Kat Stefankiewicz

As pre-draft workouts continue this week on the Raptors Practice Court, the game changing day for NBA hopefuls inches closer; exactly three weeks away today.  The excited anxiety has been captured at Air Canada Centre as local hopefuls strive for performance perfection and the Raptors organization preps for that slated 20th pick.

So what was Draft Day like for the current Raptors squad?

Toronto fans would remember three very well.

It was 2009 when the name DeMar DeRozan was linked with the city for the first time, being selected 9th by the team north of the border. Two years later, in 2011, as fans packed Real Sports for the Draft Party, Jonas Valanciunas showed the camera his draft pick position, 5th, and fans left with a little name pronunciation homework. And the following year, a bow-tie clad Terrence Ross shook hands with Toronto at the 8th selection. The rest of the current team fell into the following order when their names were called on that game changing day:  13th – Tyler Hansbrough, Indiana, 2009 14th – Patrick Patterson, Houston, 2010 24th – Kyle Lowry, Memphis, 2006 28th – Greivis Vasquez, Memphis, 2010 26th – John Salmons, San Antonio, 2002 32nd – Steve Novak, Houston, 2006 39th – Landry Fields, New York, 2010 53rd – Nando De Colo, San Antonio, 2009 56th – Amir Johnson, Detroit, 2005 (Last player in NBA history to be drafted out of high school)

Undrafted but signed to the NBA within the same year: Chuck Hayes, Houston, 2005 Dwight Buycks, Phoenix, 2011 Julyan Stone, Denver, 2011

throwback-thursday-where-were-they-on-draft-day

Throwback Thursday: Where Were They on Draft Day?

torjlopez

As we settle into the postseason, there is a repetitive antsy anticipation for October on the loose. That sixty to zero brake shake is always a shocker especially after a season that drove the city of Toronto to an incredible level of participation and pride.

Welcome to the nineteenth offseason in franchise history. I hope you’re settling in alright and I promise that it somehow always flies by. If my #TBT Spidey Sense is correct, this time next year we’ll be throwing it back to the very first Raptors Day in the city of Toronto. As for this moment in time, let’s go back to the very beginning.

On this day, May the 15th back in 1996, after the Raptors concluded their inaugural season, rookie Damon Stoudamire stood beside GM Isiah Thomas at the SkyDome Hotel in front of Toronto media and received the Schick NBA Rookie of the Year Award. This followed two Rookie of the Month honours and the MVP title in the Rookie All-Star Game. Stoudamire received 76 of the possible 113 votes, ahead of Portland Trail Blazers big man Arvydas Sobonis who received just 17.

Stoudamire’s mighty rookie season (and Mighty Mouse tattoo on his arm) gave him his ‘Mighty Mouse’ nickname from fans and the mighty rookie honours in which he was surprised by. But Isiah Thomas wasn’t surprised and after making Stoudamire the Raptors first draft pick to hesitant reaction from fans, Isiah sealed Stoudamire’s stellar rookie showcase with a kiss.

throwback-thursday-damon-stoudamires-postseason-praise

Throwback Thursday: Damon Stoudamire’s Postseason Praise

The leftovers of the incredible Raptors season are still lingering. Two weeks, two cities and seven games are full of moments your brother, barista, Uncle Buck and Charles Barkley are still talking about. So over a series that hit seven shows, here's the top seven moments your bartender will be talking to you about tonight

throwback-thursday-two-weeks-two-cities-seven-games-and-endless-pride

Throwback Thursday: Two Weeks, Two Cities, Seven Games and Endless Pride

Raptors gave them something to talk about. Fans gave them something to talk about. That's a wrap on the incredible season that was but the power of #WeTheNorth isn't going anywhere. #RTZ

rtz-digital-rundown-raptors-vs-nets-game-7

#RTZ Digital Rundown: Raptors vs. Nets – Game 7

And you get a Game 7, and you get a Game 7 and Raptors and Nets, you get a  Game 7! DeMar carried the team with 28 points but they needed all hands on deck. The final battle commences on home turf with their powerful sixth man, the fans. #WeTheNorth

rtz-digital-rundown-raptors-nets-game-6

#RTZ Digital Rundown: Raptors @ Nets – Game 6

A healthy lead of as much as 26 points by the Raptors had the crowd thinking that the game was in the bag. A healthy crowd helped cheer the Raptors back to victory when the lead was lost. The series sits at 3-2 for team from the north. And how about that Kyle Lowry, eh? #VictoryBaby #WeTheNorth

rtz-digital-rundown-raptors-vs-nets-game-5

#RTZ Digital Rundown: Raptors vs. Nets – Game 5

Mixed within the madness of a smooth sailing turned stormy Game 5 run for the Raptors was this historic fact:

The original record was set during the Raptors and Sixers playoff meeting in 2001.

Amir Johnson had just celebrated his 14th birthday, just prior to his Westchester High basketball days. Today he turns 27.

Janet Jackson's 'All for You' topped the Billboard charts.

Kyle Lowry was apparently on an outdoor court in North Philadelphia when shots rang out, the Bulldog status beginning at a young age.

DeMar DeRozan was in grade six in Compton, California, which he claims was when he performed his first dunk.

Last night at Air Canada Centre, with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Kyle Lowry drained a 3-point shot to hit the 26-point spread. The win gave the Raptors a 3-2 lead on the series.

May 11, 2001 at Air Canada Centre, with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Morris Peterson drained a 3-point shot to hit the 26-point spread. The win gave the Raptors a 2-1 lead on the series which ran through seven games.

'I remember my first playoff series coming to the game and they said it was going to be exciting and it was just, I mean, it felt like the roof was going off the building...' - Mo Pete
He reminisces with former teammates about the playoffs in Open Gym.

throwback-thursday-raptors-hit-playoff-lead-of-26-now-and-then

Throwback Thursday: Raptors Hit Playoff Lead of 26 - Now and Then.

The see-saw series heads back north of border tied at two wins a piece for the Raptors and Nets. What a scene of #WeTheNorth pride both in Brooklyn and on home turf in  Jurassic Park. #VictoryBaby

Kat