The Toronto Raptors qualified for the playoffs in 13 of their first 27 seasons. They have been a fixture in the postseason for the last decade, but that was not always the case. Before Kyle Lowry started the run in 2014, the Raptors were in the lottery for five straight years and nine of 11 years on the bounce.
Fans should never take success for granted. Qualifying for the playoffs is hard, and going on a deep run is more difficult. Some players never even play a postseason game in their career.
Who are the best players that have missed the playoffs with the Raptors? Here is a look at their all-time starting five that failed to reach the postseason in Toronto.
Raptors’ all-time starting 5: Players who never made playoffs in Toronto
PG: Damon Stoudamire
The expansion Raptors used their first draft pick in franchise history to select Stoudamire seventh overall in 1995, and they immediately inserted the 5-10 guard as their starter and leading scorer. It was his team, and Stoudamire answered that challenge. He won Rookie of the Year in 1996 and averaged over 20 points per game during his second NBA season.
The Raptors won a total of 51 games, but fans cannot blame that on Stoudamire, as he averaged 19.6 points, 9.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 40.9 minutes per game during his only two full seasons in Toronto.
The Toronto Raptors never won with Damon Stoudamire.
Midway through their third season, the Raptors traded Stoudamire to the Trail Blazers in a six-player blockbuster that saw two first-round picks come back to Toronto. His production dropped off with the Blazers, but he helped Portland make the playoffs six straight years, including two conference finals appearances.
Damon Stoudmire, who is now a college coach, was one of the first great Raptors, but he never made the playoffs in Toronto. It was not until their fifth season in the league that the Raptors made their first postseason appearance, meaning that the club’s formative years were built o struggle.
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.
SF: Shawn Marion
Did you know Marion played for the Raptors? The Matrix is best known for his time with Phoenix Suns where he became a four-time All-Star playing off Steve Nash. He spent his first eight years in Phoenix before being traded to the Miami Heat in 2008 for Shaquille O’Neal.
His stay in Miami lasted just one year, as they dealt him to Toronto in Feb. of 2009 with Marcus Banks for Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, and two draft picks. The Raptors were 21-34 and were not making the playoffs. They saw their chance to acquire some cap flexibility, and Toronto jumped at it.
Shawn Marion was not on the Toronto Raptors for long.
Marion and his goofy jump shot lasted just five months with the Raptors before he was sent to Dallas as part of a sign-and-trade in July. Toronto picked up three role players in the deal, but the Mavericks got the final laugh as Marion helped them win the championship in 2011.
Shawn Marion had an unmemorable 27-game tenure with the Raptors, where he averaged 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 35.3 minutes per contest. Toronto finished 33-49 in the 2008-2009 season, and they used their lottery pick to select DeMar DeRozan, so fans know they have zero regrets about either trade involving The Matrix.
PF: Donyell Marshall
Marshall was also an established veteran when he came to Toronto in 2003 from the Bulls along with Jalen Rose. At 6-9, he was a hot-shooting stretch power forward before they were everywhere. Marshall was a key role player for nine years on four different teams before being traded to the Raptors.
Marshall was fantastic after arriving in Dec. of 2003. He finished that season averaging 16.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 39.1 minutes per game. The Raptors only won 33 games, but Marshall was a starter and key contributor following the trade.
Donyell Marshall was solid for the Toronto Raptors.
Marshall moved to the bench the following season as Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson took over. His production declined, but Toronto still won just 33 games. Marshall left for Cleveland in free agency in 2005 where he helped LeBron James and company make the NBA Finals in 2007.
Donyell Marshall did not sniff the playoffs with the Toronto Raptors, but he was a key role throughout his 15-year NBA career. He never lived up to the hype of being the fourth overall pick in 1994, but he did reach the postseason five times with three different franchises.
C: Marcus Camby
After a rough first season where the Raptors won just 21 games, they moved up to second in the draft lottery and selected Camby. The 6-11 big man became Toronto’s starting center during his rookie season where he averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.1 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. His number improved across the board in year two along with leading the NBA in blocks, but that would be his final year in Toronto.
The Raptors need a veteran in 1998 to protect Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, so they jumped at the chance to acquire Charles Oakley. The 35-year-old big man was already past his prime, but he did help Toronto make the franchise’s first playoff appearance in 2000.
Marcus Camby was given up on too soon by the Toronto Raptors.
Camby made four All-Defensive teams, lead the league in blocks four times, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. Oakley had been retired for three years as Camby continued to win awards. Camby also helped the Knicks reach the NBA Finals during his first season in New York.
The Toronto Raptors gave up on Marcus Camby too soon, and he is unquestionably one of the five best players in franchise history that failed to reach the playoffs in Toronto. Camby shined with the Knicks, and he went on to have a 17-year NBA career where he played for six different teams.