As the new NBA season starts, new members join the Toronto Raptors. To celebrate, the City of Toronto raises a Raptors flag ahead of their opening game today.

The NBA 2023 - 2024 season opened on Oct. 24 and will run until April with the finals taking place in June. The Raptors will be playing their first game on Oct. 25 against the Minnesota Timber Wolves at the Scotiabank Arena.

First starting in 1995, they were and still are the only Canadian team in the NBA. Their very first game on Nov. 3 that year against the New Jersey Nets, now known as the Brooklyn Nets, started off their career as a team on a win.

To celebrate the Raptors first game of the season, a flag was hoisted in the morning outside of City Hall. In attendance were Mayor Olivia Chow and Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster; with former players Matt Bonner and Jamaal Magloire.

“Heading to the 29th season and what a ride it's been,” says Chow. “I know we feel it when we see our Raptors. On Malvern, to Rexdale, Mimico, Bloor West and down to the Beaches. Raptors basketball brings our city together.”

The Raptors will be going into this season with a new coach following the firing of previous coach Nick Nurse. Nurse in his first season as coach was in 2019 and led the Raptors to their first championship. He is being replaced by Drako Rajaković, former assistant coach to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Rajaković is not the only new addition to the team. Following the loss of their stalwart point guard Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets; Dennis Schröder has taken his spot as point guard on the team.

Schröder has been playing in the NBA for 10 years. Before the Raptors joined last year he was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. He comes to the team this season with a 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medal and MVP award.

“This season is going to be fire. I just know it. I can feel it. We have so much to look forward to and I know our city and entire country is pulling for you,” says Chow.

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