Considering the Raptors have been a franchise for less than 30 years, they have built quite a storied history.
Like almost all expansion teams, Toronto struggled out of the gates and lost several lottery picks in the process. Less than five years into their existence, however, the Raptors were able to draft one of the game's most iconic players in Vince Carter.
Carter's rise to stardom put the Raptors on the map, paving the way for the franchise to establish itself as a force in the NBA while picking up even more icons in the process.
With a storied franchise history in mind, who is the greatest Raptor of all time? The holder of the No. 1 spot may be a no-brainer, but it's a fun exercise to round out the top five.
Here's how a list shakes out based solely on accomplishments in a Raptors uniform.
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Ranking the greatest Raptors of all time
5. Chris Bosh
Raptors accomplishments:
- 5x All-Star
- 1x All-NBA
Bosh might have needed to go viral to get recognition, but that shouldn't take away from what he accomplished over his seven years with the Raptors.
After being selected fourth overall in 2003, Bosh quickly rose to stardom. In Year 3, he earned the first of five consecutive All-Star selections with Toronto, a span highlighted by an All-NBA selection in the 2006-07 season.
Bosh is still the franchise's all-time leader in rebounds and blocks while ranking third in points — he's one of just three players to score over 10,000 points in a Raptors uniform. The individual accomplishments and accolades are hard to ignore, but Bosh-led Raptors teams made just two playoff appearances and failed to advance each time.
4. Pascal Siakam
Raptors accomplishments:
- 2x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA
- NBA Most Improved Player
- NBA champion
Siakam exemplifies what makes the Raptors' development one of the best in the league.
As a late first-round pick, it's hard for many to say they envisioned Siakam blossoming into a starter, let alone a perennial top-30 player in the league. His journey with the organization included a championship and an MVP in the G League before making another unprecedented leap to new heights in the NBA.
In addition to two All-Star and All-NBA selections, Siakam was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2019, the same year he averaged 19.0 points during the team's historic NBA title run. In addition to ranking fifth all-time in points, third in rebounds and second in triple-doubles, Siakam was the No. 1 option on the winningest team in franchise history.
Siakam's rise and contributions to winning teams give him enough of an edge to jump to No. 4.
MORE: Pascal Siakam writes emotional letter to Raptors fans after trade
3. Vince Carter
Raptors accomplishments:
- 5x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA
- Rookie of the Year
Where would this franchise be were it not for Carter? It's possible to acknowledge the ugliness of how things ended and also appreciate the beauty of how things began.
Carter wasted no time taking the league by storm, winning Rookie of the Year in 1999 before leading Toronto to its first-ever playoff appearance as an encore in 2000. In 2001, Carter led the Raptors to their first-ever playoff series win, delivering a legendary performance in the East Semis to bring Toronto within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Carter didn't just become a star in Toronto, he became an icon. Because of Carter, the best performance in NBA Slam Dunk Contest history was in a Raptors uniform. He was also the NBA All-Star Game's leading vote-getter for three consecutive seasons.
Despite the bitter end that saw him traded to New Jersey, Carter will always be associated with the moments and memories created with Toronto.
2. DeMar DeRozan
Raptors accomplishments:
- 4x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA
You'd be hard-pressed to find a player that means more to an organization than DeRozan means to the Raptors. Basketball Reference lists "Mr. I Am Toronto" as one of DeRozan's nicknames, Drake said "My city loves me like DeMar DeRozan" and neither fact fully illustrates the bond between DeRozan and the fans.
DeRozan did just about everything but win a championship with the Raptors. He made four All-Star Game appearances, including the 2016 All-Star Game in Toronto, was named to two All-NBA teams and had an indelible impact on winning.
After missing the postseason in each of his first four seasons, DeRozan and the Raptors made five straight playoff appearances, including the 2016 run that resulted in the franchise's first-ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
DeRozan stands as the franchise's all-time scoring leader with a total of 13,296 points that will be hard to top. His place in the record books — and in the hearts of Raptors fans — makes him a tough player to reach on the leaderboard of all-time greats, too.
1. Kyle Lowry
Raptors accomplishments:
- 6x All-Star
- 1x All-NBA
- NBA champion
In sports, very few facts can be described as undisputed. Lowry's status as the Greatest Raptor of All Time is one of those rare facts.
Lowry stands at the forefront of the greatest era in the franchise's history, starting at point guard for seven consecutive playoff appearances while making six All-Star appearances in the process.
Every step of the way, Lowry was the heart and soul of the Raptors franchise — through the highs and lows. From early playoff exits to regular-season records, it was Lowry who stood as the engine fueling it all.
For that reason, Lowry putting a stamp on his Raptors tenure with an NBA title in 2019 is poetic. He checks all the boxes as the greatest winner in the franchise's history, a title that goes well with his status as the franchise's all-time leader in assists, steals and triple-doubles.
When it comes to the Raptors, Lowry is the standard.
