Prehistoric

The improbable story of the birth of pro basketball in Toronto

In just over 25 years, the Toronto Raptors have evolved from an intrepid expansion team to a model NBA franchise, with a front office, head coach, and player development program that sets the standard around the league. They also boast the most diverse fanbase in the NBA and play in an increasingly sought-out market, particularly as the league teems with top class international talent. But for all the success of the last decade, the beginning looked a bit different.

In Prehistoric, irreverent Raptors voice and culture writer Alex Wong explores the franchise's fascinating and unconventional inception, chronicling everything from the decision-making process behind the Jurassic Park-inspired dinosaur logo to the construction of an expansion roster to how the team approached marketing the sport of basketball in city dominated by hockey. On the court, Wong takes an insider’s look at the drafting of star point guard Damon Stoudamire, the cast of misfits and forgotten players who formed the first-year roster, and highlights from the inaugural season, including the first-ever game and even a win over Michael Jordan and the 72-win Bulls.

The Raptors boldly and intentionally pursued a much different audience than the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Prehistoric additionally explores what a professional basketball team in Toronto meant to an immigrant community that had never been so directly acknowledged by professional sports. The result is a team that has survived growing pains and captured the heart of a city, as told in this essential origin story.