Toronto Raptors Final Appearances

The Toronto Raptors were established as a part of the NBA's expansion into Canada in 1995. The name "Raptors" was chosen for the team through a nationwide poll, with many selecting it due to their love for the popular Jurassic Park movie at the time.

Next couple of decades, the Raptors wooed basketball fans worldwide as their teams over the years have featured some of the most exciting box-office players such as Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, and the duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

The Toronto Raptors burst into the limelight in their inaugural season as they became one of only 10 teams to defeat the formidable 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, led by the iconic duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

In 1998, Vince Carter joined the Toronto Raptors and changed the game with his electrifying style of play. The "Vinsanity" was truly underway in Toronto as he propelled the Raptors to global fame with his jaw-dropping dunks. During the Carter era, the Raptors also sported iconic jerseys featuring a dribbling raptor dinosaur design which is one of the greatest NBA jerseys to this day. Raptors play home games at the Scotiabank Arena, and outside the arena, there’s a fan’s park known as "Jurassic Park," which boasts an electric atmosphere.

Now owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the Raptors experienced some struggles in the 2000s before enjoying a resurgence from 2013 to 2022, making the playoffs eight out of nine times.

Currently, the “Canada's Team” Tornoto Raptors is in a rebuilding phase, with Scottie Barnes emerging as the new face of the franchise, signaling hope for a bright future.

How many NBA championships have the Toronto Raptors won?

The Toronto Raptors have won one NBA championship in their history. This historic victory came in 2019, marking a significant milestone for the franchise and its devoted fan base.

Prior to their championship triumph, the Raptors had established themselves as a consistent playoff contender, securing seven regular-season division titles since joining the NBA.

However, despite their regular-season success, they faced challenges in the playoffs, often falling short in the Eastern Conference against formidable opponents, notably LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers teams.

In 2018, Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri orchestrated a series of bold moves that would alter the course of the franchise's history. The acquisition of superstar Kawhi Leonard and veteran presence Marc Gasol proved to be masterstrokes, bolstering the team's roster with proven talent and championship experience.

Led by Kawhi Leonard's transcendent performances on both ends of the court, the Raptors embarked on an unforgettable title run in the 2019 playoffs. They overcame the Orlando Magic in the first round before engaging in a fierce seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The series reached its climax with Leonard's iconic buzzer-beating shot in Game 7, forever etching his name in NBA lore and propelling the Raptors to victory.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors faced adversity once again, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks 0-2 before rallying to win four straight games and clinch a berth in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Facing the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in the Finals, the Raptors showcased their resilience and determination, ultimately securing a historic 4-2 series victory. Kawhi Leonard's exceptional play earned him Finals MVP honors, while the entire team's collective effort solidified their place in basketball history and brought unparalleled joy to the city of Toronto.

The Raptors' 2019 NBA championship will forever be remembered as a defining moment for the franchise and its fans, capping off a remarkable journey filled with unforgettable memories and transcendent performances.

Toronto Raptors NBA Finals Appearance History

The Toronto Raptors made their first and only NBA Finals appearance in 2019, and they won the 2019 finals 4-2 against the Golden State Warriors. In this historic triumph, the Toronto Raptors became the first non-American team to win an NBA title, and get the prestigious Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

The 2019 Raptors NBA title marked a significant moment not only in basketball but in Canadian sports history as it ended a 25-year-long drought for major professional sports teams based in Canada since the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series win in 1993.

The Raptors' 2019 NBA championship run was a must-watch event in Canada as Game 1 alone drew an average of 3.3 million viewers on Sportsnet, setting a new record for the highest-rated NBA game in Canadian history.

With each subsequent game, the viewership numbers continued to climb, and eventually, it reached the ultimate peak during Game 6, when the Raptors clinched the title, attracting a staggering 7.7 million viewers. These viewership figures were an all-time high for any NBA game that got shown in Canada ever. This shows the unparalleled excitement and nationwide support for the Toronto Raptors.

Below is a table summarizing the Toronto Raptors' NBA Finals appearance history:

What teams did the Toronto Raptors lose the NBA Finals against?

Throughout their franchise history, the Toronto Raptors never lost an NBA Finals series. The Raptors reached the NBA finals only once in their history and this lone appearance in the NBA Finals took place in 2019, where they clinched victory against the Golden State Warriors with a 4-2 score. As a result, the Raptors maintain an unblemished record of 1-0 in the NBA Finals.

Toronto Raptors Last NBA Finals Appearance

The Toronto Raptors last NBA Finals appearance was in 2019.

In the 2019 NBA finals, Toronto Raptors faced off against the Golden State Warriors, who were aiming for a third consecutive championship. While the Warriors featured a star-studded lineup featuring the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, they faced adversity with the absence of Kevin Durant due to injury.

Despite Durant's injury sidelining him for the initial games, the Warriors remained favorites, while the Raptors were underdogs. However, Kawhi Leonard's tremendous two-way game was supported by that season’s “Most Improved Player” award winner Pascal Siakam, 3-point sharpshooter Fred VanVleet, and seasoned veterans Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol.

This kind of insane roster depth was too much to handle for the Warriors as the Raptors dominated the series in early games, and seized a commanding 3-1 lead.

In crucial Game 5, Kevin Durant made a dramatic return to Warriors lineup and actually put up 11 points in the first quarter but his return was short lived as KD suffered a devastating Achilles injury early in the second quarter which altered the course of the series. However, the Golden State Warriors made a remarkable 20 three-pointers in Game 5, bringing the 2019 Finals series to 3-2.

Then in a decisive Game 6, the Raptors closed out the series against the Warriors. Led by stellar performances from Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, Raptors secured a resounding victory over the Warriors, clinching the NBA title for the first time in franchise history.

Kawhi Leonard's exceptional play throughout the series, averaging 28.5 points per game, earned him Finals MVP honors as he joined the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James, one of the only three players to be named NBA Finals MVP with two different teams.