When the NBA added two new Canadian teams in 1995, the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies, it marked the league’s first Canadian teams since 1946. But over the next few years, the two franchises went in very different directions.
Prior to this, these teams were the first and only former pro basketball team in Canada besides a one-year wonder team, the Toronto Huskies, in 1946-57 before the franchise was dismantled.
Following this, both the newly created Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies came into the NBA. They initially struggled on the court and in attracting fans during their first three NBA seasons from 1995-1998. As expansion teams, they lacked the talent, experience, and fan support to compete with more established NBA franchises.
However, the Toronto Raptors managed to turn on the heat and are still a successful NBA team boasting an NBA Championship.
At the same time, the Vancouver Grizzlies survived just a few short seasons in US basketball before eventually exiting the league. It was a shame because the two teams were at opposite ends of the country, giving Canadians almost a West Vs. East rivalry amongst Canadian sports fans and betting enthusiasts.
The Rise of the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors have enjoyed 29 seasons in the NBA since starting in 1995. In the 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99 seasons, the team finished 8 out of 8 for the first three and then 6 out of 8 in the 4th season.
Things turned around for the franchise in 1999 when they acquired an exciting young star, Vince Carter. With Carter leading the way, the Raptors finally made the playoffs for 3 consecutive years.
Raptors First Playoffs
- 1999-2000 – 3rd and conference playoff first round
- 2000-2001 – 2nd and conference playoff semi-finals
- 2001-2002 – 3rd and conference playoff first round
The team became increasingly competitive over the next few years. Later stars like Chris Bosh and Kyle Lowry kept the Raptors a consistent playoff contender. However, it wasn’t until 2006 that it made it back as a playoff team.
Raptors’ Next Playoff Bids
- 2006-2007 – 1st and conference playoff first round
- 2007-2008 – 2nd and conference playoff first round
Next came what Raptors fans call the DeRozan and Lowry era. The team consistently dominated as one of the top teams in its conference and has since consistently made it into conference playoffs.
The Run-Up to the Raptors First NBA Championship and NBA Odds
Since 2013, the Toronto Raptors made themselves a firm fixture in the NBA. The team came 1st several times over the past decade, increasing its NBA odds of reaching playoffs and 1st place year by year and increasing the NBA betting odds of the team eventually becoming the first non-US team to win an NBA Championship.
Remarkably, some bookmakers put the odds of the Raptors winning the NBA Championship at 20-1 when the season began. As the team began mimicking its previous year’s winning percentage, bookmakers halved those odds to 10-1. Eventually, bookmakers realized there was a real chance of the Raptors winning the final, especially since Kawhi Leonard joined the team.
Eventually, the Raptors won in the final against the Golden State Warriors, making it one of the most historical NBA wins in the league’s history.
2013 to 2024 Toronto Raptors Performances
- 2013-14 – 1st and conference playoff first round
- 2014-15 – 1st and conference playoff first round
- 2015-16 – 1st and conference finalist
- 2016-17 – 2nd and conference semi-finalist
- 2017-18 – 1st and conference semi-finalist
2018-19 – 1st and *NBA Champions
- 2019-20 – 1st and Conference semi-finalist
- 2020-21 – 5th
- 2021-22 – 3rd and conference playoff first round
Struggles Over the Past 2 Years
It has not been a great past 2 years for the 2022-23 and 2023-2024 seasons. The Toronto Raptors has finished last in its division, especially after reaching 9 playoffs in 11 years.
Latest 2-Year Toronto Raptor Performances
- 2022-23 – 5th
- 2023-24 – 5th
The Vancouver Grizzlies
Like most new teams, the Vancouver Grizzlies struggled in their initial seasons after joining the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1995. The team finished last in their division multiple times and never won more than 30% of their games in any season in Vancouver. In total across six seasons, the Grizzlies won just 101 games compared to 359 losses and never made the playoffs.
Despite having high draft picks in the first few years, including drafting Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 1996 and Mike Bibby in 1998, the Grizzlies continued to lose frequently. After drafting Steve Francis with the #2 pick in 1999, he refused to play for the Vancouver team and was quickly traded away in a sign of the franchise’s dysfunction.
Midwest Division (Western Conference) Performances
- 1995 to 96 – 7th position
- 1996 to 97 – 7th position
- 1997–98 – 6th position
- 1998–99 – 7th position
- 1999–00 – 7th position
- 2000–01 – 7th position
Originally, the Grizzlies played at General Motors Place. After the 2000-01 season, the Grizzlies left Vancouver and moved to Memphis. Talk of Vancouver getting another NBA team continues, but nothing has materialized yet nearly 20 years later.
Raptor’s Growth Represents Canada in the NBA
The Raptors’ careful growth into a model NBA franchise and the Grizzlies’ quick failure highlights the importance of attracting stars, earning fan loyalty, and following a patient team-building approach over many years. This may serve as a blueprint for future Canadian NBA teams. Although the past 2 seasons for the Raptors have seen the team finish 5th, it is a successful NBA franchise, and many expect the team to get back to conference playoffs in the near future.
