2018–19 Toronto Raptors season

The 2018–19 Toronto Raptors season was the 24th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the off-season, the Raptors acquired small forward Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs after trading franchise star DeMar DeRozan. The season ended with the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance and first NBA championship, ending the city's and the country's 26-year Big Four championship drought.

Raptors victory celebration in Toronto on June 17, 2019
2018–19 Toronto Raptors season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachNick Nurse
General managerBobby Webster
PresidentMasai Ujiri
OwnersMaple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
ArenaScotiabank Arena
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Warriors 4–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionTSN, Sportsnet

On May 11, 2018, the Raptors fired Dwane Casey after the team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second consecutive time in the postseason.[1] On June 14, the Raptors promoted assistant coach Nick Nurse as their head coach.[2] The Raptors played their home games at newly renamed Scotiabank Arena.[3] For the first time since 2008–09, DeMar DeRozan (who spent his first nine seasons in the NBA with the Raptors) did not play for the Raptors, as he was traded, along with Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick, to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Later, on February 7, 2019, at the trade deadline, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Marc Gasol to the Raptors for Jonas Valančiūnas, Delon Wright and C. J. Miles. The Raptors later signed Jeremy Lin. They finished the regular season with a 58–24 record, one less win than their franchise best the previous season, second best in the league for the second consecutive season, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, the Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic in five games in the first round. They edged the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the semifinals to make their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2016, with Kawhi Leonard's buzzer beater over Joel Embiid giving the Raptors a 92–90 victory in the series-clinching game 7. The series was a rematch of the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Allen Iverson-led 76ers defeated the Vince Carter-led Raptors in seven games. The Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals 4–2, winning the last four games of the series after being down 0–2 to become the sixth team to overcome that deficit. They won the Finals against the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, also the first NBA Finals series that was played outside the United States. They beat the Warriors 4–2, becoming the first team based in Canada to win the NBA title.[4] The Raptors were the first Atlantic Division team since the 2007–08 Boston Celtics and the first Eastern Conference team since the 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers to win the championship. Prior to the Raptors victory, the Atlantic Division had had the second longest title drought in the league. The Northwest Division will hold the record for having the longest championship drought of all divisions in the league, with the 1978–79 Seattle Supersonics being the last champion. This is also Toronto's first major sports championship since the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1993 World Series.

Draft
Main article: 2018 NBA draft

The Raptors did not have a pick in the 2018 NBA draft. They had previously traded their selections to the Brooklyn Nets, who ended up drafting Džanan Musa, and to the Phoenix Suns, who ended up drafting George King.

Roster
Roster listing
2018–19 Toronto Raptors roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
F 3 Anunoby, OG 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1997–07–17 Indiana
F 25 Boucher, Chris 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1993–01–11 Oregon
C 33 Gasol, Marc 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1985–01–29 Spain
G/F 14 Green, Danny 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1987–06–22 North Carolina
F/C 9 Ibaka, Serge 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1989–09–18 Republic of the Congo
F 2 Leonard, Kawhi (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1991–06–29 San Diego State
G 17 Lin, Jeremy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–08–23 Harvard
G 7 Lowry, Kyle (C) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1986–03–25 Villanova
G 8 Loyd, Jordan (TW) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1993–07–27 Indianapolis
G 1 McCaw, Patrick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1995–10–25 UNLV
G 20 Meeks, Jodie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1987–08–21 Kentucky
F 13 Miller, Malcolm 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1993–03–06 Holy Cross
F/C 15 Moreland, Eric 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1991–12–24 Oregon State
G 24 Powell, Norman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1993–05–25 UCLA
F 43 Siakam, Pascal 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1994–04–02 New Mexico State
G 23 VanVleet, Fred 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1994–02–25 Wichita State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2019–06–12

Standings

Division
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y – Toronto Raptors 58 24 .707 0.0 32–9 26–15 12–4 82
x – Philadelphia 76ers 51 31 .622 7.0 31–10 20–21 8–8 82
x – Boston Celtics 49 33 .598 9.0 28–13 21–20 10–6 82
x – Brooklyn Nets 42 40 .512 16.0 23–18 19–22 8–8 82
New York Knicks 17 65 .207 41.0 9–32 8–33 2–14 82

Conference
Eastern Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z – Milwaukee Bucks * 60 22 .732 – 82
2 y – Toronto Raptors * 58 24 .707 2.0 82
3 x – Philadelphia 76ers 51 31 .622 9.0 82
4 x – Boston Celtics 49 33 .598 11.0 82
5 x – Indiana Pacers 48 34 .585 12.0 82
6 x – Brooklyn Nets 42 40 .512 18.0 82
7 y – Orlando Magic * 42 40 .512 18.0 82
8 x – Detroit Pistons 41 41 .500 19.0 82
9 Charlotte Hornets 39 43 .476 21.0 82
10 Miami Heat 39 43 .476 21.0 82
11 Washington Wizards 32 50 .390 28.0 82
12 Atlanta Hawks 29 53 .354 31.0 82
13 Chicago Bulls 22 60 .268 38.0 82
14 Cleveland Cavaliers 19 63 .232 41.0 82
15 New York Knicks 17 65 .207 43.0 82

