The 30th year of Toronto Raptors basketball promises to be a special season. Could the fans be treated to a different special guest at each home game?
When the Toronto Raptors celebrated the 25th anniversary of the franchise’s existence, MLSE didn’t have to do much to drum up excitement. The team was fresh off a championship run and, despite losing its MVP and another key starter, had one of the best rosters in the league and tried to become the first nobody-believed-in-us repeat champions.
The 30th anniversary is going to need some help.
A lot of help.
At best, the current roster is a fringe playoff team if everything breaks right. Realistically, this play-in team is several pieces — and years — away from title contention. So, the big question is how do the Raptors get fans excited when the on-court product isn’t good enough to be excited for?
The team has already been dropping hints since last season that nostalgia would play a big role in year 30. They have unveiled a 30th-anniversary Raptors logo, acknowledged that Vince Carter will be celebrated, and alumni will appear throughout the season.
Before proceeding, it must be noted that the Raptors have not confirmed which alumni will be making special appearances, nor have they revealed when they will happen. The notion that the Raptors would have at least one special guest for each home game is a scheduling nightmare for MLSE.
Thankfully for you, dear reader, September is the apex of the offseason for whimsical dreaming and outrageous ideas!
I tried to keep it as realistic as possible. There were some easy ones, like honouring DeMar DeRozan when Sacramento makes its one visit, or Kyle Lowry when the Sixers are in town. Other special guests were slotted into home dates where they had relevance to both teams. For example, Tracy McGrady would be honoured when the Raptors welcomed the Orlando Magic.
Alright, enough teasing. Let’s look at the Raptors’ 40* home games and who the honorees could be!
*The 41st game will be announced during the season, based on results from the NBA Cup.
October 23 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The season/home opener gets off to a rousing start with a tribute to, arguably, the second-best point guard to don the uniform. Jose Calderon is currently a Special Advisor for the Cavaliers.
October 25 vs Philadelphia 76ers
The first of two visits by the Sixers is a no-brainer. Kyle Lowry, ironically, follows Calderon’s visit and is met with a rousing ovation. I was going to save Nick Nurse for Philly’s second visit, but this night becomes a celebration for 2 men (not wined or dined) who led Toronto to a championship.
October 28 vs Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic will fill the seats. Jamal Murray will receive cheers from his fellow Canadians. But one former Raptors star — and Defensive Player of the Year winner with the Nuggets — should be celebrated: Marcus Camby.
November 1 vs Los Angeles Lakers
You could make the argument that LeBron James means more to the Raptors franchise than most Raptors alumni listed on this page. However, the night should go to the one player who has a championship for both franchises — in consecutive seasons too — Danny Green.
November 2 vs Sacramento Kings
Watching DeMar DeRozan in a Kings uniform is going to look weird. Watching DeRozan in a Bulls uniform was weird too. Watching DeRozan get one of the longest standing ovations of the season will not be weird.
Matching Lowry and Nurse in the Philly game made sense. But since this is the only time the Kings visit Toronto, I hope the team also pays tribute to Kings Assistant Coach, and Raptors’ franchise leader in steals per game, Doug Christie.
November 15 vs Detroit Pistons
After a 5-game road trip, Scotiabank Arena will need a jolt of energy when these potential lottery teams meet. Wait a second. Is that......oh my gosh....I think it is.....that’s JUNKYARD DOG’s music! Former Piston and current Raptors community representative, Jerome Williams, will always get the fans riled up!
November 18 vs Indiana Pacers
Can the entire arena get free Pascal Siakam jerseys this time?
Raptors fans who sat in section 119 of Scotiabank Arena got free Pascal Siakam jerseys to wear for his pregame tribute
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 15, 2024
( @pacersjj & @Raptors) pic.twitter.com/CFYbE9kqnY
November 21 vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves boast the present-day version of the Twin Towers, in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. Why not pay respect to a forgotten era of Raptors basketball with a pair of tall, former Timberwolves? Rasho Nesterovic and Ed Davis!
