Toronto Raptors

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Otto Porter Jr. speaks to the media on Tuesday.

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Raptors Training Camp Availability | Otto Porter Jr. | September 27, 2022

Thaddeus Young speaks to the media on Tuesday.

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Raptors Training Camp Availability | Thaddeus Young | September 27, 2022

Head Coach Nick Nurse speaks to media on Tuesday.

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Raptors Training Camp Availability | Nick Nurse | September 27, 2022

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USA Basketball announced Monday that Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan has been added to the 2014-16 Men’s National Team roster. DeRozan will be among the 19 players participating at the team’s Las Vegas training camp July 28 through August 1, from which the 2014 USA World Cup Team will be selected 

DeRozan completed his fifth season in the NBA and ranked ninth in scoring with a career-high 22.7 points, fourth in free throws made (519) and fourth in minutes played (38.1). He also set career highs for rebounds (4.3), assists (4.0) and three-pointers made (64).  

DeRozan is one of 11 players on the roster that participated in USA Basketball’s mini-camp last summer in Las Vegas. He was a member of the 2012 Select Team and the 2008 USA Junior National Select Team that competed in the Nike Hoops Summit. Other Raptors who have competed for USA Basketball include Vince Carter (2000 Olympics), Antonio Davis (2002 FIBA World Championship) and Chris Bosh (2006 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Olympics).

“I’m very pleased about the 19 players who are now confirmed to participate in the 2014 USA National Team training camp in Las Vegas,” said USA Basketball Chairman and Managing Director Jerry Colangelo. “This group possesses outstanding individual talents, while also boasting of excellent versatility and varying amounts of USA Basketball experience. I am also pleased about the addition of DeMar DeRozan and Chandler Parsons (Dallas) to the USA National Team and to the 2014 training camp. Both played well in last summer’s USA Basketball National Team mini-camp and went on to record outstanding NBA seasons.”

The 2014 FIBA World Cup, featuring a total of 24 national teams, is scheduled to begin August 30 in Spain.

2014 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Training Camp Roster

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DeRozan Added To USA Basketball Training Camp Roster

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The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have re-signed restricted free-agent forward Patrick Patterson. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

“We were very pleased with what Patrick brought to us both on the court and in the locker room last season,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. “We are delighted that Patrick wanted to return to the Raptors and we look forward to his contributions as he helps us build a consistent winner in Toronto.”      

Patterson averaged 9.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 23.3 minutes in 48 outings with the Raptors this past season. He shot .411 (46-112) from three-point range in a Toronto uniform. He scored in double figures on 20 occasions, including a season-high 22 points on seven-for-11 shooting from the field in his first start for the Raptors on February 10 versus New Orleans.

Patterson was acquired December 9, 2013 in a seven-player trade with Sacramento. He averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds during 16 games in January where he shot .514 (74-144) from the field and .452 (14-31) from three-point range.

In Toronto’s playoff series versus Brooklyn he upped his averages to 10.4 points, 6.7 rebounds (second on the team) and 28.5 minutes. He scored in double-digits three times and was a perfect five-for-five from the floor and six-for-six from the free throw line en route to 16 points in Game Seven. 

The University of Kentucky product was selected in the first round by Houston in the 2010 NBA Draft. In 252 career games with Houston, Sacramento and Toronto, Patterson has averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 22.5 minutes. 

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Raptors Re-Sign Patrick Patterson

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have traded forward Steve Novak and a future second-round draft choice to the Utah Jazz for point guard Diante Garrett.

Novak averaged 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 10.0 minutes in 54 games during the 2013-14 season. He shot a team-best .426 (52-for-122) from three-point range. Novak appeared in four games in the first-round playoff series with Brooklyn where he was held scoreless in 15 minutes.

The Raptors acquired Novak in a July 10, 2013 deal with New York. The Raptors sent forward Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks for Novak, guard-forward Quentin Richardson, centre Marcus Camby, a future first-round draft pick and two future second-round draft picks.

Garrett, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, is a two-year NBA veteran from Iowa State. He appeared in 71 games with the Jazz last season, averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 assists and 14.8 minutes.

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Raptors Deal Novak To Jazz

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have re-signed free-agent point guard Kyle Lowry to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

“We made it known that our top priority heading into the offseason was to re-sign Kyle,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. “He was a key to our success last season and we are delighted that he wants to be here in Toronto to help us continue to build a championship program.”

The eight-year veteran played a key role in leading the Raptors to a club record 48 wins and their second Atlantic Division title in team history.

Related: Photos Gallery | Novak Traded To Jazz

Lowry, 6-foot, 205 pounds, posted career highs in points (17.9), rebounds (4.7), assists (7.4), field goals made (457), three-pointers made (190), three-point percentage (.380), free throws made (313) and minutes (36.2) in 79 contests, all starts, during the 2013-14 season. He ranked seventh in the NBA in assists per game and tied for eighth in three-pointers made.

