Toronto Raptors: A look back at other firsts in franchise history

The Toronto Raptors had their best regular season ever in 2017-18, finishing top in the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history.

After setting an all-time team best with 59 wins (a missed Delon Wright three-pointer from reaching the 60-mark), the Toronto Raptors look to continue their goal of establishing new franchise firsts.

Only the Houston Rockets finished with a better record than the Raptors, and both teams were tied for the best home record in the NBA at 34-7.

Toronto will start their playoff push against the Washington Wizards on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre, and will have home-court advantage in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

(Editor’s note – And if they advance to the finals and face anyone other than Houston, they will have home-court advantage once again.)

After a historical season, it’s time to look back at some of the Raptors’ historical firsts throughout the team’s 22-year history.

THE EARLY YEARS

The First Year

Toronto was granted a conditional expansion team in September 1993, with the plan to become the NBA’s 28th team in 1995-96.

The Raptors’ first year in Toronto was almost the complete opposite of this year, as the expansion club finished 21-61. With a .256 winning percentage, Toronto compiled the third-worst record in the league, better than only the Philadelphia 76ers and the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies.

Two seasons later the Raptors would set a new franchise worst at 16-66, so the inaugural season stands as the second-lowest win total in team history.