Since joining the NBA in 1995, the Toronto Raptors have gone from an expansion franchise to champions. Along the way, they’ve produced some of the most unforgettable moments in Canadian sports history.
With Kyle Lowry officially signing a one-day contract to retire as a Raptor, it’s the perfect time to revisit one of the biggest debates among Canadian hoops fans: who really is the greatest Raptor of all time?
It’s not as simple as looking at points, championships or awards. Some players put up incredible numbers, others changed the culture, while a select few delivered moments that Raptors fans will never forget.
So, who takes the top spot? To answer that, we weighed several factors, including individual talent, team success, longevity and each player’s overall impact on the franchise.
With those criteria in mind, here’s our ranking of the top five Raptors of all time, plus a few honourable mentions that just missed the cut.
Honourable Mentions
Not everyone could make the top five. These players all made a lasting impact on the franchise and have strong cases of their own, but just fell short of cracking our final list.
Pascal Siakam
A key piece of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team, Pascal Siakam developed from a late first-round pick into one of the NBA’s best forwards. Two All-NBA selections, two All-Star appearances and a Most Improved Player award make him one of the franchise’s greatest success stories.
Damon Stoudamire
The Raptors’ first-ever draft pick immediately gave the new franchise an identity, winning Rookie of the Year in 1995-96. Although his time in Toronto was relatively short, “Mighty Mouse” helped lay the foundation during the team’s formative years.
Scottie Barnes
At just 24 years old, Scottie Barnes has already established himself as the face of the Raptors’ next generation. With an All-Star selection and Rookie of the Year honours already on his résumé, he has plenty of time to climb this list in the years ahead.
5. Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves in Toronto, but there’s no denying his place among the franchise’s all-time greats. After Vince Carter’s departure, Bosh became the face of the Raptors and carried the team through one of its most challenging eras.
During his seven seasons with the Raptors, Bosh was named to five straight All-Star teams and remains the Raptors’ all-time leader in both rebounds (4,776) and blocks (600).
While the team enjoyed limited playoff success during his tenure, his consistent production and leadership kept Toronto competitive and helped bridge the gap between the Vince Carter era and the franchise’s eventual rise into a perennial contender.
4. Kawhi Leonard
No player in Raptors history reached the heights Kawhi Leonard did during the 2018-19 season. In his lone year with Toronto, Leonard averaged 26.6 points per game, led Toronto to its first NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP after one of the greatest playoff runs the league has ever seen.
The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is longevity. Leonard played just one season in Toronto, making it difficult to rank him above players who spent years building the franchise. Still, his impact was undeniable, and without him, the Raptors likely don’t have a championship banner hanging at Scotiabank Arena.
Now, after being traded back to Toronto seven years later, Leonard has the opportunity to add another chapter to his Raptors legacy. If he can stay healthy and help lead the team back into contention, he may have a legitimate chance to climb even higher on this list.
3. DeMar DeRozan
Drafted ninth overall in 2009, DeRozan spent nine seasons in Toronto and grew from an athletic scorer into one of the NBA’s premier shooting guards, all while embracing the city like few players before him.
DeRozan remains the Raptors’ all-time leader in both points and games played. He also earned four All-Star selections and two All-NBA honours while in Toronto, helping lead the team to five straight playoff appearances and its first-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2016.
While DeRozan never got to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a Raptors uniform, his loyalty, longevity and role in transforming the franchise make him one of the greatest players to ever wear the jersey.
2. Vince Carter
No player has had a bigger impact on Canadian basketball than Vince Carter. Selected fifth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft, Carter transformed the Raptors from a young expansion franchise into one of the NBA’s must-watch teams, captivating fans with his jaw-dropping dunks and superstar talent.
During his six-plus seasons in Toronto, Carter won Rookie of the Year, earned five All-Star selections and led the Raptors to their first three playoff appearances. His legendary performance in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest remains one of the most iconic moments in NBA history.
His exit from Toronto was messy and damaged his relationship with the fanbase for years, but time has healed many of those wounds. Today, Carter is widely recognized as the player who made basketball explode in popularity across Canada.
1. Kyle Lowry
No player embodies Raptors basketball quite like Kyle Lowry. Acquired in a relatively under-the-radar trade in 2012, Lowry developed into the heart and soul of the franchise. He set the standard with his toughness, leadership and relentless competitiveness every time he stepped on the court.
Over nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry became a six-time All-Star and the franchise’s all-time leader in assists, steals and three-pointers. He helped transform the team into a perennial playoff contender before finally delivering the city’s first NBA championship in 2019.
Lowry’s combination of longevity, leadership and success gives him the edge over the other names on this list. His recent one-day contract to retire as a Raptor only reinforces what most fans have believed for years: Kyle Lowry is more than just a Raptors legend; he’s the greatest player in franchise history.