The Toronto Raptors and its fans own the night after the dinos clawed the NBA crown away from the Golden State Warriors. Toronto’s 114-110 game 6 win ignited massive celebrations from coast to coast, cemented the 24-year-old Raptors in Canadian basketball folklore and denied a chance for the Warriors to join an exclusive club of NBA teams who have won three consecutive championships.

Raptors Win NBA Title We the North & We the Champs! #Raptors win NBA title over Golden State. Posted by Barrie 360 on Thursday, June 13, 2019

The run to the finals featured the world-stopping “shot” by Kawhi Leonard that took them past Philadelphia, a masterclass shutdown performance against favoured NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks and a dominate performance against the closest thing to a dynasty the league has seen in years.

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24 years in the making

Toronto Raptors acquire Vince Carter

The 1st Raptor Snubbed us. It began in 1995 when Chicago Bulls guard B. J. Armstrong officially became the first member of the Toronto Raptors. Armstrong refused to report after being selected in the expansion draft.

Enter Mighty Mouse. The Raptors first pick in the draft was an unpopular one when announced at the Skydome. Toronto selected Damon Stoudemire seventh overall. Stoudemire would later win the NBA’s rookie of the year award.

Woeful Inaugural Season The Raptors ended their first season with a 21-61 record.

Vinsanity comes to T.O. The franchise would turn a corner in the summer of 1998 after some wheeling and dealing resulted in a draft-day move to get Vince Carter ( who Golden State picked 5th). Carter would become the first Raptor to play in an All-Star game, taking the slam dunk contest in impressive fashion.

First Post-Season taste. The Raptors, led by Carter, Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley were swept by the New York Knicks.

A defining summer. After years of mediocracy the Raptors had a defining summer in 2013. Drake signed as a global ambassador. Masai Ujiri was named General Manager and Kyle Lowry was the leader on the court. ‘

Playoff drought snapped. The Raptors tasted a brief post season snack in 2014 but fall to the Nets.

Falling to King James. The Raptors hit a milestone and a big roadblock in 2016, losing in the Conference finals to LeBron James and the Cavs.

Enter, King of the North. The Raptors then made a bold move for Kawhi Leonard and the rest is history.