Record vs opponents
Eastern Conference Western Conference
Atlantic Division Northwest Division
Team Home Away Team Home Away
Boston 113–101118–95 116–123*108–117 Denver 103–106 86–95
Brooklyn 122–105127–125 105–106*115–105 Minnesota 112–105 120–100
New York 128–112128–92 104–99117–92 Oklahoma City 109–116 123–114*
Philadelphia 129–112113–102 101–126119–107 Portland 119–117 122–128
Utah 122–116 124–111
8–0 4–4 3–2 3–2
Division 12–4 Division 6–4
Central Division Pacific Division
Team Home Away Team Home Away
Chicago 95–89112–103 122–83124–101 Golden State 131–128* 113–93
Cleveland 116–104126–110 106–95101–126 L.A. Clippers 121–103 123–99
Detroit 104–106 107–112*107–110 L.A. Lakers 111–98 121–107
Indiana 99–96121–105 106–110 Phoenix 111–109 107–98
Milwaukee 99–10492–105 109–124123–116 Sacramento 120–105 114–105
6–3 4–5 5–0 5–0
Division 10–8 Division 10–0
Southeast Division Southwest Division
Team Home Away Team Home Away
Atlanta 104–101 124–108119–101 Dallas 116–107 123–120
Charlotte 127–106114–115 111–113 Houston 95–107 119–121
Miami 125–115117–109* 106–104125–104 Memphis 119–90 122–114
Orlando 98–113121–109 93–9187–116 New Orleans 110–126 127–104
Washington 125–107129–120 117–113140–138** San Antonio 120–117 107–125
7–2 7–2 3–2 3–2
Division 14–4 Division 6–4
Conference 36–16 (Home: 21–5; Away: 15–11) Conference 22–8 (Home: 11–4; Away: 11–4)
Overall 58–24 (Home: 32–9; Away: 26–15)

(* game decided in overtime)

Game log

Preseason
2018 pre-season game log
Total: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Pre-season: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
2018–19 season schedule

Regular season
2018–19 game log
Total: 58–24 (Home: 32–9; Road: 26–15)
October: 7–1 (Home: 6–0; Road: 1–1)
November: 12–3 (Home: 4–2; Road: 8–1)
December: 8–7 (Home: 4–2; Road: 4–5)
January: 10–5 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–4)
February: 8–1 (Home: 5–1; Road: 3–0)
March: 9–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 5–3)
April: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
2018–19 season schedule

Playoffs

see also 2019 NBA Playoffs and 2019 NBA Finals

2019 playoff game log
Total: 16–8 (Home: 9–4; Road: 7–4)
First Round: 4–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–0)
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–2)
Conference Finals: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
NBA Finals: 4–2 (Home: 1–2; Road: 3–0)

Player statistics

Regular season
Player Pos. GP GS MP Reb. Ast. Stl. Blk. Pts.
OG AnunobySF 6761,352197474622469
Chris BoucherPF 28016356262493
Lorenzo Brown‡PG 260212312812555
Marc Gasol≠C 26196481721012423237
Danny GreenSG 80802,2163171267353821
Serge IbakaC 74512,01060199291031,112
Kawhi LeonardSF 60602,040439199106241,596
Jeremy Lin≠PG 233433605096161
Kyle LowryPG 65652,2133125649131926
Jordan LoydPG 12055960029
Patrick McCaw≠SG 261344452721269
Jodie Meeks≠SG 801041281151
C. J. Miles†SF 40156268221810218
Malcolm Miller≠SF 10067511135
Greg Monroe†C 38242315616138183
Eric Moreland≠PF 4038174117
Norman PowellSG 6031,126139913913516
Malachi Richardson†SG 2201031301030
Pascal SiakamPF 80792,54854924873521,354
Jonas Valančiūnas†C 3010564216291323384
Fred VanVleetPG 64281,7601673075720701
Delon Wright†PG 4928971251104615337

After all games.[5]
‡Waived during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Playoffs
Player Pos. GP GS MP Reb. Ast. Stl. Blk. Pts.
Chris BoucherPF 20410015
Marc GasolC 2424735153732126226
Danny GreenSG 242468487263111166
Serge IbakaC 240500143221123225
Kawhi LeonardSF 2424939218944017732
Jeremy LinPG 802734109
Kyle LowryPG 2424901117159317361
Patrick McCawSG 1104834205
Jodie MeeksSG 14066914122
Malcolm MillerSF 1002851018
Eric MorelandPF 8028133002
Norman PowellSG 230366512690150
Pascal SiakamPF 2424891171662517455
Fred VanVleetPG 2405924262186192

