Toronto Raptors legends Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are two of the most unforgettable players of the franchise. Some fans want to return to the days when they rock the purple jerseys from the 2000s.
Don't worry; the Canadian NBA team is listening to its fans since the classic outfits will return this 2024-2025 season.
A Nod to the Vince Carter Era
According to Bleacher Report, the Raptors 2024-25 Classic Edition uniforms nod towards designs from 1999 through 2003: that magical time of the explosion, at which point Vince Carter blossomed into his explosive form, scoring a career-high 27.6 points per game in the 2000-01 season and winning the crown for the memorable 2000 NBA Dunk Contest.
Carter, one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history, brought Toronto onto the basketball map with high-flying acrobatics and clutch performances. Alongside the Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, these young talents filled this franchise with energy, and these purple jerseys will always be associated with the Raptors' early glory.
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30 Years of Raptors History
The purple uniforms are back, marking another part of the Toronto Raptors' 30th-anniversary celebration. The franchise debuted in 1995 with the team now known as the Memphis Grizzlies, the old Vancouver Grizzlies.
Since that inaugural season, the Raptors have blossomed to become the darling team of Canada and all of the NBA, commanding an ardent following that has been there through all high times and low times.
Even though the team topped their pedestal in 2019 through their NBA Championship win, the next years have seen Toronto stumble in trying to regain that magic.
After only two playoff appearances since the title win and two years without a spot in the postseason, the Raptors are hoping that some style change this time with a classic look at their jersey will bring them some luck and momentum.
Will New Jerseys Spark a Turnaround?
Toronto enters the 2024-25 campaign with all its focus on a brighter, renewed sense of youth heading into this upcoming season, all on the potential of projected star forward Scottie Barnes.
After a tough year for the team last year, where they finished with a lousy 25-57 record, their poorest winning record since the 2010-11 season, it is time now for the Raptors to rebuild and lay the foundation for bigger things ahead.
Veteran center Jakob Poeltl was candid regarding the state of his team, admitting, in fact, during NBA media day that the Raptors aren't in championship contention this year. Instead, they go into this campaign focusing on growth and development as they build around their younger core.
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