The Toronto Raptors have seen their fair share of superstars.
But how do they all measure up? What determines greatness? It could be argued that it’s whoever brought a ring to the city. Maybe it’s who left the biggest lasting impact. In reality, it’s a combination of all. So that begs the question: Who is the greatest Raptor of all time?
Honorable Mention: Pascal Siakam
Siakam was a key component of the 2019 roster that won the championship. He was a solid offensive second or third option who could put up 20 points and 10 boards on any given night. A true Robin to the Batman that was Kawhi Leonard.
However, it is hard to put Siakam in the top five Raptors since the franchise declined around him when it was his time to step up. Following the loss of Leonard, the Raptors’ wins dwindled and it became clear that Spicy P would not be the franchise cornerstone.
After three years that many Raptor fans deem failures, Toronto thought it was finally time to move on from the rising power forward. The blame does not fall solely on Siakam’s shoulders (as the front office did a dismal job in building around him), being the face of a struggling franchise does not help in one’s case to be placed among the top five in any organization.
Number Five: Chris Bosh
While there is no doubt of his statistical greatness, it is hard to ignore the lack of sustained team success during his tenure. The Raptors only reached the playoffs twice in Bosh’s time at the helm. Not only was there a lack of playoff success but also a lack of team success. The Raptors only finished with a record above .500 twice in Bosh’s Raptor career.
However, Bosh’s individual statistics are what ultimately etch his name on this list. Bosh was simply a double-double machine with a tireless motor. In seven seasons, Bosh averaged 20.2 points per game along with 9.4 rebounds. Bosh also holds numerous Raptor records, including the most offensive, defensive, and total rebounds in franchise history.
Despite his failure to lead the team to their championship (or even playoff) aspirations, there is no doubt that Bosh is one of the all-time Raptor greats.
Number Four: Vince Carter
You can’t mention Toronto basketball without mentioning Vince Carter. Before Carter’s arrival, the Raptors were a young expansion team trying to make a name for themselves. Carter took that franchise and led them to their first taste of success.
He took the Raptors to their first playoff appearance, and later was the catalyst for their first playoff series win. Carter’s leadership set the groundwork for future Toronto basketball greatness.
The 1999 Rookie of the Year averaged 23.4 points per game during his seven-year career in Toronto. His per-game averages alone would qualify him for this list, but Carter’s influence went beyond what he did on the floor.
Carter made Toronto basketball relevant for the first time. His high-flying antics drew fans to the arena and had people watching the Raptors just to see what highlight Carter pulled off on any given night.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. Carter’s tenure in Toronto left many Raptor fans calling for his head. Fake injury accusations, public beef with the front office, and graduation controversy tainted Carter’s legacy. This led to Carter’s Raptor tenure ending forcibly in 2005 by trade demands from the once-respected Toronto legend.
While Carter put Toronto basketball on the map and brought the city their first taste of success, some fans will only remember the end. However, despite the controversy, nobody can deny the greatness of Carter during his glory years as a Raptor.
Number Three: DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is Toronto’s Sacrificed Superstar. Traded away in the deal that brought Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors, DeRozan was one half of the backcourt tandem that brought consistent success for years in Toronto.
DeRozan was a four-time All-Star as a Raptor and was eighth in MVP voting in 2018. Not only did he have the stats to cement himself as an all-time great for Toronto, but he was loyal as well. In his tenure as a Raptor, DeRozan experienced numerous playoff failures at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Despite the lack of playoff success, DeRozan wanted to stay in Toronto and deliver them their first championship. Unfortunately, that same level of loyalty was not shown back, as many Raptors fans were reminded that the NBA is a business at the end of the day.
In nine seasons in Toronto, DeRozan averaged 19.7 points per game. During his final season in Toronto, he led the Raptors to their best record in franchise history. In addition, he led the Raptors to five straight playoff appearances in the mid-2010s (2014 – 2018).
While his regular season dominance did not always translate to playoff performance, many Raptor fans consider DeRozan to be one of the all-time greats for the franchise he led for almost a decade.
Number Two: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard–the one to finally take the Raptors to the promised land. Although it was a short stint in Toronto, it was a successful one.
Leonard had high expectations to live up to. After trading away longtime star DeMar DeRozan, it was championship or bust for the Raptors in 2019. The aggressive trade ended up paying off as in six games, the Raptors, led by Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, knocked off the dynastic Golden State Warriors.
In that championship season, Leonard averaged 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also played his way to All-NBA and All-Defensive Second Team honors. His impact goes beyond the numbers. Following a game seven buzzer-beater that sent Toronto to the Eastern Conference Finals, people everywhere debated if Kawhi was the most clutch player in the NBA.
However, his stint in Toronto ended after one year. Following the magical 2019 Finals run, Leonard departed for his hometown of Los Angeles when he signed with the Clippers. Despite his early departure, Kawhi’s impact on the Raptors forever left a lasting impression on the franchise.
The magical playoff moments, along with the first Finals win in franchise history, cement Kawhi as one of the all-time Raptor greats. He could have been considered the greatest Raptor of all time, if not for one man.
Number One: Kyle Lowry
Mr. Raptor. Kyle Lowry has seen it all. He was there for the early 2010s struggles. There for the “LeBronto” playoff era. There for the first championship in franchise history. Through it all, Lowry was the unselfish second star.
Despite never being the team’s leading scorer or an MVP candidate, nobody ever heard Lowry complain about his role on the team. He could have left for more money or an increased role on a better team but he never did. Even though Lowry had to take a backseat in his Toronto career, the Raptors were always Lowry’s team.
Lowry’s loyalty to Toronto was only matched by his backcourt running mate DeMar DeRozan. However, Lowry was a key piece on a team that did what DeRozan could never lead them to. In the 2019 Finals, many Raptors fans can recall Lowry’s Finals clinching game six performance in which he dropped 26 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
What separated Lowry from many others was his willingness to make the hustle plays. He was never one to shy away from taking a charge or diving for a loose ball (despite his All-Star status).
Furthermore, Lowry had the statistical greatness to cement his spot on top of this list despite never being the number one offensive option. In his nine-season tenure, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. Additionally, he was an All-Star in six of those nine seasons.
Lowry has the perfect combination of statistical production, team success, and franchise loyalty to secure his spot above all other Raptors. His tenure in Toronto has ensured that one day, number seven will be hung in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.
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