Latest Toronto Raptors News

    Toronto Raptors Franchise Information

    Have a read on below at some quick stats and facts on the Toronto Raptors to get you started: 

    Established:1995
    Stadium:Scotiabank Arena
    Colours:Red, black, white, silver & gold
    Hall of Famers:Tracy McGrady & Hakeem Olajuwon
    Hall of Fame Coaches:Lenny Wilkens
    Rivals:Brooklyn Nets & New York Knicks 
    Legends:Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Vince Carter & Damon Stoudamire
    Retired Numbers:None
    Conference: Eastern Conference
    Division:Atlantic Division
    NBA Championships:1: 2019

    Toronto Raptors History

    The Toronto Huskies hosted the first ever NBA (formerly Basketball Association of America) game in 1946 in a narrow loss to the New York Knicks. The Huskies unfortunately folded after their first season, with no professional basketball played in Toronto until the Buffalo Braves hosted 16 games over a five year span starting in 1971. 

    In September 1993, the Professional Basketball Franchise (Canada) Inc. were awarded the rights to a new Toronto NBA Team and on November 4th, the NBA Board of Governors finalised the creation of the Raptors for a then-record $125M expansion fee.

    In the 1995 NBA draft the Raptors selected Damon Stoudamire who led them to victory in their first ever game, beating the New Jersey Nets 94-79, A highlight for the team in their inaugural season was being one of very few teams able to beat to the 72-10 Chicago Bulls, however they finished their first season with a 21-61 record. 

    The team didn’t do much better over the next two seasons, and in the 1997-98 season had a 17 game losing streak and star young player Stoudamire requested a trade. The 1998 off season saw the Raptors trade for fifth pick in the draft, Vince Carter whilst also trading for veteran Charles Oakley who brought a breadth of playoff experience with him. 

    The team improved in the 1998-99 season but were unable to break through to the playoffs until the 1999-2000 season, where Carter led the team to their first playoff berth, finishing with a 45-37 record. 

    The team made the playoffs again the following year and beat the Knicks to win their first ever playoff series. Carter seemed destined to lead the Raptors to the playoffs for the third straight year in 2002 however went down with injury and missed the second half of the season. The Raptors still made the playoffs with a victory in the last game of the season however they lost to the 2nd seed Detroit Pistons. 

    The 2002-03 season saw the Raptors not make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, ending the season with a 24-58 record. This was a blessing in disguise as Toronto ended up with the fourth pick in the 2003 draft and selected Chris Bosh, a revolutionary power forward who could play inside and shoot. 

    The Raptors again showed promise but were undone by injuries and were unable to make the playoffs again until 2007. During this time Carter felt the Raptors were misleading him and eventually requested a trade, which was granted to the New Jersey Nets, creating a rivalry between the two Atlantic Division foes. 

    Toronto’s downfall continued in the 2005-06 season losing their first nine games and 15 of their first 16. This was followed up by allowing Lakers star Kobe Bryant to score 81 points (the second highest ever) later in the season. 

    Chris Bosh was tasked with leading an overhauled team with new players in the 2006-07 season and despite a rocky start, ended up third in the Eastern Conference with help from the first pick in the 2006 draft, Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors were unfortunately tasked with facing their former star Vince Carter and the Nets, whose experience got them over the line with a 4-2 series victory. 

    The Raptors made the playoffs again the following season but were outplayed by Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic for a second straight season of first round exits from the playoffs. 

    From the 2007-2010 seasons the Raptors failed to make the playoffs and Chris Bosh departed in free agency, joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, leaving the Raptors in limbo with Demar Derozan (9th pick in the 2009 draft) as the centrepiece of the franchise. 

    The Raptors didn’t see the playoffs for the first three seasons after Bosh’s departure but drafted future starting centre Jonas Valencunas in 2011, signed revolutionary coach Dwane Casey in 2011 and signed point guard Kyle Lowry in 2012. 

