The Toronto Raptors Clinch the NBA Championship
Well! Surprise, surprise!
Toronto Raptors, thank you for surprising me one more time.
A novel or textbook could explain how the Raptors won the NBA Finals. Here, I present a super simplified version.
After the Raptors won Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors 114-110 on June 13, I love how President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, took the time to acknowledge and praise the remarkable Coach Dwayne Casey and Player DeMar DeRozan. Knowing how prior years built the strong foundation required for their current success, Ujiri gave credit where credit was due.
The story always begins earlier than you realize.
How The Raptors Won It All
At the beginning of the 2018-2019 NBA season, there was a collection of personnel representing a new kind of team in the North. While Coach of the Year, Dwayne Casey, and longest-tenured player and fan favorite, DeMar DeRozan, were let go, fresh faces appeared on the Toronto scene.
A New Collection of Personnel
Enter in Kawhi Leonard. Enter in Danny Green. Enter in four new Assistant Coaches: Adrian Griffin, Sergio Scariolo, Nate Bjorkgen, and Phil Handy.
Behind these changes was Masai Ujiri. This man aspired to lead the Raptors organization as Nelson Mandela influenced the world. As a typical NBA personnel is now globally diversified, Ujiri aimed to orchestrate his people towards a single goal. This goal was to win. Now no one can doubt he’s done this.
Creating a Specific Mindset
During the post-game show on the Oracle court, one of the Raptors’ staff showed a bracelet he wore to the NBA commentators. He explained that everyone in the Raptors organization received one at the start of the new season. The bracelet said,
“Expect to win April, May, June.”
Creating a specific mindset to success from day one is vital for any feat. Painting a picture of what you want to see ahead of you is critical. How will you know you’ve arrived if you don’t know where you want to go?
The Self-Disciplined Will Thrive
I believe that the influence of Kawhi Leonard’s discipline and work ethic helped to shape this Raptors team to greater excellence. When I hear stories of Kawhi’s determination to get better in high school, college, pre-NBA, and throughout his NBA career, it’s incredible that one could be so driven toward growth and development.
There is a tie between those who are self-disciplined to those who can experience higher self-awareness, focus, and even fun. While reading The 15 Things Only Self-Disciplined People Would Understand, I was continually reminded of the characteristics and quotes of Kawhi. There are just too many similarities it is uncanny.
Then arrives Kawhi. The Kawhi who is among the greatest of all time, but who we forget is a superstar. The Kawhi who is finally starting to open up, smile more, and share bits of his thinking. He is a fun guy! The Kawhi who is no longer pressured to make headlines the media or fans want him to make. The Kawhi whose only true purpose is for his team to win, to be the best player team. That despite the rollercoaster regular season the Raptors went through, none of us knew.
How Invigorating Is This?
During the Raptors’ regular season we know of some of the wise decisions made to be able to Expect To Win down the road. While Kawhi’s minutes were limited due to injury and Kyle Lowry missed his highest number of games due to injuries, the rest of the team learned to flourish even without their two All-Stars. This rarity showed the Raptors were a threat.
In February, the Raptors traded Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles, and a 2024 second-round pick all for Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies. Acquiring one of the most gifted big men in the NBA was a stellar move by the Raptors. Not only was Gasol (not to be mixed up with brother Pau) a former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year, he’d won awards and accolades in the Olympics and EuroBasket.
An Organic Run
The Raptors’ 2018-2019 playoff run was quite an organic one, free from predictable poisonous pesticides if I may say so. As I reflected in my last article, the Raptors supposedly were about to finish out their season in Round One, Two, and Three. Their history predicted it.
Instead, the combination of mad scientist Nick Nurse’s unpredictable calls, the oneness of the players who never pointed the finger at each other, and the continual growth and demonstration of the Raptors’ truest identity was left standing.
As I heard the interviews from round to round, I couldn’t help thinking that this team was gaining faith and self-assurance with each game, whether they lost or won. I kept hearing statements from individual players that they were still learning, even now. This learning was translating into more trust and substantial development, even on the playoff stage.
According to Coach Nurse, the players didn’t seem to show any fatigue in the finals. They wanted to keep watching film. Apart from Kawhi, this was their first rodeo. There was no obvious shying away from the moment. These Raptors were prepared to take the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy home with them. They just had to figure out how. And they did just that.
There is a Toronto pride in me that’s been pulled out with these playoff series. I haven’t been up north for years, but growing up from fourth grade to graduating high school in Toronto brings back a lot of memories. I am so happy for the city of Toronto and its success for the first time in 24 years!
ROCKFORD, BABY!
Even more significant has been my connection to VanVleet’s hometown of Rockford, Illinois! Seeing Fred VanVleet blossom in these playoffs after having his son born has been a party ride in and of itself. After shooting 12% in his previous 9 games, Freddy went on to finish the playoff season shooting 53% from the field.
Ever since his resurgence in the Bucks’ series, every time VanVleet scored I shouted, “Rockford!” This unexpectedly continued into the Finals. My husband and I gave out a special hurrah every time we saw VanVleet’s ball sink after arching towards the net. It was almost like time stood still as the ball flew up and over like a rainbow full of promise.
Hearing VanVleet give a shout out to Rockford was a highlight for me. After I learned VanVleet was from Rockford I cheered. Then I found out he was still living in Rockford and I questioned him. What was he still doing there?
Just as my parents have returned to live in their hometown after 39 years, it is astonishing to see a Rockfordian be true to his genesis. I’m hoping a little TLC from VanVleet’s success will make good changes to the city my family planted its roots in.
There’s so much more to be said about Kyle Lowry. He was undeniably instrumental to the journey and success of the Raptors, including the merging of Kawhi into the franchise.
While playing through one adversity after the next adversity, the Toronto Raptors have dethroned the Warriors. As we process this, we accept it and salute the franchise that found a way to make it all the way.
Oh, Canada!
