3 most unforgettable Toronto Raptors moments from 2021
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors have been through more than most NBA teams over the course of 2021. On top of playing a shortened season in which they were relocated to Tampa, they had to deal with the departure of Kyle Lowry and multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 on their roster and coaching staff.
The Raptors might not have had the usual postseason success the franchise has become used to over the last few years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that 2021 was a complete wash. There were still plenty of moments that will live on in Raptors history.
The Raptors saw some long-standing franchise records fall while adding some new faces to the mix that should help usher in the next dominant era of Toronto basketball. Their COVID-induced sabbatical from Canada also came to a close when they kicked off the 2021-22 season in October.
With 2021 coming to a close in the coming days, let’s take a look back at all the positivity that Raptors fans have held on to in the last 12 months. In the holiday season, let’s take a nostalgic, heartwarming look back at some of the kernels of positivity sprinkled throughout 2021.
3 most memorable Toronto Raptors moments in 2021.
3. Fred VanVleet’s 54-point game
The first groundbreaking Raptors’ moment came in February on a night where Lowry recording a triple-double in Orlando was not the highlight of the evening. VanVleet’s 54 points in a victory against the Magic became a new Raptors record for points in a single contest, breaking DeMar DeRozan’s old mark.
VanVleet’s numbers in this game look like something out of 2K. Not only was the Wichita State product 17-23 from the field, but he was 11-14 from 3-point range and turned the ball over just one time. This may have seemed like a nondescript game in January against Orlando, but it soon turned into a franchise-defining moment.
Fred VanVleet set a new Toronto Raptors record.
VanVleet’s evolution from a draft afterthought to the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history has been a treat to watch. Even in a year where so much went wrong for Toronto, VanVleet was a bright spot that deserved every ounce of praise that came his way.
VanVleet continued his strong 2021 by starting off the next season in breathtaking fashion. A potential successor to Lowry thanks to his shooting skill, passing intelligence, and defensive energy, VanVleet’s 54-point showing further solidified the notion that he’s a special offensive player.