Toronto Raptors. A name you must’ve heard a lot in the last couple of years. After its historic win against the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptor fans across the US and Canada couldn’t hold their tears. At least, metaphorically.
But how did the players make it happen? What was the determining factor in the 21st century that led the otherwise mild team to become the NBA champion?
Let’s find out.
A Brief History of Raptors
When compared to many of the teams in the NBA, Toronto Raptors is very new. It started with big ambitions back in 1995 at the Scotiabank Arena. The longest-running team in the history of the NBA is Sacramento Kings, going about it since 1923!
Toronto Raptors were created as part of the expansion program by the NBA Board of Governors. They endorsed the decision to expand the franchise with a whopping $125 million fee! Interestingly, Toronto Raptors almost lost their franchise due to betting on the matches. At that time, betting in single games was strictly prohibited in Canada.
Even the naming of the team has its own history. The majority of the fans as well as the administration wanted to revive the Huskies’ name. If you’re not aware, Toronto Huskies was a member of the BAA (Basketball Association of America) during the 1946-1947 season. At that time, NBA hasn’t been formed yet.
After just one season, the team was disbanded and Toronto didn’t have a team for the longest time. That’s primarily why a buzz about bringing the Huskies back was heard. But due to the existing logo of Minnesota Timberwolf, another professional basketball team, it wasn’t possible to create a unique logo.
Needless to say, a lot of people did bet on what the name of the team might be. Some resources suggest, that more than 10.000 bets were placed at that time only in the Ontario state.
During the initial years, from 1995 to 1999 to be precise, Toronto Raptors had to struggle a lot. Due to the nature of the sport, new franchises are often not warmly welcomed. The team was still trying to find the rhythm in management and player rosters.
Success started to seep in during the early 2000s, just after the team moved its home ground to the Scotiabank Arena in 1999. Wins against teams like Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks brought it the fame it needed to launch to the biggest space.
In 2004, the legendary Wayne Embry joined the team as a senior advisor. If you’re not aware, Wayne Embry played in the 1958 NBA draft alongside names like Sam Jones and Bill Russell. Way back in 1971, he became the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, making him the first-ever African-American manager in the NBA.
No one could anticipate what would happen to the Toronto Raptors in the 21s century when this legend joined the team. Since the very beginning, he has been the source of spiritual energy in the team. Even he thinks that the Raptors taking the title in the 2018-2019 title is the most significant event in his career.
Key Players Who Made it Happen
Sports Team History Just like you can’t skip on Just Spin casino when talking about online gambling, you can’t skip on Kyle Lowry when talking about Toronto Raptors. Although he’s played in many teams, his finest performance was with Toronto Raptors. The point guard and his magical passes made it possible for another gem in the team, Kawhi Leonard to bring in the victory.
Unfortunately, none of the players are with the Raptors anymore. Kyle now plays for the Miami Heat while Kawhi plays for Log Angeles Clippers. The other heroes in that history-altering match were Danny Green, Marc Gasol, Lorenzo Brown, Christ Boucher, etc.
Before the NBA Championship, the Toronto Raptors gradually built their portfolio up with wins in the Playoffs and regular season against teams like Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, and lots of others.
Even after the NBA championship title, it won once again against Golden State Warriors in 2021, breaking the record for the largest margin of Victory. If you ask us, it seems like the Toronto Raptors have simply become invincible in the 21st century. Unless something unprecedented happens, it’s going to remain this way for a long time.
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