used the TTC streetcar lines (nicknamed the "Rocket") as his primary mode of transportation in Toronto due to his frugal ways.
- Marcus Camby – All-time team blocks leader; Selected #2 overall in 1996 (team won first pick in lottery but league rules prevented expansion team picking first for several seasons).
- Vince Carter – Raptors' all-time leading scorer, a Raptors record 4 all-star appearances and a notable Slam Dunk champion.
- Doug Christie – transformed himself into an elite defender and helped push the Raptors playoff campaign; all-time team steals leader.
- Keon Clark
- Dell Curry – Veteran sharpshooter
- Antonio Davis – All-time team rebounds leader; one-time all star while in Toronto; led team to most recent playoff series after Vince Carter suffered season-ending injury.
- Mike James
- Donyell Marshall – made 12 of 17 three-point field goals in a single game as a Raptor, tying the NBA record of 12 made three-pointers in a game (tied with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers).
- Tracy McGrady – often overshadowed by superstar cousin Vince Carter as a Raptor, McGrady was the team's defensive stopper, and represented the team at the Slam Dunk competition (which was won by Carter) while in Canada; he would go on to become a perennial all-star for the Orlando Magic, and most recently, for the Houston Rockets.
- Alonzo Mourning – Managed to make $10 million without stepping foot in Canada.
- Charles Oakley – arguably the greatest locker-room leader for the Raptors.
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Alvin Robertson – scored first NBA points in Raptors history.
- Jalen Rose – 1999-2000 Most Improved Player of the year; one-time team leader for the Raptors; one of the Raptors' most gifted scorers; one-time highest paid Raptor and highest paid professional athlete in Toronto.
- Damon Stoudamire – Raptors' first draft selection and first legitimate franchise player, and recorded the first triple-double in Raptors history, with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, against the Seattle SuperSonics on November 21, 1996. Famous for walking through an airport metal detector with tin-foil wrapped marijuana in his pocket.
- Charlie Villanueva – was NBA Rookie of the Year runner up in 2006 and was known for his help with kids with alopecia areata and being a fan favourite in Toronto. Scored 48 points in a game against the Bucks,the most points scored by a rookie since Allen Iverson.
- Alvin Williams – All-time assist leader; long considered "the heart and soul of the Raptors"; hit arguably the biggest shot in franchise history over New York in the 2001 1st round, sealing the Raptors' first and only playoff series win.
- Jerome Williams – Fan favourite as "The Junkyard Dog" (JYD), currently the Raptors' community representative.
[edit] Current roster
| Toronto Raptors Current Roster |
||||
| Head Coach: Sam Mitchell | Edit | |||
| F | 7 |  |
Andrea Bargnani | (Italy) |
| PF | 4 |  |
Chris Bosh | (Georgia Tech) |
| G | 8 |  |
José Calderón | (Spain) |
| PG | 11 | |
T.J. Ford | (Texas) |
| F | 15 | |
Jorge Garbajosa | (Spain) |
| SF | 14 | |
Joey Graham | (Oklahoma State) |
| PF | 43 | |
Kris Humphries | (Minnesota) |
| SG | 20 | |
Fred Jones | (Oregon) |
| PG | 2 | |
Darrick Martin | (UCLA) |
| C | 12 |  |
Rasho Nesterović | (Slovenia) |
| G/F | 18 | |
Anthony Parker | (Bradley) |
| G/F | 24 | |
Morris Peterson - Captain | (Michigan State) |
| F/C | 10 | |
Uroš Slokar | (Slovenia) |
| PF | 9 |  |
Pape Sow | (Cal State Fullerton) |
| F | 1 | |
P.J. Tucker | (Texas) |
| (IL) - Inactive List | Toronto Raptors | |||
[edit] List of Head Coaches
- 1995 – 1996: Brendan Malone
- 1996 – Feb 1998: Darrell Walker
- Feb 1998 – 2000: Butch Carter
- 2000 – 2003: Lenny Wilkens
- 2003 – 2004: Kevin O'Neill
- Current: Sam Mitchell (hired on June 29, 2004)
[edit] List of General Managers
- 1995 – March 1998: Isiah Thomas
- March 1998 – April 2004: Glen Grunwald
- April 2004 – June 2004 (Interim): Jack McCloskey
- June 2004 – January 2006: Rob Babcock
- January 2006 – February 2006 (Interim): Wayne Embry
- Current: Bryan Colangelo (hired on February 28, 2006)
[edit] List of TV commentators
- Chuck Swirsky
- Jack Armstrong (Raptors NBA TV and Rogers Sportsnet)
- Leo Rautins (The Score and TSN)
- Sherman Hamilton (Used once when Chuck was sick during the 05-06 season)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Toronto Raptors official web site
- Official Toronto Raptors Summer Pro League web site
- History of amateur and professional basketball in Canada at Frozen Hoops
- Toronto Sports Fever || All Toronto Sports. All the Time.
- Raptorblog - Fan Site Blog since 2002
