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The Toronto Raptors are a in Toronto, Ontario, Canada based professional basketball team. Raptors are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in the year 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's expansion into Ontario Canada. At the time when the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in the year 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the NBA. Toronto Raptors played their home games originally at SkyDome, before moving to the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in the year 1999.
Just like most expansion teams, Toronto Raptors also struggled in their early years; but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day trade in the year 1998, the team set league attendance records and made the NBA Playoffs in three consecutive 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was major factor in leading the team to their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals of NBA. During the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, Raptors failed to make significant progress and Carter was traded in 2004. After Carters’ departure, Chris Bosh emerged as the team leader, but they still continued to struggle.
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