Whether you’re a Toronto Raptors fan or not, you had to feel happy for DeMar DeRozan following Thursday night’s blowout win against the team he says he wanted to spend his entire career with before being blindsided by the trade that sent him to the San Antonio Spurs.
DeRozan got his revenge on the Raps in San Antonio’s never-in-doubt 125-107 win at home, as the four-time all-star recorded his first career triple-double.
He’s not the only former player to have a standout game in his first game against the Raptors since leaving the team. But where does Thursday’s performance rank among other notable ex-Raptors when playing their former team for the first time?
Funny you should ask, because there’s a list right here:
10. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, Nov. 13, 2010
While Chris Bosh would go on to punch a likely Hall of Fame ticket during his post-Raptors tenure with the Miami Heat, his first game against the team that drafted him wasn’t particularly noteworthy for the 2003 fourth-overall draft pick, save for his team’s result.
In just the tenth game of Miami’s “Big Three” era, Bosh found himself in foul trouble and was limited to just 12 points in less than 22 minutes of action. No matter for the Heat, who won 109-100 thanks to 31 points from Dwyane Wade and 23 points and 11 assists from LeBron James.
And, yes, in case you were wondering, Bosh was booed during his introduction:
9. Andrea Bargnani, New York Knicks, Dec. 13, 2013
The only first-overall draft pick in Raptors franchise history. And despite a fairly solid tenure with the Raptors, Bargnani surely never lived up to expectations and when Masai Ujiri was able to move the seven-footer to the Knicks in one of his first deals at the helm of the Raptors, it was considered a legitimate accomplishment.
In his first game against the Raptors, Bargnani posted a double-double with 18 points and what would be a season-high 12 rebounds in a Knicks loss.
8. Mike James, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dec. 27, 2006
James orchestrated one of the best contract runs of all-time during his lone season in Toronto. The well-travelled point guard who had never averaged more than 12 points in a season before becoming a Raptor averaged 20.3 points per game in 2005-06 — and also delivered one of the great rants in Raptors franchise history:
He cashed in on his career year by signing a lucrative multi-year deal to join Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves, and in his first game back against Toronto scored 20 points on a surprisingly efficient 8-for-12 shooting, and managed three steals, in a narrow 100-97 loss.
7. Damon Stoudamire, Portland Trail Blazers, Jan. 4, 2000
It had been three years since the Raptors traded Mighty Mouse, which took a fair bit of the drama out of this one, but Stoudamire — the original face of the Raptors franchise — registered 22 points, four rebounds and five assists for Portland in a 114-90 blowout win in Toronto.
6. Doug Christie, Sacramento Kings, Feb. 23, 2001
Christie carved out a valuable role as a premier defender and sometimes-secondary scoring option in his 314 games in a Raptors uniform. But with Vince Carter having emerged as the team’s go-to star, playing the same position no less, and following a disappointing showing in the 2000 playoffs versus the New York Knicks, Christie was traded to Sacramento that summer.
His first game against the Raptors following the trade came in February of the following season, a triple-overtime thriller in which Christie scored 20 points (along with seven rebounds and three steals) in 46 minutes of action as the Kings managed a 119-118 win over Toronto.
5. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets, February 22, 2005
You can click here to read the story of Carter’s ugly demise in Toronto and how he came to be traded to New Jersey, but needless to say his first game against the Raptors — which took place two months after the trade — was appointment viewing.
But it was a night Carter would probably like to forget. Although he posted a nice stat line of 22 points, seven boards, four assists, two steals and a block, the Raptors soundly beat the Nets 100-82 thanks in part to a 30-point night from Jalen Rose.
One year later, Carter would get his revenge.
4. Antonio Davis, Chicago Bulls, Jan. 25, 2004
Earlier in the 2003-04 season Davis, a valued secondary star during his time in Toronto, was dealt to the Bulls along with fellow fan-favourite Jerome Williams in exchange for Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. When Davis first played the Raptors, later that same season, he posted a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double in Chicago’s 96-89 win.
3. Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings, Feb. 4, 2014
Rudy Gay’s trade to Sacramento accidentally helped turn the Raptors franchise hopes around, but for one day at least, Gay had the last laugh.
One of three Kings players to score 20-plus points, Gay scored 24 points and added 10 rebounds while Sacramento beat Toronto 109-101.
2. Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic, Jan. 23, 2001
McGrady was good enough to lead his own team, and wanted the opportunity to prove it. After signing with the Magic following a breakout third season with the Raptors, he only solidified his status as a go-to superstar and one of the NBA’s most electrifying talents.
His first game against the Raptors served up a thrilling head-to-head battle between McGrady and Carter during a double-overtime game Orlando would win 116-111 in which a 21-year-old T-Mac managed 22 points, seven boards, and seven assists in the victory.
It would hardly be the last time McGrady played well against the Raptors.
https://youtu.be/y1h21KxC7S8?t=110
1. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs, Jan. 3 2019
DeRozan picked a hell of a time to post his first career triple-double. His 21-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist performance helped propel the Spurs to a dominant blowout victory in a much-hyped nationally televised contest.
You don’t have to feel bad for DeRozan, but there’s no doubt that after being forced out of Toronto he felt betrayed by the organization he had helped lift to new heights. Call DeRozan’s revenge game the only silver lining for probably the most dissapointing Raptors loss this season.
[relatedlinks]
