Toronto Raptors facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toronto Raptors |
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| Conference | Eastern | ||||
| Division | Atlantic | ||||
| Founded | 1995 | ||||
| History | Toronto Raptors 1995–present |
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| Arena | Scotiabank Arena | ||||
| Location | Toronto, Ontario | ||||
| Team colours | Red, black, purple, gold, white |
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| Main sponsor | Sun Life Financial | ||||
| President | Vacant | ||||
| General manager | Bobby Webster | ||||
| Head coach | Darko Rajaković | ||||
| Ownership | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment | ||||
| Affiliation(s) | Raptors 905 | ||||
| Championships | 1 (2019) | ||||
| Conference titles | 1 (2019) | ||||
| Division titles | 7 (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) | ||||
| Retired numbers | 1 (15) | ||||
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The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team from Toronto, Canada. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Raptors are part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
Their home games are played at Scotiabank Arena. They share this arena with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. The Raptors started in 1995 as one of two new Canadian NBA teams. The other team, the Vancouver Grizzlies, moved to Memphis in 2001. Since then, the Raptors have been the only Canadian team in the NBA.
Like many new teams, the Raptors had a tough start. But things changed when Vince Carter joined in 1998. He helped the team reach the NBA playoffs several times. In 2001, they won their first playoff series.
After Carter left, Chris Bosh became the team's star. The Raptors won their division title in 2007. They made the playoffs again in 2008. After Bosh left in 2010, the team went through another rebuilding phase.
In 2013, Masai Ujiri became the general manager. He brought in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. This duo led the Raptors back to the playoffs. They won five division titles under Ujiri. In 2018, they had their best regular season ever.
To try and win a championship, Ujiri traded DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in 2018. They also added Marc Gasol. Pascal Siakam also became a star player. In 2019, the Raptors won their first Eastern Conference title. They then won their first NBA championship!
After the championship, Leonard left the team. Kyle Lowry also left in 2021. Pascal Siakam became the main player until 2024. Now, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the team.
Contents
Team History
How the Raptors Started
Basketball has a history in Toronto. The Toronto Huskies played the first-ever NBA game in 1946. But the Huskies team only lasted one season. Interest in bringing the NBA back to Toronto grew in the late 1980s. The NBA even held exhibition games in Toronto that drew huge crowds.
In 1993, a group led by John Bitove was awarded an NBA team for Toronto. The team was officially created on November 4, 1993. The cost was a record $125 million. The Raptors played their first game on November 3, 1995.
Naming the Team
People first wanted to bring back the "Huskies" name. But it was too similar to the Minnesota Timberwolves logo. So, a contest was held to name the team. Over 2,000 ideas were submitted.
The name "Toronto Raptors" was chosen in May 1994. This name was inspired by the popular 1993 movie Jurassic Park. The movie featured dinosaurs called Velociraptors. The team's first general manager was Isiah Thomas. The team colors were bright red, purple, black, and silver. Silver was chosen to honor James Naismith, the Canadian inventor of basketball.
Early Years: 1995–1999
As a new team, the Raptors struggled at first. They picked Damon Stoudamire in the 1995 NBA draft. Stoudamire played very well and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1996.
In 1998, the team made a big trade. They got Vince Carter in a draft-day trade. Carter quickly became a star player. They also added veteran player Charles Oakley. The team started to improve, even though they didn't make the playoffs right away.
Vince Carter Era: 1999–2002
In 1999, the Raptors moved to their new home, the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). They also traded for Antonio Davis, who became an All-Star. With Carter leading the way, the Raptors made their first-ever playoff appearance. They lost to the New York Knicks.
Before the 2000–01 season, Lenny Wilkens, a Hall of Fame coach, joined the team. Star player Tracy McGrady left to join the Orlando Magic. Despite this, the Raptors had a great season. They won a franchise-high 47 games. They also won their first playoff series against the New York Knicks.
They then faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was a very exciting series that went to Game 7. The Raptors lost by a small margin. This season is remembered as a highlight for the team.
