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Raptors’ all-time starting 5: Players who never made playoffs in Toronto

By Tyler Watts

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Head coach Damon Stoudamire of the Pacific Tigers (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Head coach Damon Stoudamire of the Pacific Tigers (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors, Jalen Rose (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images for PGD Global) /

SG: Jalen Rose

Rose was an established NBA veteran before arriving in Toronto in 2003. He was drafted 13th overall in 1994 and worked his way into a starter on a team that reached the NBA Finals. Rose won the league’s Most Improved Player award in 2000 as his Pacers won the Eastern Conference before falling to the Lakers for the championship. Rose continued to shine as he scored over 20 points per game for three straight years from 2001 to 2003.

In December of 2003, Rose, Donyell Marshall, and Lonny Baxter were traded from Chicago to Toronto for Antonio Davis, Chris Jefferies, and Jerome Williams. The Bulls were looking to shake things up after missing the playoffs five straight years, and the Raptors were hoping to get back after missing the postseason in 2003 for the first time since 1999.

Jalen Rose was unable to lead the Toronto Raptors to playoff wins.

Toronto was not good during Rose’s tenure in The Six. It lasted one full season and parts of two others as the 6-8 wing averaged 16.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 33.4 minutes per over 177 games with the Raptors. The franchise won just 93 games over those three seasons combined, and Toronto actually traded Rose and a first-round pick to re-acquire Antonio Davis, but this time it was with the Knicks.

Jalen Rose could flat-out score during his 13 years in the NBA, but he never reached the playoffs in Toronto. Rose has talked in detail about how the franchise was covered in turmoil at that point, so it was not all his fault.