December 1 vs Miami Heat
Speaking of the forgotten era, we can never forget the All-Star who kept Toronto relevant, and eventually won championships in Miami, Chris Bosh. Where he sits in your “best Raptors of all-time” list is always a hot topic. What’s undeniable is that he was the face of the franchise and deserves one of the biggest receptions.
December 3 vs Indiana Pacers
In August 1999, the sky was the limit after a jaw-dropping rookie (of-the-year) campaign by Vince Carter. The team had its superstar AND the 5th pick of the draft. Toronto would select Jonathan Bender, another promising high school star. However, the Raptors didn’t have time to wait for Bender to realize his potential (narrator: he never did), as he was traded to Indiana for Antonio Davis. AD would play a key role in Toronto’s first winning season, first playoff appearance, and also became the second All-Star in franchise history.
December 5 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
If it’s not already, this game should be marked on your calendars! Not only is it the only time Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in town, but it’s also this season’s Giants of Africa game, where the Raptors pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. What better guest to honour than Serge Ibaka! I get it. Most of what’s written in this are pie-in-the-sky wishes. But this pairing needs to happen!
December 7 vs Dallas Mavericks
During the 25th-anniversary season, on a cold December day, the Raptors pulled off the greatest comeback in franchise history: a 30-point comeback against the Mavs. Sure, it was a “Lowry plus bench” lineup, but it’s hard to imagine happening without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson*.
*RHJ is currently playing in the Philippines (PBA) with the playoffs starting on November 22. Hopefully, there’s a break in the schedule (or his team is already eliminated).
December 9 vs New York Knicks
When researching for this, I was amazed at how many Knicks-Raptors connections there were. The first tribute undoubtedly has to go to OG Anunoby. Remember when the Raptors replayed the Kawhi shot with the footsteps and audio? How about a similar treatment, except following the flight of the ball from one end to the other......then towards the rim! O G, Oh my!
OG Anunoby x Father Stretch My Hands pic.twitter.com/NmMnPxu0Fq
— ✈️ (@mldiffley) September 4, 2020
December 19 vs Brooklyn Nets
Merry early Christmas everyone! Your wish for a Vince Carter night should occur just as you’re doing some last-minute shopping. Carter is a TV Analyst for the Nets, so the Hall-of-Famer should be in town. Get your popcorn (and maybe some tissues) ready!
December 22 vs Houston Rockets
Unlike Jerry Stackhouse in the 2000 dunk contest, following Vince Carter might actually be a treat for Raptors fans because they’ll be celebrating someone who had more points in one game than anyone else who played for Toronto — VC included. Yes, it’s time to celebrate Fred VanVleet.
December 29 vs Atlanta Hawks
The final home game of 2024 has the Hawks coming to town. With Atlanta only visiting once, it would be fitting to celebrate a Hawks legend who also played an important role in Toronto’s early success: Kevin Willis.
January 1 vs Brooklyn Nets
Toronto kicks off the first day of the new year with a throwback to the first game ever played. The Raptors played its first-ever game against the New Jersey Nets, winning 94-79. The leading scorer was Alvin Robertson, whose 30 points were more than double the amount scored by any of the other nine starters.
January 3 vs Orlando Magic
Similar to Bosh (slightly), Tracy McGrady’s place in Raptors lore is difficult to define. Playing alongside cousin, Vince Carter, was short but oh-so-sweet. Unlike other former Raptors who joined the team after their prime (read: Hakeem Olajuwon), T-Mac was the rare case of being in Toronto before becoming a superstar. Regardless, he probably warrants being celebrated.
Maybe I’m in the minority, but I never really liked McGrady. He made it his personal mission to embarrass the Raptors whenever he played them while in Orlando. For that reason, I’m not allowing him to have the night to himself! Let’s make this a high-flying affair and also pay tribute to Terrence Ross. For four years, he held the distinction of co-owning (with Carter) the franchise record of 51 points in a game. Another accolade he shares with VC is he’s the only other Raptor to win the Dunk Contest.