In 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies moved. This made the Raptors the only Canadian NBA team. In the 2001–02 season, Vince Carter got injured. The team struggled but still made the playoffs. They lost to the Detroit Pistons in the first round.
Rebuilding Years: 2002–2006
The 2002–03 season was tough. Carter was injured again. The team had many injuries and finished with a poor record. Coach Wilkens was fired. This bad season led to a good outcome: the Raptors got the fourth pick in the 2003 NBA draft. They used it to pick Chris Bosh.
In 2004, the Raptors moved to the Atlantic Division. The team's general manager, Glen Grunwald, was fired. Rob Babcock took over. Vince Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2004. This trade was seen as a bad deal for the Raptors.
Chris Bosh became the team's new leader. He played very well in his second season. The team continued to struggle with winning games. In 2006, Bryan Colangelo became the new general manager. Fans hoped he would turn the team around.
Chris Bosh Era: 2006–2010
The 2006–07 season was a big turning point. The team added new players like Andrea Bargnani (the number one draft pick), T. J. Ford, Anthony Parker, and Jorge Garbajosa. Chris Bosh signed a new contract.
The Raptors improved a lot. They finished with a 47–35 record. They won the Atlantic Division title and made the playoffs. Coach Sam Mitchell was named NBA Coach of the Year. Colangelo was named Executive of the Year. The Raptors lost to the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs.
In the 2007–08 season, injuries hurt the team. They still made the playoffs but lost to the Orlando Magic. Before the 2008–09 season, the Raptors traded for Jermaine O'Neal. But the team was still inconsistent. Coach Mitchell was fired and replaced by Jay Triano. The Raptors missed the playoffs.
In 2009–10, the team tried to build around Chris Bosh. They drafted DeMar DeRozan and signed Hedo Türkoğlu. Bosh had a great season, but an injury ended it early. The Raptors missed the playoffs again.
Rebuilding Again: 2010–2013
In 2010, Chris Bosh left to join the Miami Heat. The Raptors entered another rebuilding phase. They drafted Ed Davis. Dwane Casey became the new head coach in 2011.
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In 2011, the Raptors drafted Jonas Valančiūnas. In 2012, they traded for point guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry, Valančiūnas, and Terrence Ross were part of the new team. In 2013, the Raptors traded for Rudy Gay. The team finished the 2012–13 season with a losing record.
DeRozan and Lowry Era: 2013–2018
In 2013, Masai Ujiri became the new general manager. He made some trades to improve the team. The Raptors started the 2013–14 season slowly. But after a trade involving Rudy Gay, they played much better.
The Raptors made the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They also won the Atlantic Division title. They finished with a franchise-high 48 wins. They faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and lost in a close Game 7.
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In the 2014–15 season, the Raptors had their best start ever. They won the Atlantic Division title again. They finished with 49 wins, a new franchise record. Louis Williams won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. However, the Raptors were swept by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the playoffs.
In 2015, the Raptors started their own minor league team, the Raptors 905. They also added new players like DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph. In 2016, the Raptors hosted the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. They achieved their first-ever 50-win season. They won the Atlantic Division for the third year in a row.
The Raptors won their first playoff series in 15 years in 2016. They then won another series to reach the NBA Conference Finals for the first time. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2017, they traded for Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker. They made the playoffs but lost to the Cavaliers again.
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In 2018, DeMar DeRozan scored a franchise-record 52 points. The Raptors became the first team to clinch a playoff spot that season. They also won the Eastern Conference regular season title. They set new records with 59 wins and 33 home wins. The Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards in the first round of the playoffs. But they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Coach Casey was fired and Nick Nurse became the new head coach.
First Championship Season: 2018–2019
The Raptors made big changes for the 2018–19 season. They traded DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. They also traded for Marc Gasol. The team started the season with a franchise-record 6–0 start.
