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FRANCHISE HISTORY<br />
NOVEMBER 1: The Toronto Raptors begin their second<br />
<strong>NBA</strong> season hosting the New York Knicks, 50 years to<br />
the day the Toronto Huskies hosted the Knicks in the<br />
first-ever game in <strong>NBA</strong> history. New York won both times,<br />
prevailing 107-99 this year.<br />
NOVEMBER 15: Slaight Investments, Inc. takes majority<br />
control of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. after<br />
buying out Bitove Investments, Inc.<br />
NOVEMBER 22: The Raptors appoint Richard Peddie<br />
as new team president and chief operating officer.<br />
1997<br />
MARCH 12: Raptors officially break ground at Air Canada<br />
Centre site at 40 Bay St.<br />
APRIL 28: The first concrete is poured for Air Canada<br />
Centre’s foundation.<br />
NOVEMBER 20: The team announces that Isiah<br />
Thomas, Executive Vice President, Basketball has<br />
resigned his position with the club and will sell his nine<br />
percent ownership stake to majority owner Allan Slaight.<br />
Glen Grunwald is promoted to General Manager.<br />
1998<br />
FEBRUARY 12: Maple Leaf Gardens, Ltd. announces<br />
its purchase of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc.<br />
and the Air Canada Centre.<br />
FEBRUARY 13: The Raptors announce a six-player deal<br />
with the Portland Trail Blazers at the same time that head<br />
coach Darrell Walker steps down from his position to be<br />
replaced by Butch Carter on an interim basis.<br />
MARCH 10: The Board of Directors of Maple Leaf<br />
Gardens, Ltd. names Richard Peddie as President and<br />
CEO of the transition team that will oversee the<br />
construction of the Air Canada Centre and the<br />
management of the Raptors and Maple Leafs. The post<br />
is made permanent on October 6.<br />
MARCH 27: The <strong>NBA</strong> unanimously approves the sale of<br />
the Raptors to Maple Leaf Gardens, Ltd.<br />
APRIL 22: Maple Leaf Gardens, Ltd. announces the<br />
<strong>com</strong>pany’s purchase of the Raptors and Air Canada<br />
Centre has been <strong>com</strong>pleted.<br />
JULY 1: Maple Leaf Gardens, Ltd. is renamed Maple<br />
Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., the parent <strong>com</strong>pany of<br />
the Raptors, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, Air<br />
Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Gardens.<br />
1999<br />
JANUARY 21: The Raptors hold training camp at Air<br />
Canada Centre for the first time.<br />
FEBRUARY 21: The Raptors play their first game at Air<br />
Canada Centre, defeating the Vancouver Grizzlies, 102-<br />
87, in front of a sellout crowd of 19,800.<br />
TORONTO RAPTORS 2009-10 PRESEASON<br />
MAY 26: Vince Carter is named the Schick <strong>NBA</strong> Rookie<br />
of the Year.<br />
SEPTEMBER 30: The team unveils its new uniforms for<br />
the start of the 1999-2000 season.<br />
2000<br />
FEBRUARY 13: Vince Carter be<strong>com</strong>es the first Raptor<br />
to start and play in the All-Star Game as he accumulates<br />
more votes than any other player. The previous day, he<br />
won the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in<br />
Oakland.<br />
MARCH 26: Vince Carter named to the U.S. Olympic<br />
Team for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and would<br />
later capture the gold medal.<br />
APRIL 12: The Raptors qualify for the <strong>NBA</strong> playoffs for<br />
the first time in club history.<br />
APRIL 30: The Raptors host their first-ever playoff game,<br />
falling 87-80 to the Knicks, ending the series in three<br />
games.<br />
JUNE 21: Lenny Wilkens, the winningest coach in <strong>NBA</strong><br />
history, is named the new head coach of the Raptors.<br />
2001<br />
JANUARY 16: Raptors tie an <strong>NBA</strong> record with only three<br />
turnovers in a 114-99 loss to the Houston Rockets.<br />
JANUARY 19: Lenny Wilkens records his 1,200th <strong>NBA</strong><br />
win with a 101-79 victory over the visiting Washington<br />
Wizards.<br />
JANUARY 27: For the second consecutive year, Vince<br />
Carter receives the most fan votes for the <strong>NBA</strong> All-Star<br />
Game (1,717,687).<br />
FEBRUARY 10: Morris Peterson be<strong>com</strong>es the third<br />
Raptor to play in the Schick <strong>NBA</strong> Rookie Challenge during<br />
All-Star Weekend in Washington D.C.<br />
FEBRUARY 11: Vince Carter and Antonio Davis start for<br />
the Eastern Conference at the <strong>NBA</strong> All-Star Game in<br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
FEBRUARY 20: Mark Jackson records his 9,062nd<br />
career assist vs. Golden State to surpass Isiah Thomas<br />
for fourth on the <strong>NBA</strong> all-time assists chart.<br />
FEBRUARY 28: Charles Oakley be<strong>com</strong>es the Raptors’<br />
all-time leading rebounder pulling down 11 boards at<br />
Atlanta, surpassing Doug Christie’s mark of 1,448.<br />
MARCH 2: Vince Carter be<strong>com</strong>es the Raptors’ all-time<br />
leading scorer surpassing Doug Christie (4,448).<br />
MARCH 4: Vince Carter is named <strong>NBA</strong> Player of the<br />
Week averaging 31.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists<br />
leading the Raptors to four consecutive victories.<br />
MARCH 23: The Raptors set an <strong>NBA</strong> record for most<br />
blocks in a game with 23 vs. Atlanta.<br />
APRIL 3: The Raptors defeat the Sixers 100-85 to secure<br />
their second consecutive trip to the postseason.
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