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!
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Raptors best year?
The 2019 championship season was Toronto Raptors' best season. The Raptors won the NBA Championship for the first time in their history. It was an exciting and memorable season. Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP after the team posted a record of 58-24 during the regular season. The Golden State Warriors were defeated in six games by the team to win the title.
2013 saw the Toronto Raptors replace Bryan Colangelo as general manager with MasaiUjiri. This was a major change for the franchise, and would lead to a new era that would see them one of the most successful teams in the NBA.
The Raptors saw a resurgence under Ujiri. In 2014, they reached the playoffs for first time since 2008. They've won five division titles and had their best season yet in 2018. Ujiri also made a risky, but profitable trade that year and sent DeMar DeRozan over to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard.
The Raptors had an amazing 2019, winning their first conference championship and reaching the NBA finals for a record-breaking second time. In six games, they defeated the Golden State Warriors.
Ujiri's tenure with the Raptors has been a resounding success, and he should be credited with changing the team's fortunes. Thanks to his leadership, the Raptors are now one of the best teams in the NBA and look poised to remain contenders for years to come.
The 2019 Raptors championship season will always be remembered as one among the best in their history.
Ujiri, and all of the Toronto Raptors should continue to work towards creating a winning culture for their players and staff. The future of this team looks bright with their dedication to excellence. The Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship season was a milestone. It is up to Ujiri, his team and their continued success to improve on this achievement.
Who is the owner of Toronto Raptors?
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is the owner of the team. MLSE also holds the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and MLS's Toronto FC. It also owns the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
What does "We The North” mean?
The Toronto Raptors have used the phrase "We The North", also known by We The North Nation as an anthem. It was created by Drake and Noah Shebib (producer).
Drake composed the song while he was staying in Toronto with a friend. With Kanye West, he finished his album Take Care. Drake wrote lyrics about his hometown while he was there. Drake wanted it to be universally applicable. It speaks of unity, pride and hope.
Drake began to work on the melody for We The North after he went to London to film the video for his single "Nice For What". He then recorded the instrumental version in one take.
Drake was writing the lyrics to the song, but 40 came up with the chorus. After hearing the hook, Drake thought it sounded like a great idea and asked if he would record it. They worked together to create the final product.
The official music video for "We The North Anthem," was released on October 5, 2018. The video featured Shawn Mendes, a Canadian singer-songwriter, performing with Drake and other musicians.
What was the Raptors first game?
The Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets was their first regular-season match at the SkyDome. Alvin Robertson scored the franchise's first points with 33,306 supporters in attendance. The Raptors defeated the Nets 94-79 with contributions from Damon Stoudamire (10 points and 10 assists) and Robertson (30 pts).
How many years have the Raptors been together as a team?
The Toronto Raptors are an NBA franchise located in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors, along the Vancouver Grizzlies, joined the NBA in 1995 as an expansion team. In 2001-02 the Raptors became Canada's only NBA-based team, after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis.
Toronto Raptors' home games are played at Scotiabank Arena. The arena is also used by the Maple Leafs, the city's NHL team. The Raptors have appeared in the NBA playoffs 13 times since their founding, most recently in 2021, where they lost in 6 games to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Raptors made their first playoff appearance in 1999-2000. The Raptors were swept in round one by New York Knicks, their division rivals.
There weren't many fans, and the team wasn’t exciting. There was nothing to root for or watch, and no one knew why anyone cared. But after years of mediocrity, the team decided to change its image and went out of its way to make itself more appealing to the public.
In 2001, the team hired a professional advertising agency to help develop a marketing strategy that would make them famous in national markets. The team came up with a slogan called "Hear us Roar!"
At the time, the team was struggling financially, so they used the slogan to promote the fact that the games were sold out. All they had to do was create a catchy phrase with a great logo. This is where the creative genius of the agency shines through. They combined the phrase "hear us roar" with another popular saying, "never say die." This became the Toronto Raptors' official motto.
How did the Raptors win this year's NBA championship?
DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl and a protected 2019 draft pick were traded by the Toronto Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs on July 18, 2018.