Even with Leonard resting for some games, the Raptors finished second in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. In the next round, they beat the Philadelphia 76ers in a very close Game 7. Kawhi Leonard made a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The Raptors then faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. After losing the first two games, Toronto won four in a row. This sent them to the NBA Finals for the first time ever. They played against the two-time defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors won the series 4–2, becoming NBA champions! Leonard was named Finals MVP. This was the first NBA title for a team outside the United States.
Recent Seasons: 2019–Present
After winning the championship, Kawhi Leonard left the team. Despite this, the Raptors had a great 2019–20 season. They won 53 games in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their winning percentage was the best in franchise history. Coach Nick Nurse was named Coach of the Year. Pascal Siakam became an All-Star.
In the playoffs, held in a "bubble" due to the pandemic, the Raptors swept the Brooklyn Nets. They then faced the Boston Celtics in a tough seven-game series, which they lost.
Due to travel restrictions, the Raptors played their home games in Tampa, Florida, for the 2020–21 season. They missed the playoffs that year. In the 2021 NBA draft, the Raptors selected Scottie Barnes with the fourth pick.
Before the 2021–22 season, Kyle Lowry was traded to the Miami Heat. The Raptors returned to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Despite injuries, they won 48 games and made the playoffs. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Scottie Barnes was named the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year.
In December 2023, the Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks. In January 2024, Pascal Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers. This made Scottie Barnes the main player for the team. Injuries affected the team for the rest of the 2023–24 season. Scottie Barnes was still selected for the All-Star Game. Masai Ujiri was not re-signed after the 2025 NBA Finals.
Season Records
Here are the Raptors' records for the last five seasons:
| Season | GP | W | L | W–L% | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 72 | 27 | 45 | .375 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 3rd, Atlantic | Lost in first round, 2–4 (76ers) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 25 | 57 | .305 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 30 | 52 | .366 | 3rd, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
Team Logos and Uniforms
Logos
The Raptors' first logo featured a red Velociraptor dinosaur dribbling a basketball. This was popular because of the movie Jurassic Park. The team's original colors were purple, bright red, black, and silver. By the end of 1994, the Raptors were seventh in the league for merchandise sales. In 2008, the team removed purple from its logo and uniforms.
On December 19, 2014, the Raptors showed off a new main logo. It is a circular shield with a basketball that looks like it's been torn by a raptor.
Uniforms
Uniform Changes Over Time
The Raptors' first uniforms (1995–1999) had black and white pinstripes. They also featured a large Velociraptor dribbling a basketball on the front. In 1999, they introduced new jerseys. One unique road jersey was purple in the front and black in the back. In 2003, a solid red alternate jersey was added. This red jersey became the main road jersey after 2006. From 2008 to 2015, the Raptors also had black alternate road uniforms.
- 1995−1998
    Home
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  Road
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
- 1999−2006
  Home
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  Road
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  2003–05 Alt.
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
- 2006−2015
  Home
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Road
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  2008 Road Alt.
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
2015 Uniform Redesign
On August 3, 2015, the Raptors revealed four new uniforms. These designs honored Toronto and Canada. The main colors became red and white, Canada's national colors. Black and silver were used for trim. The new uniforms had chevrons (V-shapes) on the side panels pointing upwards. This matched their slogan, "We The North." The shorts also featured a maple leaf logo and the letter "T" for Toronto.
- 2015−2017
  Home
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  Road
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  Road Alt.
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  Road (OVO)
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
Uniforms from 2017 Onward
In 2017, the NBA partnered with Nike. Each team received four main uniforms. The Raptors made small changes to their home ("Association edition") and road ("Icon edition") uniforms. They also had "Statement edition" uniforms. New "City edition" uniforms were created to celebrate each team's city history. The Raptors also received "Earned edition" uniforms for making the playoffs. The 2021–22 "City edition" brought back the original Velociraptor logo in black and gold.