Transactions
Main article: List of 2018–19 NBA season transactions

Trades
July 18, 2018[6] To Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard
Danny Green		 To San Antonio Spurs
DeMar DeRozan
Jakob Pöltl
2019 protected Toronto first-round pick
February 6, 2019[7] To Toronto Raptors
Cash considerations		 To Philadelphia 76ers
Malachi Richardson
Draft rights to Emir Preldžić
2022 second-round pick
February 7, 2019[8][9] To Toronto Raptors
Marc Gasol		 To Memphis Grizzlies
Jonas Valančiūnas
Delon Wright
CJ Miles
2024 second-round draft pick
To Toronto Raptors
Cash considerations		 To Brooklyn Nets
Greg Monroe
2021 second-round draft pick

Free agency

Re-signed
Player Signed Contract
Fred VanVleet[10] July 6, 2018 2-yr/$18.1M
Lorenzo Brown[11] July 20, 2018 1-yr/$1.62M

Additions
Player Signed Contract Former team
Chris Boucher[11] July 20, 2018 Two-way contract Golden State Warriors
Jordan Loyd[12] August 7, 2018 Two-way contract Darüşşafaka
Greg Monroe[13] August 10, 2018 1-yr/$2.2M Boston Celtics
Jeremy Lin[14] February 13, 2019 $697,000[15] Atlanta Hawks

Subtractions
Player Reason New Team
Alfonzo McKinnie[16] Waived Golden State Warriors
Lucas Nogueira Unrestricted Free Agent Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
Kay Felder[17] Waived Raptors 905
Deng Adel[17] Waived Raptors 905
Kyle Collinsworth[17] Waived Raptors 905
Eric Moreland[17] Waived Phoenix Suns
Malcolm Miller Waived Raptors 905

Awards
Player Award Date awarded Ref.
Pascal Siakam Eastern Conference Player of the Week November 12, 2018 [18]
Nick Nurse Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (November) December 2, 2018 [19]
Kawhi Leonard Eastern Conference Player of the Week December 3, 2018 [20]
Kawhi Leonard Eastern Conference Player of the Week January 14, 2019 [21]
Kawhi Leonard NBA All-Star starter (3rd appearance) January 24, 2019 [22]
Kyle Lowry NBA All-Star reserve (5th appearance) January 31, 2019 [23]
Kawhi Leonard All-Defensive Second Team May 22, 2019 [24]
Kawhi Leonard All-NBA Second Team May 23, 2019 [25]
Kawhi Leonard NBA Finals MVP June 14, 2019 [26]
Pascal Siakam NBA Most Improved Player June 25, 2019 [27]

References
  1. "Dwane Casey Relieved Of Head Coaching Duties". NBA.com. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  2. "Raptors Name Nick Nurse Head Coach". NBA.com. June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  3. Murphy, Blake (July 1, 2018). "Air Canada Centre officially becomes Scotiabank Arena". Raptors Republic. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. "Raptors send Toronto into raptures as they beat Warriors to take first NBA title". Guardian. June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  5. "2018-19 Toronto Raptors Roster and Regular season Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  6. "Toronto Raptors Acquire Kawhi Leonard". NBA.com. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  7. "Raptors Acquire Cash Considerations from Philadelphia". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  8. "Raptors get Gasol from Grizzlies". tsn.ca. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  9. "Brooklyn Nets Complete Trade with Toronto Raptors". NBA.com. February 7, 2019.
  10. "Raptors Re-Sign Fred VanVleet". NBA.com. July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  11. "Raptors Sign Brown and Boucher". NBA.com. July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  12. "Raptors Sign Loyd To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  13. "Raptors Sign Greg Monroe". NBA.com. August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  14. "Raptors Sign Jeremy Lin". NBA.com. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  15. "Jeremy Lin Contract".
  16. "The @Raptors have waived forward Alfonzo McKinnie". Raptors MR on Twitter. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  17. "Raptors Waive Four". NBA.com. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  18. "Pascal Siakam Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. November 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  19. "Nick Nurse Named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month". NBA.com. December 2, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  20. "Kawhi Leonard Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. December 3, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  21. "Kawhi Leonard Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. January 14, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  22. "NBA All-Star 2019 starters, captains revealed". NBA.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  23. "Two-time Kia NBA All-Star MVP Westbrook and four first-time All-Stars headline reserves for 2019 NBA All-Star Game". NBA.com. January 31, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  24. "Kawhi Leonard Named to NBA All-Defensive Second Team". NBA.com. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  25. "Antetokounmpo, Harden lead All-NBA First Team". NBA.com. May 23, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  26. "Kawhi Leonard joins elite company in winning Finals MVP". NBA.com. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  27. "2019 NBA Awards: Complete list of winners". NBA.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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