Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

1996–97 Toronto Raptors season

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Head coach
  
Darrell Walker

Playoff finish
  
Did not qualify

Record
  
30–52 (.366)

Owner(s)
  
John Bitove, Allan Slaight, Isiah Thomas

Arena
  
SkyDome Copps Coliseum Maple Leaf Gardens

Place
  
Division: 8th (Central) Conference: 12th (Eastern)

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Raptors' second season in the National Basketball Association. The Raptors drafted Marcus Camby with the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and started their season with new head coach Darrell Walker. Veteran leadership was added to the team with the acquisitions of Walt Williams, Popeye Jones, Hubert Davis and John Long. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent Oliver Miller after a brief stint with the Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors finished last place in the Central Division with a 30–52 record, which was a nine-game improvement over their inaugural season. Second-year star Damon Stoudamire led the team averaging 20.2 points per game, while Camby averaged 14.8 points per game and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team. Following the season, Davis signed with the Dallas Mavericks and Long retired.

Contents

Highs

  • November 1, 1996 – To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the NBA, the first game of the season was played between the Raptors and the New York Knicks. Both teams wore throwback uniforms to recognize the anniversary. The Raptors wore the jerseys of the Toronto Huskies. The reason the game was played in Toronto was to recognize that the first ever NBA game was played in Toronto. The final score was 107–99 for the Knicks.
  • November 8, 1996 – The Raptors pulled a huge upset by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 93–92. One of the game's highlights was Popeye Jones blocking a shot by Shaquille O’Neal.
  • December 8, 1996 – In a game against the defending NBA Champion Chicago Bulls, the Raptors pulled another upset by defeating the Bulls 97–89
  • February 25, 1997 – Versus the Denver Nuggets, the Raptors had their highest point total of the season. The final score was 124–122 for the Raptors.

    • Lows

  • January 15, 1997 – The Raptors suffer one of their worst losses of the season. It was at the hands of the defending Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics by a score of 122-78.

    • Regular season

    * Statistics include only games with the Raptors

    Award winners

  • Marcus Camby, First Team, NBA All-Rookie Team

    • References

    1996–97 Toronto Raptors season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA