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Toronto Raptors Facts & Worksheets

Toronto Raptors is a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Canada.

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Toronto Raptors is a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Canada. This team plays in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

See the fact file below for more information on the Toronto Raptors or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Toronto Raptors worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

FRANCHISE HISTORY AND EARLY YEARS

  • The Toronto Raptors joined the NBA in 1995 as an expansion team alongside the Vancouver Grizzlies in the Western Conference.
  • Its franchise name is derived from its birthplace, Toronto, and the dinosaur, Velociraptor.
  • Former NBA player Isiah Thomas served as the Raptor’s first general manager and part-owner of the team.
  • The team’s colours of bright red, purple, black, and “Naismith” silver were chosen to honor James Naismith, the Canadian inventor of basketball.
  • The Raptors finished in last place in their division in their first three seasons in the league but were awarded with promising rookie Damon Stoudamire who won the 1995-1996 Rookie of the Year.
  • In the 1997-1998 season, Thomas resigned and Stoudamire was traded. The Raptors became the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.6 years. Being inexperienced, they ended the season with 16-66 (W-L).
  • A change of ownership the next season paved the way for new opportunities as Toronto acquired its first superstar, guard-forward Vince Carter, in a 1998 draft-day trade.

VINCE CARTER ERA

  • At the start of the 1999 season, Vince Carter led the team along with Antonio Davis, Muggsy Bogues, and Dell Curry and sent the Raptors to the NBA playoffs.
  • In 2000–01 the Raptors again qualified for the postseason and advanced to the conference semifinals but lost to the conference champion, Philadelphia 76ers.
  • Soon plagued with injuries, Carter’s performance affected the team as it entered its four-year losing streak.
  • By the 2004 season, Vince Carter played 73 games for Toronto before getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets.

NEW FACE: CHRIS BOSH

  • In the 2003 NBA draft, the Raptors brought another star to Toronto in Chris Bosh.
  • After Carter’s trade, Bosh became the face of the franchise until 2010 and eventually the team’s captain.
  • In the 2006-2007 season, he led the team to the playoffs but lost to the Nets.
  • The following years, however, did not produce the same result, despite Bosh’s performance, since the team still lacked formidable wing players.
  • By 2010, he opted to be a free agent and left the Raptors.

ROAD TO CHAMPIONSHIP

  • The Toronto Raptors were again faced with rebuilding from the coaching staff to the players. In 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, the team missed the playoffs.
  • However, the team soon acquired Kyle Lowry (2012 offseason) to team up with DeMar DeRozan (2009 draft) to their best start in franchise history: a then-Eastern Conference-leading 24–8 record by the end of 2014.
  • They also won the Atlantic division title two years running.
  • The Raptors hosted their first 2016 NBA All-Star Game and attained their first ever 50-win season.
  • That same year, the team won its first playoff series and reached the NBA Conference Finals for the first time in 15 years.
  • Motivated by the past season, the Raptors reached the 2017 playoffs. In 2018, they earned their first ever Eastern Conference regular season championship win.
  • They also finished the regular season with a franchise-record 59 wins.
  • By the 2018-2019 season, DeRozan was traded for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. They also acquired Marc Gasol and Jeremy Lin shortly after.
  • The Raptors broke their franchise record for the best start through 20 games with a 16–4 record from a 6-0 start.
  • They also reached the playoffs and defeated the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds.
  • They went on to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals and won 4-2 and finally reached the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise history.
  • They faced the two-time defending champions, Golden State Warriors.
  • The six-game run was won by Raptors (4-2) with Leonard being named Finals MVP.
  • After one season, however, Leonard signed for the Los Angeles Clippers.

KEEPING THE RECORDS

  • Since their inception in 1995, the Raptors have made the playoffs twelve times, advancing past the first round six times.
  • They have won the Atlantic Division seven times, and the franchise record for most wins in the regular season is 59.
  • The Raptors have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals twice and have reached and won the NBA Finals once.
  • They have a rivalry with the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.
  • They are currently the only Canada-based NBA team after Vancouver Grizzlies left in 2001.

Toronto Raptors Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Toronto Raptors across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Toronto Raptors worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Toronto Raptors which is a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Canada. This team plays in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Toronto Raptors Facts
  • Basketball
  • The Big Four
  • The Raptor
  • Hall of Fame
  • Seven All-Stars
  • 2019 – Champion Run
  • The Roster
  • New Raptor
  • Team Building
  • The Basics

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Link will appear as Toronto Raptors Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 2, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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