January 6 vs Milwaukee Bucks
When you think of Masai Ujiri and the memorable trades he’s pulled off in the past, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more impressive fleecing than trading Grevis Vasquez to Milwaukee for Norman Powell and 1st-round pick that turned into OG Anunoby! Vasquez was not a memorable Raptor on the court (shimmying aside), but his name will never be forgotten by Raptors fans.
January 13 vs Golden State Warriors
Chris Boucher wouldn’t be a bad choice here. Not only is he the only Raptor remaining from the championship run, but he also played for both teams! However, we’re going off the map for this one. I think the Raptors should honour Jalen Rose. Why? Because Rose is the subject of one of the most underrated ‘What-Ifs’ in Raptors history!
January 15 vs Boston Celtics
Okay, we’re getting pretty long on word count, so let’s pick up the pace. Amir Johnson played for both teams AND was (is?) a crowd favorite!
January 21 vs Orlando Magic
The Raptors celebrate Hedo Turkoglu by also offering free pizza to all in attendance. Granted, Hedo only played one season with Toronto, so let’s double up the honorees by celebrating Anthony Parker...... General Manager(!!) of the Orlando Magic.
January 27 vs New Orleans
The franchise record-holder for most consecutive games played, 372, is held by Morris Peterson. I should probably include a link to his miraculous shot against Washington, but the ‘blind layup’ doesn’t get enough love.
January 31 vs Chicago Bulls
Despite winning a championship and enjoying a decade of winning basketball, if you ask any Raptors fan for their favorite regular season game, chances are they’re mentioning the historic victory over the 72-10 Chicago Bulls. The Raptors should commemorate that game by celebrating Michael Jordan Damon Stoudamire, the team’s first-ever draft pick and Rookie-of-the-Year winner!
February 2 vs Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard and Norm Powell. NEXT!
Seriously, though, it can’t be understated how much both of these men mean to Toronto Raptors basketball. They’ve made a lasting impression in very different ways and should be celebrated accordingly.
February 4 vs New York Knicks
With most of the 2000-01 Raptors already feted for accomplishing Toronto’s first playoff series victory, only 3 players remain who played at least 1000 minutes that season. Thankfully, two of them are former Knicks — Mark Jackson and Charles Oakley — while the third, Alvin Williams, is responsible for the dagger that put away New York.
February 5 vs Memphis Grizzlies
Thankfully, this game takes place a day before the trade deadline. So, hopefully, nobody’s getting traded before tipoff. Ironically, the best trade deadline acquisition in franchise history landed the Raptors a player from Memphis. The Grizzlies legend who should be celebrated may receive one of the loudest ovations because he’s so damn lovable: Marc Gasol!
February 12 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
He only played 2 seasons in Toronto with over 100 games total (similar totals in Cleveland), but who wouldn’t want to see Jamario Moon? The former Harlem Globetrotter is currently playing in the Big 3 with the Pargo brothers (fun fact: Jannero played 5 games with the Raptors) and famed Raptors Killer, Joe Johnson. They’re coached by WNBA legend, Lisa Leslie. It's a perfectly eye-opening squad for an eye-opening player like Moon!
February 21 vs Miami Heat
All-Star Saturday is almost always a memorable night on the NBA calendar. Unfortunately for Toronto, its players have only come home with four trophies: the two Dunk Contests mentioned above (Ross, Carter), plus two 3-point championships.....in consecutive years, both captured by Jason Kapono!
February 23 vs Phoenix Suns
You can’t celebrate 30 years without acknowledging the team’s first fan favorite, Oliver Miller. The Big O didn’t have the body type to survive today’s game. At 6’9 and 300 lbs, he’s heavier than Joel Embiid (280 lbs) and Zion Williamson (284 lbs). During his time, he was effective as a Raptor. Miller is 4th in blocks per game and 6th in field goal percentage among all Raptors players.
February 25 vs Boston Celtics
If you get a chance to roam the hallways of Scotiabank Arena before a game, you’ll notice a mix of framed pictures of various Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors through the years. The former Raptor whose picture I always stop to look at is Dee Brown. He didn’t do anything spectacular during his time in Toronto but....oh wait, he will never be forgotten as the “Alley” provider to the greatest “Oop!”
March 7 vs Utah Jazz
CJ Miles was a serviceable player on the court for Toronto. As with most veterans that Toronto was able to sign, Miles’ best years were already behind him when he joined the Raptors. His best contribution was off the court — outside of co-hosting a podcast with Amit Mann on Yahoo last year — was being part of the trade that landed Marc Gasol.
March 8 vs Washington Wizards
Also in that Gasol trade? Jonas Valanciunas. JV, along with Kyle and DeMar, gave the Raptors a formidable (albeit proverbial) Big 3 that consistently produced stellar regular-season records. While that specific trio never led Toronto to a championship, they paved the way for future success. Valanciunas was a lovable teammate who loved playing for this city. Earlier this year, he premiered his documentary, “Jonas”, at a screening in Toronto.
March 10 vs Washington Wizards
With most of the Toronto-Washington connections already off the board, let’s go with a ‘Wizard’ for this game’s special guest: Walt Williams! Known more for his time with the Sacramento Kings, Williams has the unique distinction of being Toronto’s first free agent signing after its first season. Considering all the hesitation around playing in a different country (surprisingly still a topic 29 years later), Williams earned extra brownie points for wanting to play in Toronto.
March 12 vs Philadelphia 76ers
You couldn’t script this any better. On (almost) the exact same day 20 years ago (March 13th actually), Donyell Marshall tied Kobe Bryant’s (then) record of 12 three-pointers in a game against the Sixers.
This date ultimately may not work for him as Marshall is currently an Assistant Coach with Charlotte’s G-League team, Greensboro Swarm, which will be wrapping up its regular season schedule.
March 23 vs San Antonio Spurs
I was going to use this game to spotlight Jakob Poeltl but feel it’s unfair to leave out Chris Boucher if we’re honoring any current Raptors. Instead, I’m going to pigeonhole the one Raptor I couldn’t fit anywhere else but absolutely had to acknowledge, Andrea Bargnani. He was Toronto’s only #1 overall pick and was probably ahead of his time, in terms of his playing style. I was just hoping one of his jobs was related to the Spurs.
March 28 vs Charlotte Hornets
Oh, it looks like we do have another member of the 2000-01 team to celebrate. Muggsy Bogues is a fan favorite wherever he goes and Toronto’s no different. He’s the idol of many NBA players, especially undersized guards. This game could have lottery implications (if you care about the on-court product in the final weeks of a supposed losing season).
April 3 vs Portland Trailblazers
We’re almost done, folks! With only three games remaining, Portland’s only visit to Toronto should also include a tribute to founding member of the Jail Blazers, Jermaine O’Neal.
April 4 vs Detroit Pistons
The Raptors would do well by acknowledging the second-most successful coach in franchise history. Last year, Dwane Casey stepped down from his head coaching role and is currently part of the Pistons front office.
April 9 vs Charlotte Hornets
The final game of the season is always fun. When I worked for the Raptors Fan Patrol, we would “empty the closet” and give away all the free merchandise we were rationing throughout the season. Having another hand on deck to throw out stuff, like sharpshooter, Dell Curry wouldn’t hurt.
There it is! 40 games. 48 special guests. How did I do? Was there someone you wish was celebrated? Would honoring guests at each home game affect whether or not you attend in-person?
This is likely going to be a long season with many ups and downs. One thing you can count on is a whole lot of nostalgia throughout the Raptors season!
