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Toronto Raptors: Ranking all head coaches in franchise history

By Mike Luciano

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Lenny Wilkins, Raptors
Toronto Raptors’ head coach Lenny Wilkens (JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Sam Mitchell

Sam Mitchell actually took home a Coach of the Year award with the Raptors

It took over a decade, but the Raptors’ inability to get to the postseason was finally erased by Mitchell, who became the first Toronto coach to win a playoff game. After two traditionally subpar seasons, Mitchell was on fire for all of 2006-07, as he was named Coach of the Year after winning 47 games and getting them to the postseason, which he followed up with a 41-win season the year after. Mitchell. 2008-09 was supposed to be the year that it all came together, but it just didn’t work out.

Mitchell started the season off at 8-9, which ultimately led to his dismissal and the installation of Triano as the coach. Despite his success, Mitchell was only a head coach for one more season after his dismissal, as he was briefly in charge of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his short reign, he remains mostly beloved by Raptors fans.

3. Lenny Wilkins

The legendary Lenny Wilkins made a brief stop in Toronto with the Raptors

Wilkins is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, as the Hall of Fame point guard, held the record for most wins by a single coach ever. After winning an NBA championship with his beloved Seattle SuperSonics following a few years as a player-coach, Wilkins embarked on a 22-year stint that only saw five losing seasons. Wilkins was in his mid-60s and near the end of his coaching rope when the Raptors hired him, but he took them deeper into the postseason than they had ever been before.

Wilkins was only the coach for three seasons, but he made the playoffs in two of them, becoming the first Toronto coach to take the team to the playoffs multiple times. After he was let go following his third season, Wilkins was named head coach of the New York Knicks. The Raptors might be a footnote in Wilkins’ illustrious coaching career, but he won’t have to pay for a drink in Toronto ever again.