The improbable story of the birth of pro basketball in Toronto
In just over 25 years, the Toronto Raptors have evolved from an intrepid
expansion team to a model NBA franchise, with a front office, head
coach, and player development program that sets the standard around the
league. They also boast the most diverse fanbase in the NBA and play in
an increasingly sought-out market, particularly as the league teems with
top class international talent. But for all the success of the last
decade, the beginning looked a bit different.
In Prehistoric, irreverent Raptors voice and culture writer Alex
Wong explores the franchise's fascinating and unconventional inception,
chronicling everything from the decision-making process behind the
Jurassic Park-inspired dinosaur logo to the construction of an expansion
roster to how the team approached marketing the sport of basketball in
city dominated by hockey. On the court, Wong takes an insider's look at
the drafting of star point guard Damon Stoudamire, the cast of misfits
and forgotten players who formed the first-year roster, and highlights
from the inaugural season, including the first-ever game and even a win
over Michael Jordan and the 72-win Bulls.
The Raptors boldly and intentionally pursued a much different audience
than the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Prehistoric additionally
explores what a professional basketball team in Toronto meant to an
immigrant community that had never been so directly acknowledged by
professional sports. The result is a team that has survived growing
pains and captured the heart of a city, as told in this essential origin
story.
