Toronto Raptors: Top five small forwards in franchise history

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Toronto Raptors – Doug Christie (Photo credit should read HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP/Getty Images) /

Doug Christie

Doug Christie was available for the Toronto Raptors during the 1995 expansion draft. Toronto elected not to take him.

The team selected B.J. Armstrong first overall. He never played for the team. By the time Toronto was able to make their second selection, Vancouver selected someone off the New York Knicks, meaning Christie was no longer available.

By mid-year, New York had traded Christie to the Raptors for cheap. In his third season, Christie produced almost nothing for the Knicks and was looked at as damaged goods.

He didn’t play that way for Toronto. Immediately after being acquired from the Knicks, Christie made an impact on the Raptors. As an expansion franchise, the Raptors were extremely low on talent. Christie provided a jolt of energy.

Over the course of his career Christie averaged 14.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He was a viable three-point shooter and good scorer at a time when Toronto desperately needed one.

During his time in Toronto, Christie watched the franchise rise from a cellar-dweller to being a legitimate NBA finals contender. Of course he wasn’t the main reason for this transformation, but he did play a part.