Lowry paced the Raptors in scoring on 19 occasions and in assists in a team-high 61 outings. He scored in double figures 72 times with 35 games of 20-or-more points. He posted double-digit totals in assists in 19 contests. He became the fourth Raptors player to record two triple-doubles in the same season. Lowry had 39 games with multiple steals, including nine straight games from November 15 – December 3 where he averaged 2.6 per game.

Lowry registered a season-high 33 points January 29 versus Orlando, a career-best 12 rebounds at Minnesota on March 9 and a season-best 14 assists January 1 versus Indiana.  He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played January 27 – February 2, leading the Raptors to a 3-1 mark while averaging 25.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds. His averages of 18.3 points, 8.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds in January made him the only player in the Eastern Conference to average 18+ points and 8+ assists for the month.

In the Raptors’ first-round playoff series against Brooklyn, Lowry finished second on the club in scoring (21.1), assists (4.7) and minutes (38.8). He scored in double figures in all seven games, with four games of 20+ points. He totaled 22 points and added a series-best eight assists in Game 1 on April 19. He grabbed a personal-high nine rebounds in Game 2 on April 22 at Air Canada Centre. In a Game 5 victory at Air Canada Centre on April 30, Lowry record a game-high 36 points (11-19 FG, 6-9 3FG, 8-10 FT). He added 28 points (12-14 FT) with seven rebounds May 4 in Game 7.

The Raptors acquired Lowry from the Houston Rockets on July 11, 2012. In his two seasons in Toronto, Lowry has averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 33.2 minutes in 147 regular season games.

Lowry was a first-round selection (24th overall) by Memphis in the 2006 NBA Draft. He has appeared in 506 regular season games (270 starts), averaging 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 28.8 minutes for Memphis, Houston and Toronto.

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Raptors Re-Sign Kyle Lowry

Thursday, June 19th marked the 24th anniversary of Nelson Mandela first coming to Toronto to bring his message of change. Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri did not let the day pass without paying tribute to his hero.

In the afternoon, Ujiri, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, Amir Johnson and former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo visited Nelson Mandela Park Public School to spread Mandela’s message.

Johnson — who was pleased to inform reporters he did not need offseason surgery on his ankle— shared a story about Mutombo blocking one of his shots as a rookie and delivering his classic finger wag. He was also touched by the reception from the children as the group entered the gymnasium.

“It was very inspirational,” Johnson said. “Very inspiring to hear Masai, Mutombo speak.

“I’m still kind of overwhelmed myself at how many people look up to me, when the kids are screaming. It’s a very big ordeal.”

Later in the evening, each attended Ujiri’s ‘Madiba: An Evening Honouring Nelson Mandela’ benefit. The event, hosted in Toronto’s Distillery District, paid tribute to the life and legacy of the former South African president.

“It’s special to me in my heart because I’ve met him a couple of times and he dedicated his life,” Ujiri said. “He was the father of Africa and I am one of the millions of sons.”

The guest list for Thursday’s benefit included DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Toronto FC’s Jermain Defoe, and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng. Aloe Blacc performed and Wolf Blitzer co-hosted the event which raised funds for the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ujiri’s Giants of Africa foundation.

Related: Watch Red Carpet Video From The Madiba Tribute Event

Also in attendance were Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang, NBA Africa vice-president and managing director Amadou Gallo Fall and South African anti-apartheid activist Tokyo Sexwale.

As people floated along the red carpet, the vibe was a positive one in celebration of Mandela’s greatness.

“I have to give back,” Ujiri said. “For me, it would be a failure if I could not give back.”

Lowry called Ujiri a great man and spoke of how the sport of basketball has changed his life. He said there was zero hesitation about attending when Ujiri extended the invitation his way.

“He’s the most upfront, honest guy you’re going to deal with,” Lowry said. “He’s very vocal but he knows how to get his point across at the same time by not screaming and yelling.”

MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke had similar praise for the dedication his general manager has to his native Africa.

“[He] amazes me with his heart, his commitment, his thoughts and prayers that continue to go back to his roots, and for the trials and tribulations that many in South Africa still go through every day,” Leiweke said.

Defoe chatted about England’s World Cup loss on the red carpet, but grew serious when speaking about Mandela's legacy, calling him an angel who wanted to make change and help others.

Now in a position to effect change, Ujiri has continued to speak out about what is important to him. Since founding Giants of Africa in 2003, Ujiri has been committed to using basketball as a tool to help empower youth in Africa. 

Ujiri spoke of Mandela’s message of kindness and of the importance of giving back to children to create a brighter future.