Primary uniforms
- (2017−2020)
  Association
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  Icon
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  Statement
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
- (2020−)
  Association
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  Icon
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  Statement
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
- City editions (2017−)
  2017−18
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  2018−19
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  2019−20
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  2020−21
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  2021−22
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
- Earned editions (2018−)
  2018−19
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  2020−21
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
Jersey Sponsors
Since the 2017–18 season, Sun Life Financial has been the team's jersey sponsor.
Special Jerseys
The Raptors have worn special "throwback" jerseys to honor the Toronto Huskies. These blue and white uniforms look like what the Huskies wore in 1946. They are used during special "Huskies Nights."
The team also has special red Chinese New Year jerseys. These jerseys feature "Toronto" in traditional Chinese characters. They also have a Chinese dragon design. Other special jerseys include green ones for Saint Patrick's Day and camouflage uniforms for events with the Canadian Armed Forces. They also wear black and gold "Welcome Toronto" jerseys designed by rapper Drake.
- Special
  Huskies Night (2016–17)
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  Chinese New Year (2016–17)
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  Saint Patrick's Day (2007–12)
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  CAF Appr'n (2012)
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Source: jerseymuseum.org
Home Arenas
| Arenas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arena | Games played | Tenure |
| SkyDome | 117 | 1995–1999 |
| Maple Leaf Gardens | 6 | |
| Copps Coliseum | 3 | |
| Scotiabank Arena | 710 | 1999–2020, 2021–present |
| Amalie Arena | 37 | 2020–2021 |
- OVO Athletic Centre (Practice facility: 2016–present)
Team Personnel
Retired Numbers
The Raptors honor special players by retiring their jersey numbers. These numbers hang from the ceiling at Scotiabank Arena.
| Toronto Raptors retired numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Date |
| 15 | Vince Carter | G/F | 1998–2004 | November 2, 2024 |
- The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its teams in 2022.
Basketball Hall of Famers
Several players and coaches who were part of the Raptors have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
| Toronto Raptors Hall of Famers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
| 34 | Hakeem Olajuwon | C | 2001–2002 | 2008 |
| 1 | Tracy McGrady | G/F | 1997–2000 | 2017 |
| 4 | Chris Bosh2 | C/F | 2003–2010 | 2021 |
| 3 | Chauncey Billups | G | 1998 | 2024 |
| 15 | Vince Carter | G/F | 1998–2004 | 2024 |
| Coaches | ||||
| Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted | |
| Lenny Wilkens1 | Head coach | 2000–2003 | 1998 | |
| Gene Keady | Assistant coach | 2005–2006 | 2023 | |
| Contributors | ||||
| Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted | |
| Wayne Embry | General manager | 2006 | 1999 | |
Notes:
- 1 Wilkens was inducted into the Hall of Fame multiple times for different roles.
- 2 Bosh was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his playing career and as a member of the 2008 Olympic team.
Team Management
General Managers
| GM history | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tenure |
| Isiah Thomas | 1995–March 1998 |
| Glen Grunwald | March 1998–April 2004 |
| Jack McCloskey | April 2004–June 2004 (Interim) |
| Rob Babcock | June 2004–January 2006 |
| Wayne Embry | January 2006–February 2006 (Interim) |
| Bryan Colangelo | February 2006–May 2013 |
| Masai Ujiri | May 2013–September 2016 |
| Jeff Weltman | September 2016–May 2017 |
| Bobby Webster | June 2017–present |
Presidents of Basketball Operations
| Presidents of basketball operations history | |
|---|---|
| President | Tenure |
| Richard Peddie | 1999–February 2006 |
| Bryan Colangelo | February 2006–May 2013 |
| Masai Ujiri | May 2013–June 2025 |
Owners
| Ownership history | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Tenure |
| John Bitove, Allan Slaight, Isiah Thomas | 1995–1998 |
| Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment | 1998–present |
Head Coaches
Team Awards and Records
Since 1995, the Raptors have made the playoffs 13 times. They have advanced past the first round six times. The Raptors have won the Atlantic Division seven times. Their record for most wins in a regular season is 59 (in 2018). The Raptors reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice. They won the NBA Finals once, in 2019.
