Growing quickly

Toronto Raptors maybe a relatively new team to the NBA but they have already consolidated themselves as one of the regulars going for titles at the end of the regular season. Year-upon-year the Canadian outfit are growing and 2008 was no exception.

Set up in 1995 amid the expansion of the NBA into Canada, the Raptors have always shown that they are an ambitious side. They only needed five seasons to qualify for their first play-off place and became the only team outside of the States following the Grizzlies' move from Vancouver to Memphis. Vince Carter was one of the club's first real stars, while Chris Bosh also had a major influence.

Carter led the way

The existence of the Raptors has been intimately associated with Carter after he joined the club from the University of North Carolina in 1998 and gave the team a real lift. Until then the Raptors were used to losing more games than they won, but that changed and between 1999 and 2002 they made their first appearance in the play-offs.

Physical problems hindered Carter's career and he was traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets. His exit allowed Bosh to come in and make a name for himself and become the leader of the team. In 2006/07 the results improved even more and the team secured their only title to date when they won the Atlantic Division.

Last year injuries held the team back as Bosh, TJ Ford and Jorge Garbajosa all missed a big part of the season. Te Raptors ended up finishing sixth in the table and were beaten in the play-offs by Orlando Magic.

Famous faces

Bosh, the team captain and member of the United States Olympic team that participated in China this summer, is reference point of the Raptors's side coached bvy Sam Mitchell. There are other players that are making themselves very well known too with three Europeans int he shape of ex Benetton star Andrea Bargnani, José Manuel Calderón and former Barça player Roko Leni Ukic.

For the 2008/09 campaign the Raptors will count on some distinguished names with five times All-Star player Jermaine O'Neal joining along with Will Solomon, a European veteran having played in Tel Aviv and Fenerbahçe.