toronto raptors

The Toronto Raptors were established in 1995 as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada, alongside the Vancouver Grizzlies. The franchise struggled in its early years but gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the arrival of Vince Carter, whose electrifying play helped popularize basketball in Canada.

After Carter’s departure in 2004, the team underwent several rebuilds before finding success again with Chris Bosh. However, Bosh left in 2010, leading to another rebuilding phase. The Raptors’ fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of Masai Ujiri as team president in 2013. Under his leadership, the team acquired key players such as Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, leading to multiple playoff appearances.

In 2018, Ujiri made a bold move by trading DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard. This led to the Raptors' greatest achievement in 2019 when they won their first NBA Championship, defeating the Golden State Warriors in the Finals. Leonard left after the season, but the Raptors remained competitive. The team faced challenges in the 2020s, including a temporary relocation to Tampa due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but continues to rebuild around young talent.