LIVE Garden Report: Celtics vs Hawks Postgame Show Game 4

By Jordan Ketler April 24, 2023 18 mins read 7124 Views

Come and be a part of the passionate Toronto Raptors community. Let your voice be heard to support the hardworking team that we have proudly grown to love. Whether it's a basketball championship or a heated debate on basketball culture, our blog strives to keep you up-to-date on all Raptors news and events.

Join us in expressing our unwavering support for Masai Ujiri and his vision as an NBA GM. We trust him to lead our team to achieve the heights of greatness we deserve.

Our readers are true believers of the "We the North" mentality and stand by Raptors no matter what situation they go through. If you'd like to be part of this fantastic atmosphere, send us an e-mail at [email protected] and become one with us!

LIVE Garden Report: Celtics vs Hawks Postgame Show Game 4

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Canadian NBA teams?

The Toronto Raptors, as of 2001 are the only Canadian NBA basketball team. The Vancouver Grizzlies used to be an NBA team between 1995 and 2001. In 2001, however, they relocated to Memphis where they became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada had two NBA teams, the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors, for a short time in late 1990s. However, there is no NBA team in Canada. Despite the lack of an NBA team in Canada, Canadians are still avid basketball fans, and many make their way to the United States to catch games. The Toronto Raptors, a team known for its fame since 1995, continue to attract large crowds at Scotiabank Arena. Many Canadians travel to the United States each year to enjoy the NBA All-Star Weekend. Canada has more than one NBA team, with a population exceeding 38 million. Many basketball fans in North America have discussed and debated its potential for a second team. Until then, the Toronto Raptors remain the only Canadian representation in the NBA.

Canadian Elite Basketball League, (CEBL), is a Canadian-based professional basketball league. This league features six teams from Canadian cities and towns, including Fraser Valley Bandits (Abbotsford, BC), Edmonton Stingers (Edmonton, Alberta), Guelph Nighthawks (Guelph, Ontario), Hamilton Honey Badgers (Hamilton, Ontario), Saskatchewan Rattlers (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), and Niagara River Lions (St. Catharines, Ontario). The CEBL is Canada's only professional league for basketball.

From 2011 to 2020, there was a professional male basketball league called the National Basketball League of Canada. It was home to eight teams, including those from Halifax, Moncton Saint John and Cape Breton as well as Summerside, London Windsor, Windsor, Windsor and Kitchener. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the NBLC to close its operations in 2020.

Canada also has junior basketball leagues such as the Canadian National Basketball League(CNB), a semiprofessional men’s league based out of Vancouver, BC. CNB has teams from British Columbia and Alberta as well as Manitoba and Ontario. Canadian Elite Development League, (CEDL), is another Canadian junior basketball league that focuses primarily on the Greater Toronto Area. AC) as well as the Canadian Youth Basketball League. These leagues allow young basketball players to grow their skills while playing in a competitive environment.

How was the Toronto Raptors' first year?

The first season of the NBA for Toronto Raptors was difficult. Brendan Malone was appointed head coach by Isiah Tom, and they soon acquired many talented players via trades and in the draft. They won the Chicago Bulls' game once that season, but their overall record was 21-61.

Toronto drafted Marcus Camby in 1996. He was named Rookie of Year and was part of the starting lineup with Alvin Williams as point guard. Damon Stoudamire was traded later in 1997. Toronto made more roster changes over the years to ensure future success.

Despite all of these changes, the team struggled through its first few seasons in NBA. After a period of transition and rebuilding, Toronto finally made its first playoff appearance in 2000 but lost the series to the New York Knicks.

What was the Toronto Raptors first season?

The Toronto Raptors suffered a poor debut season. They won only 21 games. The 1995-1996 Toronto Raptors season marked the beginning of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were one of two expansion teams that joined the league that year, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. This was also the first NBA-level season.

Isiah THOMAS, an All Star point guard from the Detroit Pistons, became the General Manager. He was involved in the draft that produced Damon Stoudamire. He would go on to win Rookie-of-the Year. They also acquired Tracy Murray (and Oliver Miller) in separate trades. Thomas introduced a new primary logo featuring a dinosaur playing basketball, and pinstripe uniforms that featured the logo on their jerseys. The Raptors added purple, and red to their new color scheme.

Brendan Malone, new head coach for the Raptors, made his debut on November 3 against the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome. The Raptors lost their next seven contests.

Murray finished second in scoring and averaged 16.2 points per match. He also led the team's total of 151 three-point goals. Miller had 12.9 points per game, 1.4 steals, 1.4 assists and 1.9 block per match, while Robertson was responsible for 9.3 points with 4.4rebounds, four assists, two steals per contest off the bench.

Despite having the worst attendance record in the league they still managed to attract over 17283 fans per match at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).

Statistics

By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)
This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)