Toronto Raptors
History 1996-2021 (26 seasons)

Teams Toronto Raptors

The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since the 2001–02 season, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the league, as the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, Tennessee. As with most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early years, but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft-day trade in 1998, the franchise set league-attendance records and made the NBA playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was instrumental in leading the team to their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. During the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, they failed to make significant progress, and Carter was traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets. After Carter left, Chris Bosh emerged as the team leader. For the 2006–07 season, Bryan Colangelo was appointed as general manager, and through a combination of Bosh, 2006 first overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani, and a revamp of the roster, the Raptors qualified for their first playoff berth in five years, capturing the Atlantic Division title. In the 2007–08 season, they also advanced to the playoffs but failed to reach the postseason in each of the next five seasons. Colangelo overhauled the team's roster for the 2009–10 season in a bid to persuade pending free agent Bosh to stay, but Bosh departed to sign with the Miami Heat in July 2010, ushering in yet another era of rebuilding for the Raptors. Masai Ujiri replaced Colangelo in 2013 and helped herald a new era of success, led by a backcourt duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. The Raptors returned to the playoffs the following year and became a consistent playoff team in every year of Ujiri's tenure. Under Ujiri, the team also won five Division titles and registered their most successful regular season in 2018. However, the team's failure to reach the NBA Finals prompted Ujiri to fire head coach Dwane Casey after the 2018 playoffs concluded and conduct the high-profile trade of DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green later that summer, as well as acquiring Marc Gasol before the trade deadline. In the 2019 playoffs, the Raptors won their first Eastern Conference title and advanced to their first NBA Finals, where they won their first NBA championship.

The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since the 2001–02 season, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the league, as the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, Tennessee. As with most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early years, but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft-day trade in 1998, the franchise set league-attendance records and made the NBA playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was instrumental in leading the team to their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. During the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, they failed to make significant progress, and Carter was traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets. After Carter left, Chris Bosh emerged as the team leader. For the 2006–07 season, Bryan Colangelo was appointed as general manager, and through a combination of Bosh, 2006 first overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani, and a revamp of the roster, the Raptors qualified for their first playoff berth in five years, capturing the Atlantic Division title. In the 2007–08 season, they also advanced to the playoffs but failed to reach the postseason in each of the next five seasons. Colangelo overhauled the team's roster for the 2009–10 season in a bid to persuade pending free agent Bosh to stay, but Bosh departed to sign with the Miami Heat in July 2010, ushering in yet another era of rebuilding for the Raptors. Masai Ujiri replaced Colangelo in 2013 and helped herald a new era of success, led by a backcourt duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. The Raptors returned to the playoffs the following year and became a consistent playoff team in every year of Ujiri's tenure. Under Ujiri, the team also won five Division titles and registered their most successful regular season in 2018. However, the team's failure to reach the NBA Finals prompted Ujiri to fire head coach Dwane Casey after the 2018 playoffs concluded and conduct the high-profile trade of DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green later that summer, as well as acquiring Marc Gasol before the trade deadline. In the 2019 playoffs, the Raptors won their first Eastern Conference title and advanced to their first NBA Finals, where they won their first NBA championship.

2016 Toronto Raptors

1996-2021 (26 seasons)

Toronto Raptors Team History

All-time franchise record

982-1082 (.476)

1 championships in 1 appearances

Top Seasons

Year Record Result

2020 53-19 Lost Conference Semifinals

2019 58-24 Won NBA Finals

2018 59-23 Lost Conference Semifinals

2017 51-31 Lost Conference Semifinals

2016 56-26 Lost Conference Finals

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Last 5 Seasons

Year Record Result

2021 27-45 Missed Playoffs

2020 53-19 Lost Conference Semifinals

2019 58-24 Won NBA Finals

2018 59-23 Lost Conference Semifinals

2017 51-31 Lost Conference Semifinals

View All Raptors Seasons

1st Round Draft Picks

Year Rd/Pick Player

2021 1 / 4 Scottie Barnes PF/SF

2020 1 / 29 Malachi Flynn PG

2017 1 / 23 OG Anunoby SF

2016 1 / 9 Jakob Pöltl PF/PG

2016 1 / 27 Pascal Siakam PF

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Longest Serving GM's

Tenure Years General Manager

2006-13 8 Bryan Colangelo

1998-04 7 Glen Grunwald

2018-21 4 Bobby Webster

2014-16 3 Masai Ujiri

2005-06 2 Rob Babcock

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Team Owners

Tenure Years Owner

1999-21 23 Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

1996-98 3 Allan Slaight

1996-97 2 John Bitove

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Related Content

Stories, Photos, Videos, Podcasts, and Publications featuring Toronto Raptors History

F i l t e r & S o r t

Toronto Raptors Media Guidepublication

Toronto Raptors Media Guide

30 issues 1996-2025

This media guide is a comprehensive resource created by the team to provide detailed information about its players, coaches, history,...