1995 NBA Toronto Raptors at Vancouver Grizzlies, December 10, 1995

1995 NBA Toronto Raptors at Vancouver Grizzlies, December 10, 1995

TOR 93, VAN 81 – In 1995, the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies both made their debut in the NBA, marking the first time since the 1946–47 Toronto Huskies that Canadian teams joined the league. Isiah Thomas, a retired All-Star point guard and former Detroit Pistons star, took on the role of General Manager for the Raptors. The team introduced a new primary logo featuring a dinosaur playing basketball and updated their uniforms with pinstripes and the new logo on the front, incorporating purple and red into their color scheme.

On December 10, 1995, over 30,000 fans witnessed the Toronto Raptors, guided by the rookie “Mighty Mouse” point guard Damon Stoudemire, take on the Vancouver Grizzlies for the first time. The Grizzlies, led by their rookie center Bryant Reeves, a towering seven-footer, hosted the game at General Motors Place in Vancouver. The Raptors came out on top with a 93-81 victory.

Together, they were the first NBA teams based in Canada since 1947. It had been nearly 50 years since the Toronto Huskies, then part of the Basketball Association of America, the forerunner to the NBA, played at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Player of the game:
Damon Stoudamire: 24 PTS, 9-13 FGM, 69 FG%, 1-2 3PM, 7 REB, 8 AST, 1 BLK

During the 1995 NBA expansion draft, the Toronto Raptors selected several veteran players, including B.J. Armstrong, Oliver Miller, Willie Anderson, Tony Massenburg, Ed Pinckney, Žan Tabak, Acie Earl, and John Salley. However, Armstrong declined to play for the Raptors and was subsequently traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for second-year forward Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander. The Raptors also added free agents, such as former All-Star guard Alvin Robertson and three-point shooter Tracy Murray. With the seventh overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, the Raptors chose point guard Damon Stoudamire from the University of Arizona. Additionally, the team appointed Brendan Malone as their first-ever head coach.

Damon Stoudamire, standing at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), 171 lb (78 kg), the “Mighty Mouse” point guard was selected with the 7th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA draft and won the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 19 points per game on 43 FG%, 2 threes a game at 40 3P%, 80% from the line, 9.3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals.

Following a successful first season in the NBA, Damon would average under 20 points per game and 8 assists for 3 seasons in Toronto as the main man of the young franchise, he would later play for the Portland Trail Blazers during one of the team’s most successful periods.

Damon was an underrated defender given his size; he used his speed and craftiness to effectively contain Kobe Bryant during the 2000 Western Conference Finals, performing better in that role than most of his teammates, not named Scottie Pippen.

In his career, he averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists per game.

Also featured in this game is Alvin Robertson, a 33-year-old NBA veteran who was a 4-time All-Star, 3-time Steals Champion, 1986 All-NBA Second Team member, 6-time All-Defensive Team selection, 1986 Defensive Player of the Year, 1986 Most Improved Player, and was drafted in 1984, a class that also produced Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Despite missing two seasons due to a back injury, he returned to the game as a Raptor and played a crucial role in mentoring Damon during his rookie year with the team.