Raptors: Top 5 point guards in franchise history
By Avishai Sol
The Toronto Raptors have only been around for 25 years, yet they remain one of the best organizations in the league in terms of identifying, acquiring, and developing talent at the point guard position. Their 25-year history has frequently been led by some of the best floor generals in the game, including current Raptors like Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.
The Raptors haven’t missed the postseason since 2012, and strong play from those two, adding to the tradition of strong leadership at the position, has been a major reason as to why they’ve become established contenders and champions.
Their success over the last few years, and during an up-and-down 2020 season, directly correlates with the success of Lowry and VanVleet as both of them look to push for an All-Star spot.
Ranking the five best at that position in the history of this franchise is quite the challenge, as this team has a storied history of quality play at that position.
These are the five best point guards in Toronto Raptors history
Honorable Mentions: T.J Ford, Cory Joseph, Delon Wright
No. 5: Damon Stoudamire
One of the strangest NBA careers of the modern era, Stoudamire only spent three years with the Raptors, but during that time carved out a place as the franchise’s very first star.
He was drafted by the Raptors 7th overall in the 1995 Draft. This was the team’s first year in the league, a year that saw our team win 21 games/Stoudamire didn’t want to come to Canada in the first place. At the draft, he could barely keep a look of disappointment off his face as he shook David Stern’s hand.
Still, Stoudamire went on a rampage his rookie year averaging 19 points and 9.3 assists per game with 1.5 steals a game, taking home the Rookie of the Year Award and looking like the league’s next great point guard. He spent one more full year with the Raptors, where he averaged basically the same numbers, before demanding a trade and being shipped to Portland.
With the Blazers, his numbers plummeted to 12 points and 6 assists a game. He held his own with some average teams there, having some solid seasons but never reaching the heights he did in Toronto.
In the end, Stoudamire went on to play two more seasons for the Grizzlies before his body betrayed him, he played a few games for the Spurs but was out of the league before his 35th birthday. A sad end for what should have been a great career.
So why is he here? You have to remember that during those first two Raptors years Stoudamire was breaking rookie records left and right. He was lightning fast, a deadeye shooter, and the team’s first star. Stoudamire left a lot to be desired, but he looked like a superstar at times, and that’s good enough to become No. 5 on this list.