    The Derozan and Lowry led Raptors looked poised for playoff success and finally broke through in the 2013-14 season, finishing third in the Eastern Conference with 48 wins and 34 losses. The Raptors were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs two straight seasons despite having their best regular seasons at the time. 

    Along with their resurgence in the playoffs, the Toronto Raptors partnered with Drake as the team’s Global Ambassador in 2013. Drake’s brand OVO is also a partner of the Raptors and has seen the team’s popularity grow not only in Toronto, but globally. 

    The Toronto Raptors have introduced ‘Drake Night’ where the team wears Black and Gold uniforms inspired by Drake’s brand OVO. Drake can often be seen sitting courtside, cheering the Raptors and talking trash to opposing teams.

    The Raptors managed to get out of the first round the next three seasons in 2016, 17 and 18 but fell victim to Lebron James all three years with third, second and second round exits respectively.

    This period of time saw; many refer to the Raptors as ‘LeBronto’, Dwane Casey get fired despite winning Coach of the Year that season and the trading of superstar Derozan to the San Antonio Spurs in a franchise defining move that brought in former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. 

    Leonard only had one season remaining on his contract and was returning from a devastating quadriceps injury at the time, unable to play as many games as fans hoped throughout the 2018-19 season due to ‘load management’. 

    This was all worth it as Kawhi led the team through the Eastern Conference, defeating MVP Giannis Antetonkoumpo in the Eastern Conference Finals, setting up a match up with juggernaut and reigning back to back champions, the Golden State Warriors. 

    Kawhi dominated the series, along with Kyle Lowry and a breakout series from young Pascal Siakim allowed the Toronto Raptors to win their first ever championship in 2019. After bringing the title to Toronto, Leonard left for the Los Angeles Clippers in the off-season. This left Lowry and NBA’s 2019 Most Improved Player Siakam to lead the Raptors to a better winning percentage than last season and 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference this season. 

    After easily dealing with the Nets in the first round, the Raptors fell to the Celtics in a tough seven game series. After a disappointing second round exit and key players on massive salaries, there are some questions surrounding what is next for the current Raptors roster.

    Those questions were answered but it may not be the answer that Toronto fans were after. The team, which relocated to Tampa Bay due to COVID-19, didn’t live up to expectations in the 2020-21 season and after winning the title just two years ago, missed the playoffs for the first time in the last eight years. Kyle Lowry is now a free agent and the team is closer to bottoming out than competing for a title.

    The Toronto Raptors had a decent campaign in 2021-22 and made the playoffs. They finished the regular season with a record of 48-34 and in fifth place of the Eastern Conference.

    Expert 2022-23 Picks & Preview on Toronto Raptors

    If you are a fan of the Toronto Raptors, then you know that the only thing that matters right now is how they are expected to perform in the 2022-23 season. Do the Toronto Raptors have the star power to make it all the way to the playoffs and win The Finals in 2023?

    Have a read on below at SportsTips expert picks & preview on the Toronto Raptors:

    Front Office

    Nick Nurse is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, and this upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his fifth season in charge of the franchise. He has been coaching in the league for four years overall and over the course of his coaching career he has made the playoffs three out of four times. His overall record in the regular season currently sits at 186-122. While his overall playoff record is currently sitting at 25-16. He led the Raptors to a title in 2019. 

    Bobby Webster is the general manager of the Toronto Raptors and he has held that position within the franchise since 2017. This upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his sixth season as the decision maker for the franchise. 

    Key Players

    Fred Vanvleet is the best player on this team’s roster and he is sure to make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. This upcoming season will be his seventh season in the National Basketball Association. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 20 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around seven assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around four and a half rebounds per game. 

    The second key player on this roster is Pascal Siakam and this upcoming season will be his seventh season in the National Basketball Association. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 23 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around five and a half assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around eight and a half rebounds per game.

