Toronto Raptors: A look back at other firsts in franchise history
The First Game
The Raptors won their first ever NBA contest, 94-79 over the New Jersey Nets, in front of 33,306 fans at the SkyDome. Yes, the Raptors played at the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) until they moved into the Air Canada Centre in 1999.
Veteran shooting guard Alvin Robertson led the charge with 30 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes for the Raptors, including the first basket in team history.
After missing the previous two seasons due to back injuries, Robertson’s comeback started with a bang. He played in 77-games during his first season in Toronto, but 1995-96 would be the 1984 first round draft pick’s last season in the NBA.
Toronto’s inaugural first round draft pick, Damon Stoudamire put up the Raptors’ first double-double, with 10 points and 10 assists that night. He would emerge as the franchise player in Toronto for the next few seasons and won Rookie of the Year honours in 1995-96.
The Oregon native was traded during the 1997-98 season to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto would have to wait another of couple seasons to see their next franchise player.