NBA Team Guide
Toronto Raptors: History, Championships & Facts
The Raptors joined the NBA in 1995, alongside the Vancouver Grizzlies, as the league expanded into Canada. In 2019 they beat the Golden State Warriors to become the first team based outside the United States to win the NBA title.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1995 (franchise awarded 1993) |
|---|---|
| Arena | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto (opened 1999 as Air Canada Centre) |
| NBA titles | 1 (2019) |
| Division titles | 7 (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) through the 2025–26 season |
| Name origin | A 1994 name-the-team contest, influenced by the film Jurassic Park |
Championship history
Toronto won the 2019 NBA title in its first Finals appearance. Kawhi Leonard was Finals MVP.
- 2019 NBA Finals: beat the Golden State Warriors 4–2
- 2019 Eastern Conference finals: beat the Milwaukee Bucks 4–2
- 2016 Eastern Conference finals: lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–2
Franchise history
- 1995: Played the first game on November 3, at SkyDome.
- 1996: Damon Stoudamire, the first draft pick in team history, won Rookie of the Year.
- 1999: Moved into the new Air Canada Centre, renamed Scotiabank Arena in 2018.
- 2001: Beat the New York Knicks for the franchise's first playoff series win.
- 2019: Won the NBA championship over the Golden State Warriors.
- 2020: Played the 2020–21 home schedule in Tampa, Florida, because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
- 2024: Retired Vince Carter's No. 15, the first number retired by the franchise.
Franchise record holders
| Assists | Kyle Lowry, 4,277 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Chris Bosh, 4,776 |
| Blocks | Chris Bosh, 600 |
Retired numbers
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 15Vince Carter
Hall of Famers
Vince Carter, Chris Bosh.
Biggest rivalries
- Philadelphia 76ers: playoff meetings in 2001, 2019 and 2022, with Toronto winning the 2019 East semifinals in seven games.
- New York Knicks: Atlantic Division rivals and Toronto's opponent in its first two playoff trips, in 2000 and 2001.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Cleveland ended Toronto's season three years in a row, 2016–2018.
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How many championships have the Raptors won?
One, in 2019, beating the Golden State Warriors four games to two.
Why are they called the Raptors?
A national contest narrowed more than 2,000 entries to ten finalists. Raptors was unveiled on May 15, 1994, influenced by the popularity of the film Jurassic Park.
Why did the Raptors play in Tampa?
Canadian travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic kept the team out of Toronto for the 2020–21 season, so it played home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
What numbers have the Raptors retired?
As of September 2026, one: Vince Carter's No. 15, retired on November 2, 2024. Bill Russell's No. 6 is also retired across the NBA.
What was Scotiabank Arena called before?
Air Canada Centre, from its opening in 1999 until July 2018.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.