    Breakout Player

    Ron Harper Jr. will be the breakout player on this team’s roster and he is sure to make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. He went undrafted in the 2022 National Basketball Association Draft. This upcoming season will be his rookie season in the National Basketball Association after attending Rutgers. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 16 points per game. 

    He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around two assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around six rebounds per game. He put in some work on the defensive end of the court as well, averaging around one steal per game and one block per game. His list of accolades is impressive as he is a former honorable mention all-American and second and third all Big Ten team selection.

    Toronto Raptors Betting & Odds Preview 2022-23

    The Toronto Raptors campaign during the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season went about as you would’ve expected. They finished the year with a record of 48-34 and in third place of the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Raptors will be looking to improve upon their finish from last season and find their way back in the playoffs. 

    There is a lot of optimism surrounding the franchise heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. If they want to improve or keep up their current level of play they will certainly need a ton of production from their stars over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. The most important thing in any season is how a team starts out of the gate, and then how they look when the all-star break approaches. 

    In the National Basketball Association, a lot can change over a single off-season. It will be interesting to see how their offseason moves translate onto the basketball court over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. Based on their odds to win some hardware headed into the season it is clear how the oddsmakers in Las Vegas feel about them heading into the year. 

    Their odds to bring home the Atlantic Division championship this season currently sit at +1000 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them fourth in the Atlantic Division out of five teams. 

    While their odds to win the Eastern Conference currently sit at +2100 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them eighth in the Eastern Conference out of 15 teams. Their overall odds to bring home the championship are currently sitting at +4000 heading into the 2022-23 season, as they rank 17th out of all 30 teams in the National Basketball Association.

    Toronto Raptors FAQ

    Still got some burning questions about the Toronto Raptors? Well, we have answered some of the most common questions people have, hopefully you will find the answer you are looking for below! 

    Where do the Toronto Raptors play?

    The Raptors play their home games at Scotiabank Arena. 

    Who owns the Toronto Raptors?

    Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment owns the Toronto Raptors.

    How many NBA Championships have the Toronto Raptors won?

    The Toronto Raptors have won one NBA championship, which was in 2019.

    Who is the Toronto Raptors coach?

    Nick Nurse is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors. He was promoted from Assistant to Head Coach after the 2017-18 playoffs. 

    Do the Toronto Raptors play tonight?

    Are you wondering if the Toronto Raptors are playing tonight? Well, SportsTips has all the details you need about the Toronto Raptors! Make sure you check this page at the top for all the details you are looking for.

    What is the Toronto Raptors record?

    The Toronto Raptors had a 48-34 win-loss record for the 2021-22 NBA season. 

    Did the Toronto Raptors win last night?

    Fans of the Toronto Raptors are all wanting to know if they won the game last night. You can find more information in relation to the team’s recent form in games on the page at the top.

    How much are the Toronto Raptors worth?

    According to Forbes Magazine, the Toronto Raptors are worth $2.475 billion.

    Who do the Toronto Raptors play tonight?

    With back to backs and games every other night, things change pretty quickly in the NBA. So, if you are looking for more information about who the Toronto Raptors play tonight, you have come to the right place. We have all this information for you in detail, you can find these details for upcoming games at the top of the page.

    How to watch the Toronto Raptors?

    You can catch the Toronto Raptors in action through NBA TV, NBA League Pass, or on TV channels like ESPN, TNT, TSN or Sportsnet.

    Will the Toronto Raptors make the playoffs this year?

    The Toronto Raptors did make the playoffs after finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record.

    When do the Toronto Raptors play?

    Toronto Raptors fans are always looking for more information about when their team plays the next game. For all the information you have been craving and more, be sure to check the top of this page. Here at SportsTips we list all the information you need like the tip off time, location of the game and the all important NBA odds.

    Where did the Toronto Raptors finish the season?

    The Toronto Raptors finished in 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

    How many games did the Toronto Raptors win?

    The Toronto Raptors won 48 games during the 2021-22 NBA season.