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Toronto Raptors: Top 10 rookie seasons in franchise history

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 21: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors jokes with Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on February 21, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 21: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors jokes with Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on February 21, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors, Damon Stoudamire
TORONTO, CANADA: Toronto Raptors Damon Stoudamire (R) losses control of the ball while trying to go around Cleveland Cavalier’s Danny Ferry in the fourth quarter at Toronto’s Skydome 21 November. The Cavaliers beat the Raptors 89-81. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI/ca (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) /

1. Damon Stoudamire, 1995-96

Stoudamire and Carter are the only two Raptors to win Rookie of the year, and while Carter has a case for the top spot given the impact that he had on the franchise, Stoudamire takes the top spot on this list considering he put up some ridiculous numbers despite being on an expansion team.

Stoudamire averaged 19.0 points per game and 9.3 assists per game in his first season in the NBA. That 9.3 number is even more significant because only Mark Jackson in 1987 and the immortal Oscar Robertson in 1960 recorded a higher assist per game average during their rookie season. 

Damon Stoudamire was a star with the Toronto Raptors.

Stoudamire’s expert shooting, nifty penetration, and masterful passing would serve him well in a career that lasted 13 years. Unfortunately, most of them were not in Toronto, as a disgruntled Stoudamire was traded to Portland in the middle of his third season.

The Raptors didn’t do a ton of winning in the pre-Carter era, but Stoudamire was without question the team’s best player, and the Arizona standout went on to prove his quality several times over with some great Blazers teams. If only those dominant years could have been in Raptors purple…

Next. Top 15 No. 4 picks ever. dark