Nine Raptors players have been selected for the NBA All-Star Game. These include Vince Carter, Antonio Davis, Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Scottie Barnes. Two Raptors coaches, Dwane Casey and Nick Nurse, have also coached in the All-Star game. In 2020, the Raptors had a 15-game winning streak. This was the longest winning streak for any Canadian professional sports team.
Broadcasters
Raptors games are mainly shown on Canadian sports channels TSN and Sportsnet. The Raptors also have their own Canadian version of NBA TV. This channel shows replays of games and other basketball programs.
Television
- John Saunders (Play-by-play, 1995–2001)
- Dan Shulman (Play-by-play, 1995–2001)
- Rod Black (Play-by-play, 1995–2005, 2014–2021)
- Chuck Swirsky (Play-by-play, 2001–2008)
- Jack Armstrong (Colour, 1998–present)
- Leo Rautins (Colour, 1995–present)
- Matt Devlin (Play-by-play, 2008–present)
- Sherman Hamilton (Colour, 2008–present)
Radio
- Mike Inglis (Play-by-play, 1995–1998)
- Earl Cureton (Colour, 1997–1998)
- Chuck Swirsky (Play-by-play, 1998–2001)
- Jack Armstrong (Colour, 1998–2001, 2013–present)
- Leo Rautins (Colour, 2001–2004)
- Paul Romanuk (Play-by-play, 2004–2005)
- Paul Jones (Colour, 1995–1997, 2004–2005, 2015–present; Play-by-play, 2005–2015)
- Eric Smith (Colour, 2005–2015; Play-by-play, 2015–present)
- Matt Devlin (Play-by-play, 2013–present)
- Sherman Hamilton (Colour, 2013–present)
Fan Support and Marketing
The Raptors have always had strong fan support. They set NBA attendance records in 2000, 2001, and 2002. After 2013, fan support grew even more. In 2014–15, all 12,500 season tickets were sold out.
Fans gather at Maple Leaf Square (nicknamed "Jurassic Park") to watch playoff games on big screens. The team encourages this by setting up concession stands and security. Footage from "Jurassic Park" is sometimes shown to the players in the locker room. The Raptors' playoff games have broken Canadian TV viewership records.
The value of the Raptors team has grown a lot. In 1998, the team was bought for $125 million. By 2018, Forbes estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion.
The Raptor mascot, the North Side Crew, and DJ 4 Korners provide entertainment at games. The team also has special promotions for fans. For example, if the Raptors score over 100 points at home and win, fans can get a free pizza slice. McDonald's Canada also offers free fries if the Raptors make at least 12 three-pointers in a game.
Partnership with Drake
In 2013, Toronto-based rapper Drake became the Raptors' "global ambassador." In 2014, the Raptors launched a new campaign called "We The North." This campaign celebrated the team's unique identity as the only Canadian NBA team. It quickly became very popular with fans.
In 2018, Drake and the Raptors started the "Welcome Toronto" program. As part of this, the Raptors wore special "city edition" uniforms. These uniforms were black and gold with a "NORTH" chevron. The team also used a black and gold court for these games. The program also included donations to help refurbish local basketball courts and support Canada Basketball.
Team Rivalries
The Toronto Raptors have rivalries with the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.
New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets
The rivalry with the Nets started when Vince Carter was traded in 2004. It became more intense when they met in the 2007 playoffs. The Nets won that series. The rivalry heated up again in 2014 when they battled for the Atlantic Division title. The Raptors won the division but lost to the Nets in a close seven-game playoff series. Before Game 1, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri famously yelled "F*** Brooklyn!" He was later fined for this. The two teams met again in the 2020 playoffs, where the Raptors swept the Nets.
New York Knicks
The Knicks and Raptors are division rivals. The Raptors' first-ever playoff appearance in 2000 was against the Knicks, who swept them. But the next season, in 2001, the Raptors beat the Knicks in the first round. This win was a big moment for the Raptors.
See also
In Spanish: Toronto Raptors para niños
