Greatest all time players in Raptors History
My first month + in Toronto has seen public excitement and joy. The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions, They went from We the North, to We the Champs! It is a great occasion in Canadian sports history. Jurassic Parks; Public match viewing areas for Raptors fans, sprung up everywhere in Canada. People came in from across Canada just to camp out in the Jurassic Park outside the Raptors stadium in ScotiaBank Arena. Just twenty four years after being established as one of the three newest franchises, Toronto Raptors are now a legitimate good franchise. They have now become a symbol for many things; multiculturalism in Canada, success of millennials, the decline of Ice hockey and ascent of Basketball in Canada, how immigrants have adopted the Canadian Identity (Shoutout to Nav Bhatia). Even in pure basketball terms, it was an incredible playoff run for Toronto, one that included a legendary Game-7 series-ending shot. They defeated the warriors who hadn’t lost four times in a row all year by bringing out the big men in the paint; a strategy that is not in fashion now.
I had derided Masai Ujiri earlier this season for his actions. This is one part of that article that went the other way and also gave me an enjoyable experience. Masai, I publicly apologize to you! Fortune favours the Brave. I will let Rachel Nichols describe the immensity of the risks he has taken to bring this team a championship.
Now, like any franchise worthy of praise, there is a lot of history to the Raptors. More than 200 players have played for the Toronto Raptors. There are also a lot of players who fill its legends and contributed to its current success. This list of the greatest players now and throughout its history, is sorted by height so readers can salivate at the fantasy team that they could have formed playing together.
Looking to the future, below is the list of best lifetime Raptors only players again sorted by height.
As this offseason begins, there’s going to be a lot of work waiting for them ahead of a crucial summer. If Kawhi Leonard does not re-sign, Toronto can clear the books and start over after a successful gamble by Masai. If Masai goes to Washington Wizards, they can get some players in return and restart with Wayne Embry or Bobby Webster taking over. This will be the Raptors' second consecutive year without a first-round draft pick. Both the Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol trades decimated the list of candidates from the above list. Four of the five here are still in the squad that won the Championship and have guaranteed contracts for 2019/20 season. After the season he just had, and the playoff run he capped it with, Siakam is going to receive consideration for a max extension, one that his production and upside merit. With or without Kawhi in the fold, the above list of players need to be in the core the Raptors continue to build around for the future.There is still an opportunity to keep them, develop them into the next championship caliber team and have a true face of the franchise. That would be a great basketball player who is also a lifetime Toronto Raptor. The fans of the future are waiting.
I had derided Masai Ujiri earlier this season for his actions. This is one part of that article that went the other way and also gave me an enjoyable experience. Masai, I publicly apologize to you! Fortune favours the Brave. I will let Rachel Nichols describe the immensity of the risks he has taken to bring this team a championship.
Now, like any franchise worthy of praise, there is a lot of history to the Raptors. More than 200 players have played for the Toronto Raptors. There are also a lot of players who fill its legends and contributed to its current success. This list of the greatest players now and throughout its history, is sorted by height so readers can salivate at the fantasy team that they could have formed playing together.
- Kyle Lowry
Co-star of the most successful run the Raptors have ever enjoyed and the embodiment of the underdog mentality. The greatest quality of Lowry was that he played second fiddle behind the two great players he played with through his 3 and D skills. He leads the team in all time 3-Pt Field Goals and Steals. He is a late bloomer, only resolving his issues as his 30s beckoned, not unlike most regular folks. That makes him more relatable to the average fan as a human. They see the uncompromising defence, the contact he absorbs, the loose balls he goes flying after, the sprinting opponent players he stepped in front of only to get steamrolled for charges. They see this every match consistently. I will let Kendrick Perkins praise him. - Vince Carter
Even though Carter may have only been in Toronto for seven seasons, he made the Raptors relevant. Rookie of the Year Award in the 1998-99 season. Making his first All-Star Game in his second season. The All-Star Weekend in 2000 when Carter became a household name by putting on arguably the best performance in the history of the Slam Dunk Competition. The Raptors made their first three postseason appearances in Carter's tenure, the last when he put the team on his shoulders, played 40 minutes a game and was injured for the third postseason. He significantly shifted the sports culture in Canada towards basketball. - DeMar DeRozan
Fiercely loyal and unquestionably flawed. DeMar and Kyle made this group of Raptors Postseason contenders and started the best stretch in Raptors history. He was durable; he's still the franchise's all-time leader in Games, and Minutes played, and Points. Greg Popovich sent Kawhi to Toronto only because he got the best player in the Raptors' squad and its face of the franchise. Also, Greg hates the Lakers; but we digress. This was the first great NBA player who wanted to be a Raptor for life. - Kawhi Leonard
With the NBA Championship now in the city of Toronto for the first time in history, Kawhi makes this list oon the basis of just one season. Kawhi already ranks among the top-five in Raptors playoff history in Points, Rebounds , Assists, Steals and 3-Pointers. He is the first Raptors player ever to be named to an NBA All-Defensive Team. The Game 7 against Phillies that ended in the arching jumpshot showed us two things. The Phillies are good. Kawhi Leonard is Great. - Chris Bosh
Bosh is the all-time leader in rebounds and blocks and is second in points for the Raptors. He was selected to the All Rookie team in the 2003-04 season. In 2006-07 season, two years after Vince left, he made All-NBA team while carrying Raptors to the Post-season. This, both literally and emotionally, helped fans get a closure over the Vince Carter era and look forward to the future.
Jonas Valanciunas and Jose Calderon are the honorable mentions here.
Looking to the future, below is the list of best lifetime Raptors only players again sorted by height.
As this offseason begins, there’s going to be a lot of work waiting for them ahead of a crucial summer. If Kawhi Leonard does not re-sign, Toronto can clear the books and start over after a successful gamble by Masai. If Masai goes to Washington Wizards, they can get some players in return and restart with Wayne Embry or Bobby Webster taking over. This will be the Raptors' second consecutive year without a first-round draft pick. Both the Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol trades decimated the list of candidates from the above list. Four of the five here are still in the squad that won the Championship and have guaranteed contracts for 2019/20 season. After the season he just had, and the playoff run he capped it with, Siakam is going to receive consideration for a max extension, one that his production and upside merit. With or without Kawhi in the fold, the above list of players need to be in the core the Raptors continue to build around for the future.There is still an opportunity to keep them, develop them into the next championship caliber team and have a true face of the franchise. That would be a great basketball player who is also a lifetime Toronto Raptor. The fans of the future are waiting.
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