After seven seasons at the helm of the Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey was relieved of his duties on Friday. Casey led the team to a 320-238 record and is the only head coach in team history with a record above .500.
Under Casey's guidance, Toronto has seen three straight 50-win campaigns, four of the five Division titles, a franchise record 59 wins this season and the deepest playoff run in the team's 23-year history in 2016.
On Saturday, the classy head coach penned a thank-you letter via the Toronto Star to the city and country he and his family called home since 2011.
"Dear Toronto, Thank you," the 61-year-old head coach wrote. "Thank you to basketball fans across this city and the country of Canada who supported the Raptors and welcomed my family with open arms during our seven years here.
"Thank you for teaching our all-American family the Canadian way. That being polite and considerate to one another is always the best way. That diversity is something to be embraced and celebrated. That taking the time to learn about each other’s cultures is the surest way to find common ground and understanding.
"Thank you for making our children feel safe, valued, and comfortable in their own skin. We cannot express how important it has been to build the foundations of who our children are as human beings in a country that shows through its words, actions and laws that all people deserve basic human rights, and a chance to reach their goals through education and hard work."
Casey went on to thank the MLSE board of directors and Larry and Judy Tanenbaum and called Toronto "lucky" to have in his words the "best ownership group" in the league.
After showing his appreciation to the many members of the front office, team support staff and ACC employees he ended the letter by thanking the nation for making the city and country he coached in feel like home.
"They say that 'Home is not a place … it’s a feeling:' so thank you Toronto for making us feel at home here. Thank you for supporting our family, for offering us your friendship and for teaching us the Canadian way."
