This day in Raptors history: February 12, 2002, where a season was almost lost

The Toronto Raptors’ history is unique in that it is almost equally dotted with moments of greatness and disgrace. On this day in Raptors’ history, February 12th, 2002 served as the beginning of a season that was nearly lost completely if not for the team heroically banding together and defying the odds.

The Raptors had completed the 2001 season on a high. They had just competed in their second-ever NBA Playoffs. A Vince Carter miss in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers was the difference between going home and appearing in the Eastern Conference Final.

Had Carter made his corner shot all those years ago like Kawhi Leonard in 2019, it may have been Toronto vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals. Still, with 47 regular-season wins in 2000-01, the 2001-02 season was a hopeful time for the Raptors, at least when it began.

Why February 12 is significant for the Toronto Raptors

After the 2001 playoffs, Raptors’ general manager Glen Grunwald decided the missing piece to the Raptors becoming an elite team in the Eastern Conference was a center. They had Antonio Davis, a six-foot-nine-inch power forward converted into a center when the Raptors acquired him from the Indiana Pacers.

He was named to the All-Star team in 2001 and, along with Jerome Williams, Alvin Davis, and Carter, was re-signed by the Raptors to long term deals that summer. The Raptors had sharpshooter Dell Curry (the father of Stephen and Seth Curry), Chris Childs, Morris Peterson, and Keon Clark in their rotation.

The team’s core would be back to make a significant run at getting deeper into the playoffs for a third consecutive season. But first, Grunwald swung a huge deal with the Houston Rockets acquiring “The Dream,” and now Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.

In hindsight, it was a bad deal. Olajuwon was inked to a three-year, $16.7 million contract on name alone. Had Grunwald been paying attention to the once-great Olajuwon’s career, who was then a 39-year-old center who hadn’t played more than 50 games since playing 78 at the end of the 1996/97 season, Grunwald might not have made this deal.

Once the season began, the Raptors amassed a record of 29-21 in the first-half and were in a strong playoff position. The All-Star Weekend arrived February 8-10, 2002, and things were suddenly different for the Raptors.

Before the All-Star game, Carter had damaged his quadriceps muscle and missed the All-Star Festivities. He would eventually require arthroscopic surgery for what is known as “jumper’s knee” in late March of 2002.

The 13-game losing streak, and 12 wins in 14 games that saved the season

Beginning February 12, Toronto would go on a 13-game losing streak. Their season record dropping to 29-34. The losing continued after they finally won their 30th game of the season on March 8, 2002, when they beat the Miami Heat 83-74. Even after that, they still managed to lose four more. Between February 7 and March 22, the Raptors won exactly ONE game.

The season got saved beginning March 22, just days before Carter required season-ending surgery on his left knee. They started a nine-game winning streak and won 12 of their final 14 to secure a 42-40 record. It was almost as if the realization Carter would be done for the year and unable to help allowed the team to refocus rather than waiting for the star to return.

Carter would miss 22 games, and Olajuwon 21, in 2001-02, and the Raptors matched up against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2002 playoffs. Toronto would lose the series in five games and would not return to the playoffs until 2007.

Carter would statistically have a decent season despite the surgery and games missed. He led the team in scoring with a per-game average of 24.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4 assists. It was the beginning of the frustration with Carter in Toronto as at the height of Vinsanity; he began to develop a reputation as soft and injury-prone.

Olajuwon would never play another game for Toronto, or in the NBA, after a stellar career in which he won two NBA titles and was the Finals MVP both times. His time in Toronto, averaging just 7.1 points in 61 games, was not memorable, and the Raptors had to pay Olajuwon nearly $12 million over the next two seasons.

In Raptors history, February 12th, 2002, this day may still give superstitious Raptors’ fans fits dreading the arrival of the All-Star break icing a Raptors’ team that may be playing well.