Toronto Raptors: Ranking the top 5 jerseys of all time

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 09: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates after making a three pointer against the Boston Celtics in the first half during Game Six of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on September 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /

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Kawhi Leonard #2 and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate late in the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. “Earned Edition” (2018-19)

The precursor to the chevron-heavy look that the Raptors just recently unveiled, the Earned Edition jerseys seemed to be the threads that the team turned to when their backs were against the wall.

Down 2-1 to the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2018-19 playoffs, the Raptors needed a spark. They broke out their patriotic threads for the first time in Game 4, and levelled the series with a 101-96 victory. They’d go on to win in seven games on the Kawhi Leonard buzzer-beater, which I feel personally obligated to include in every Raptors article I write.

Perhaps the uniform reminded the team just how far they’d come from their purple-clad beginnings. Only the 16 teams that had made the playoffs in the year previous were issued Earned Edition jerseys.

But the real reason why the red-and-white, “North”-emblazoned jerseys rank so high on this list is because of the other franchise-altering moment in which they were featured. The team rocked this jersey for their Finals-clinching win over the Golden State Warriors, meaning that this look will factor into every Raptors promo from now until eternity.

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