We revisit the first five that helped the Toronto Raptors win the first NBA championship in franchise history.
The Toronto Raptors are a relatively new NBA franchise, as they made their league debut in 1995.
Obviously it took the front office years to build a solid roster. Come to think of it, the best Raptors teams gathered for the 2018-19 NBA season.
After all, the raptors traded for Kauhi Leonard in the summer. The incredible playoff run continued as Leonard carried the team to his back.
The final result? Well, the Leonard-led Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 2019 NBA Finals.
It’s been six years since that sensational championship ran, so let’s take a look at where the first five are for now.
Current team: Philadelphia 76ers (2024-present)
Best Performance: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists – Game 6
2019 NBA Finals Statistics: 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists
Current team: Retirement (2024)
Best Performance: 18 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist – Game 3
2019 NBA Finals Statistics: 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Current team: Los Angeles Clippers (existed since 2019)
Best Performance: 36 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists – Game 4
2019 NBA Finals Statistics: 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Current team: Indiana Pacers (2024-present)
Best Performance: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists – Game 1
2019 NBA Finals Statistics: 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists
Current team: Retirement (2021)
Best Performance: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist – Game 1
2019 NBA Finals Statistics: 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists