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A Look Back at Vinsanity

A Look Back at Vinsanity

He retired a bearded journeyman, extending the end of his career by becoming a role player for a range of teams; after leaving the Raptors, Vince Carter played for the Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Kings, and Hawks over the course of 16 seasons. Carter is actually the first and only NBA player to play 22 seasons in four different decades. He never wanted his playing days to end, but this 2021 season was the first without Vince Carter since 1998-99. It was different at the beginning, though; Carter was no role player. Immediately upon taking the court for the lowly Raptors, “Vinsanity” began and descended upon the league. This guy could dunk. He did so with Jordan-esque flair, soaring through the air before forcefully slamming the ball home. Carter had the moves to do it on his own, whether in the paint or from the field. He drained mid-range jumpers, threes, and buzzer-beaters. By season’s end, the Rookie of the Year award was his. The next couple of seasons, Carter took things further; in 2000, during the All-Star break, the man they called “Air Canada” threw it down in his now-legendary Slam Dunk Contest debut. These gravity-defying dunks had his league mates on the floor in hysterics. As soon as Carter finished, he went ahead let everyone know that the competition was, in fact, over. During the regular season he averaged 25.7 points per game and lead the Raptors to their first-ever playoff appearance. The next year, Carter raised his PPG to 27.6 while the Raptors captured a franchise record for wins. They won their first playoff series, against the Knicks, and moved on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Carter and the Raptors went toe-to-toe with Allen Iverson and the 76ers, in a series dubbed the “Superstar Wars.” Both carried their respective teams, scoring at will; in the third game in Toronto, Vince bagged 50 points and tied the record for three-pointers in a playoff game. It was a fevered, high-scoring battle, which unsurprisingly went to game seven. In the final seconds of that final game, Carter had the ball and a chance to win it for the Raptors with a buzzer-beater. Alas, the shot rimmed out, one of the few misses that series for Vince. From there, things began to go downhill between Carter and the Raptors; the team gave their star a big extension, but injuries started to take their toll, limiting his minutes significantly. Carter missed 22 games the next season, 2002-02, and then, following an off-season surgery, played only 43 games over the 2002-03 season. Without him, the Raptors started to fall out of contention; soon, the front office began thinking about rebuilding with young talent. A couple of months into the 2004-05 season, Carter was traded to the Nets.  While he would continue to play an important role for a number of playoff teams, Vince Carter was never quite the transcendent figure he was with the Raptors. And though the relationship between Carter and the Toronto fans has not always been rosy since his departure, the last few years have seen that relationship heal somewhat; during the Raptors' 20th Anniversary season, while playing in Toronto with the visiting Grizzlies, Carter got an extended standing ovation. It mended that divide, and was truly well deserved – the Raptors' early years would undoubtedly have been less fun without him! 

Who Were They? The Toronto Huskies

Who Were They? The Toronto Huskies

The Toronto Huskies were Toronto's first NBA team. They were founded in 1946 and lasted only one season. The first-ever game of what is now the National Basketball Association – a pretty momentous event in the history of basketball. With the size and popularity of the league as it is now, you'd think that its founding year would be way back, in the early 1900s. And what teams do you think took part? With these things it's usually storied franchises, so the basketball equivalent of the Green Bay Packers, the Boston Red Sox, etc. Well, there's two surprises coming... one, the first NBA game was played in 1946. Sure, that was over 70 years ago, but for reference, the National Hockey League was founded in 1917. Major League Baseball's National League, which at one point stood on its own, dates back to 1876. And the National Football League, they will start celebrating their centennial season come September. So, when it comes to the North American "Core Four," the NBA is the baby of the bunch. And then there's the teams that took part. One of them is a classic franchise that is still going strong: the New York Knicks, or Knickerbockers, as they were originally and are more formerly known. Their competitor may surprise you, however. It was the Toronto Huskies. Yes, Canada had a professional basketball franchise before the Raptors, and yes they had the honour of playing in the very first NBA game. What happened to the Toronto Huskies? Unfortunately for the Huskies, they peaked a bit early. They would only play that single season, compiling a record of 22-38, before folding. From there the Huskies became a mere footnote, a trivia tidbit. They deserved better really – they had a great name and a look to equal it. Blue and white colours, matching those of the well-loved Maple Leafs, and a sweet panting-dog logo. The Huskies also had their own unique typeface. So why did the franchise fail? Attendance. That first game against the Knicks drew a decent crowd, but after that the numbers continued to fall. It's said that ownership lost $100,000 in that single season of operations. At the time, pro basketball was a new thing and was not seen as big-time, nor a real career path for those playing. The sport was instead built around the college and high school game. And in Toronto hockey is king, of course, so an upstart league with generally the same schedule didn't have much of a chance. At that time, before huge TV viewership – and therefore huge TV deals – became a thing, teams relied on the box office; that's where they got their money. That's why, for example, the Canadian Football League was on the same tier as the NFL, because they drew similar crowds. And that's great for a smaller-market league if you are getting fans through the gate, but if not... there's nothing to fall back on. So, the Huskies leapt, and the Huskies fell. The Toronto Huskies Legacy The Huskies have come back from the dead, somewhat, as the Raptors, the city's second go at an NBA franchise, now wear Huskies throwback uniforms on select nights. This started in 2009, and of 2016 the blue and white became an official "alternate" uniform. They even change the hardwood to match. It's a fitting tribute to the short-lived, yet trailblazing franchise that was.

Toronto Huskies

The Raptors Go Retro: Celebrating the Toronto Huskies

The Toronto Raptors, at 22 years old, are one of the NBA's younger franchises. Unlike teams like the Celtics and the Lakers, the Raptors don't have a long list of legendary names to celebrate, or glory days to reminisce about. Their uniforms have never been classic or timeless, always very much of the moment. The Raptors are possibly the league's best example of a Millennial franchise, the child of a Hollywood blockbuster -- Jurassic Park -- born right in the middle of the 1990s.  There is more to Toronto basketball than meets the eye, however -- the city was home to another franchise, the Huskies, who hosted and played in the first-ever game of what would become the NBA, in 1946. The Huskies didn't last long -- only one season, in fact -- but they are still an important part of basketball history, not only in Canada but globally.  The Raptors are celebrating that legacy again this season as they will don vintage-inspired Huskies jerseys six times and also give their court the full treatment -- instead of the ball-and-claw logo and red paint, it will be the panting husky and blue. It's a good call considering the greater throwback movement happening in the NBA right now; the Bucks, Lakers, Heat, Hornets, Suns, and Pacers have all announced throwbacks to be worn on a regular basis, while others will follow with single-game special event designs. It makes sense that everyone is hopping in the time machine. Throwback uniforms salute the past, establish a sense of longevity and team culture. A team's brand is most successful when it unites then and now, past and present. Look at the Yankees, who this past season captured the sporting world's attention through a record-breaking rookie year by Aaron Judge. No one in North America relies on history and a heritage identity as much as the Yankees, yet they have become a trending topic thanks to a glut of young stars.  The Lakers hope to be that story in the NBA this year. With 16 titles and Hall of Fame names up in the rafters, they certainly have a storied past. They also have new talent, most notably Lonzo Ball, who, thanks to his father's braggadocios support, became a household name before playing a minute of professional ball. The Lakers will hope their young player can live up to the hype and put up gaudy numbers like Judge this season.  The current Raptors squad may be the best in franchise history. They've captured the nation's attention. In Drake the Raptors have a big-name ambassador and fan, as well, and are that much more relevant as a result. The only thing missing is a sense of team history, that storied past. There's not much to look back on, aside from the dunking exploits of Vince Carter, so the Huskies have become that valuable bit of nostalgia.  When the Huskies take the court this season, let your mind drift back to the 1940s. Imagine you're in Maple Leaf Gardens, smoky and dimly lit, amongst fans in formal wear. The television cameras aren't capturing an HD feed, but grainy black-and-white. The shorts are short and dunking does not yet exist. Toronto has this charming history, now's the time to embrace it.  *** Want more Raptors content? Give our TSN Radio segment, The Art of Sport, a listen below! 

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