The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Scotiabank Arena, which it shares with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since the 2001–02 season, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the league, as the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, Tennessee.
SkyDome, known as Rogers Centre since 2005, was the original venue for Raptors home games from 1995 to 1999
The Raptors moved to Scotiabank Arena (then known as Air Canada Centre) in 1999
Vince Carter, drafted fifth in the 1998 NBA draft, played his first six seasons in the NBA with the Raptors
A game between the Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2004–05 season. The Raptors were moved to the NBA's Atlantic Division prior to the start of that season.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world.
Bill Russell defending against Wilt Chamberlain in 1966.
Michael Jordan became the league's most popular player during the 1990s, while leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships.
Tim Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships between 1999 and 2014.
Kobe Bryant defending LeBron James in a February 2016 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers
