The Toronto Raptors have been around for more than 20 years and they have had their fair share of superstars go through the franchise. If there’s one thing Raptors fans can’t decide on, it’s who the greatest Toronto Raptor of all-time truly is.
Based strictly on their entire NBA careers, a lot of people will say it’s Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady. The newer generation of fans might not even consider that duo at all and would probably say Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan or even Kyle Lowry. With that being said, here’s a breakdown of some of the most important stats in franchise history to help you decide who the greatest Toronto Raptor of all-time truly is.
Tracy McGrady
T-Mac only spent three seasons with the Raptors, so it’s tough to say he’s the greatest of all-time. Since he started his career with the team, his first two seasons weren’t anything to write home about, but it was his third year and the years after where he dominated on the court. During his time in Toronto, McGrady averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Also, T-Mac doesn’t even rank in the Top 5 all-time in any of the team’s stats, but his NBA career numbers keeps him relevant in this conversation.
Vince Carter
It’s too bad Tracy McGrady didn’t stick around, because him and Vince Carter really could have done some damage together. Carter is currently playing in his 19th NBA season and spent more time with the Raptors (7 seasons) than any other team he played for. He averaged 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his 7 seasons with the Raptors and also helped them taste the postseason for the first time. Unlike his cousin, Carter ranks in the Top 5 in just about every category for the team and certainly helped put the franchise on the map.
Chris Bosh
History sort of repeated itself when the Raptors drafted Chris Bosh, as Vince Carter decided he no longer wanted to play in Toronto. It’s too bad, because Bosh developed into a very good player and could have been even better when he was in Toronto if he had a guy like Carter to play with. Bosh went on to play 7 season with the Raptors, averaging 20.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Bosh is currently second on the franchise’s all-time scorers list, 1st in rebounds and blocks, 4th in games played and 2nd in minutes played.
DeMar DeRozan
It took some time for some Raptors fans to open up to DeMar DeRozan, and now he’s the face of the franchise. Currently in his 8th season with the team, no player has played more games with the Raptors than DeRozan has. He’s also 4th all-time in steals, 1st in minutes played and 2nd in free throws made.
Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets before he found his permanent home in Toronto with the Raptors. Now playing in his fifth season with the team, Lowry has transformed into superstar during his stint with the Raptors and has already climbed up the franchise’s leaderboards in such little time. Lowry currently ranks 1st in three-pointers made, 2nd in assists and steals, and fourth in free throws made.
Are one of these five players the best Toronto Raptor of all-time or does that honour go to someone else we didn’t put on this list?
