The Raptors' road to their first NBA Championship

From the franchises birth in 1995, to the constant disappointments. From star players leaving to crushing playoff defeats. The Raptors have finally rewarded fans across Canada with an NBA title. Relive the Raps' long winding road to their first championship.

[sportspolitics]

Great video. Thank you Raptors for silencing those 2015 Warriors' bandwagon. Raptors supporter from Rhode Island

[chrisdallaire]

Not a single top 10 draft pick on our squad...STILL BROUGHT THE TITLE LETS GO

[scopelynx]

I was in elementary school when Brooklyn beat the Raptors. I watched us get swept against the cavs. The moment we beat philly in game 7, I knew we’d go and win the whole thing. Let’s go raptors⭐️

[fotomedia]

Raptors made a fool of Stephen A every step of the way in post season. And Skip Bayless having a heart attack. LOL

[ckendall]

- I remember watching the Raptors' 1st ever game in 1995. I remember when they upset the 72-win Bulls that same year. I remember their disasterous 16-win season in '98 after which Glen Grunwald walked onto the court after the final game & apologized to the fans. I remember Vince winning the Slam Dunk contest. I remember Vince's missed shot in Game 7 at Philly....then the subsequent decline in fortunes by the Raptors soon after. Then Vince Carter getting traded to the Nets. "I don't wanna dunk anymore". Then Chris Bosh & Andrea Bargnani joining the team & leading them to the playoffs in '07 & '08. Then Bosh leaving to join LeBron & D-Wade in Miami. "They don't have ESPN in Canada". The ill-fated Hedo Terkoglu signing. "Ball!" Then the Masai Ujiri era begins. Kyle Lowry and Dwane Casey come on board. They make the playoffs in 2014( the debut of Jurassic Park outside the arena )but lose Game 7 at home vs Brooklyn with Lowry getting blocked by Paul Pierce on the last shot & then laying on the court visibly upset. Then 3 straight playoff exits at the hands of LeBron and the Cavs. "LeBronto". Dwane Casey's firing. The trade of DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard. Fans & media couldn't understand what Masai & the Raptors were doing. DeMar was fuming. Kyle was upset that his closest friend on the team was gone. Kawhi's 1st press conference and 'the laugh'. ;) Then finally the season begins...and the Raps finish 2nd in the East. Then comes the Sixers series. Kawhi makes "The Shot" and finally 18 years later the 'Hex' over the Raptors has been lifted. They rally to beat Milwaukee in the conference final. Then going up against the Warriors dynasty. Kevin Durant's devastating injury. The Raps take all 3 games on the road...and FINALLY they take Game 6 to clinch their 1ST NBA championship. And Kawhi wins the MVP award. The trade worked out perfectly. So finally after everything that's happened the past 24 years, all the ups & downs....the Toronto Raptors can finally call themselves NBA Champions. At long last. What a journey. We The North!! :-D

[Charles_Groebs]

As a Minnesotan, Congrats to our neighbors of the North. You truly deserve it.

[Ashleypmendoza]

Bro I deadass shed a tear watching this

[Afro_Sensei]

4:40 gave me Chills. So happy for Kawhi, the Raptors and the country of Canada. CONGRATS.

[JonnyLin]

Kind of sad they completely skipped over Bosh. I mean yes definitely less significant than VC, but he was a great Raptor who lead us to our first division title and the impact of him leaving was pretty big on the franchise.

[TheSheiban]

The Raptors in their debut season beat the Chicago Bulls with Steve Kerr as a player, and now the Golden State Warriors with Steve Kerr as the coach...

[KevinKillaKam]

They were just better. So proud of this team. Ending the Toronto Championship drought.

[calicoD]

0:58 Announcer: Steve Kerr, No
2019 Raptors: Steve Kerr, Nope

[fillatron]

Drake got more screentime here then Derozan

[Braymo]

Who ever disliked this is a salty spurs fan or a salty bandwagon warriors fan

[cashiusclay_]

I swear I get GOOSEBUMPS just thinkin' about last night, biggest thing to happen since the JAYS!!!!

[KobeKid]

We The North! What a time to be Alive!!

[GianniEndo]

So proud of my city. Better yet, so proud of my country. This still feels surreal. 24 years in the making, baby! LETS GO RAPTORS!

[Noper]

Sweetest part of the victory is proving the doubters wrong

[emanuelfrederick]

Again congratulations to the Toronto Raptors, and Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi Leonard is a superstar and he's been on this stage before maybe another level but he knows for a fact to make an attempt to repeat, the ownership must add better players to the team to be a top Contender the following year. Kawhi Leonard knows this banned for that fact even though they won he also has experience and know that the team has to get better in order to repeat, especially listening and knowing all the changes that are happening as we speak with the other teams which are you going to be competitive even more so. I believe that would be the deciding factor as to his decision. Again all the luxury they haven't offered to him is great, but increase in his salary and the knowledge that there will be major trades to make the team better these two are major factors in my estimation.🤔PS after all Kawhi Leonard has fulfilled all that was promised and he owes Toronto nothing. Is there move, and Free Housing is not going to do it. He makes enough money to buy his own.

[fillatron]

damn they gave derozan a whole 25s of screentime.