The Raptors traded Jonas Valanciunas and Delon Wright C.J. on February 7, 2019. Miles, as well as a 2024 2nd-round draft pick to Memphis Grizzlies, were traded by the Raptors for Marc Gasol--another All-Star and former Defender Player of Year--and signed Jeremy Lin shortly following.
Two big trades by the Toronto Raptors sent shockwaves through NBA. DeMar DeRozan was traded first to the Raptors, Jakob Poltl was traded second and a first-round draft pick for 2019 (that was still protected) was sent to San Antonio Spurs. In exchange they received Kawhi and Danny Green from Spurs. They traded Jonas Valanciunas and Delon Wright C. J. Miles, and a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc Gasol--another multiple All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year. These moves have put the Raptors in a strong position to challenge for the NBA title. Let's examine each trade.
Kawhi Leonard's trade to the Raptors was risky but a good move. Leonard is a top-5 pick in the league, when healthy, and just finished an MVP-caliber campaign. But, injury limited Leonard to just 9 games last season, and there are doubts about his long term health. But the Raptors decided that it was worth the risk, and they signed the deal. Leonard has been healthy thus far and is playing at an All Star standard. He's averaging 26 points per game, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and shoots 49% from the floor and 38% from three point range. If he can keep his health, he will give the Raptors a real shot at winning the NBA title.
Marc Gasol traded for Marc Gasol in a more short-term move. Gasol is in his thirties and is clearly out of his prime. But, he's still a good player that brings valuable experience and talent to the young Raptors. He is averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting 45% from the field and 34% from three-point range. The Raptors gave up some young assets in Delon Wright and C.J. Miles was used to acquire Gasol but the Raptors believe his experience will prove valuable in the playoffs.
The Raptors were off to a good start with a winning 6-0 record. Their 16th win was on November 23rd. To prevent Leonard's injury from getting worse, the Raptors rested him for 20 more games. However, they still managed to snag the 2nd seed in East--only trailing behind Milwaukee Bucks.
The Raptors were able to continue their winning streak in the playoffs by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers (Orlando Magic), Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee Bucks) to reach the NBA Finals. Leonard was named Finals' MVP as the Raptors won the first title against the Golden State Warriors.
The Toronto Raptors enjoyed a successful offseason. This has been a huge success. The Raptors are well-positioned to be contenders over the next few years, with two All-Stars. They have demonstrated that they can make bold moves and take risks if it means putting together a championship-calibre team. It will be interesting to see if they can keep up this success in the future.
Why did NBA leave Vancouver?
NBA left Vancouver because of a dispute with the City Council regarding arena financing. The City of Vancouver was to contribute $40million towards the construction a new basketball venue. This would include 12 luxury suites as well as two restaurants, a bar and a hotel. The City Council wanted to provide $60 million in taxpayer funds to team owners to repay their existing debt. This meant the city would have to borrow $200 million to build the arena, while the team owners only had to pay back $20 million in debt. The city would have to pay the remainder of the loan back.
The City Council stated that they would be open to the plan if the NBA agreed not to leave Rogers Arena until the new facility opens. But the league refused to agree, saying the arena wasn't big enough for them anymore. They were not interested in playing there anymore, as it was too small. They felt it unfair to ask them for more revenue by asking them to stay in the smaller venue.
The City Council then asked the province to step in and help out by offering financial assistance. Although the province was willing to donate $150 million, the City Council still needed additional $100 million. The City decided to focus its efforts on building a new downtown arena and dropped its plans.
Statistics
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (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)
- 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)
- After Thomas attempted to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed, he resigned from his position in November and sold his 9 percent stake in the team to Slaight. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
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How To
How to get from your location to the Toronto Raptors' game
Toronto Raptors games take place at the Air Canada Centre (ACC), in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. TTC Metro system takes you to ACC. Union Station is approximately 30 minutes away from ACC. The closest stop to ACC is Bay Street station.
Bay street station is best if you're coming to ACC from Union Station. Follow the signs towards ACC. Please follow the signs to Bay Street Station if you are coming from another direction.
Follow the signs for the ACC from Bay Street station.
The venue is accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities can use the designated seating areas. The ACC also provides sign language interpretation services.
There is no parking fee at the ACC. However, street parking is limited.
Resources:
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