Live updates from the Toronto Raptors' championship parade

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On Monday, the Toronto Raptors celebrated their NBA Finals win over the Golden State Warriors.

The parade departed from the Princes' Gates and moved along Lakeshore Boulevard to York Street. It then went to University Avenue, followed by Nathan Phillips Square for a celebration rally.

Below are updates from the historic event. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Live updates from the Raptors' championship parade

4:16 p.m. — If you were awaiting confirmation that Kawhi Leonard is indeed a fun guy, he finished his speech by imitating his laugh before the season that went viral, and his teammates lost it.

 

4:11 p.m. — The Raptors are staying on brand. Pascal Siakam started a "Spicy P" chant and Serge Ibaka opened his speech by asking the crowd how hungry they are.

 

4:10 p.m. — Fred VanVleet to the crowd, via Josh Lewenberg of TSN: "You kill us when we lose. You killed us when we got swept. So you better celebrate this s— for the rest of the summer. We delivered."

3:46 p.m. — Kawhi Leonard received the keys to the city from Toronto Mayor John Tory. Tory also announced that part of Bremner will be renamed "Raptors Way."

 

3:43 p.m. — As expected, Kawhi Leonard received quite the reception from the crowd when he was introduced.

 

So did Kyle Lowry, who was introduced just before Leonard.

 

3:27 p.m. — Here we go. The celebration rally is now starting.

3:16 p.m. — At long last, the Raptors are starting to arrive at Nathan Phillips Square.

2:47 p.m. — Another incredible photo by Frank Gunn of The Canadian Press, this time of Kyle Lowry:

 

2:41 p.m. — Nobody is having more fun than Marc Gasol right now.

 

2:25 p.m. — The moment everyone is waiting for is almost here. After close to five hours, the Raptors are nearing Nathan Phillips Square.

Before their arrival, the crowd at Nathan Phillips Square came together to sing "O Canada."


1:39 p.m. — Another update on the size of the crowd. This one might be the craziest yet.

 

1:28 p.m. — This is quite the photo of Kawhi Leonard, taken by Frank Gunn of The Canadian Press:

 

1:14 p.m. — Kyle Lowry weighs in on Kawhi Leonard's impending free agency, much to the delight of the crowd.

 

12:59 p.m. — Nobody is safe from Norman Powell's champagne showers.

 

12:21 p.m. — Kyle Lowry is impressed with the support as well: "This is why we wanted to win a championship," he said on the broadcast. "This is unbelievable. And we ain't even close to being done."

12:02 p.m. — Kawhi Leonard is impressed with the support Raptors fans are showing: "It's amazing," he said on the broadcast. "Everyone is out. I believe nobody went in to work today ... Look at it, it's crazy."

It looks like he's having fun, too.

 

11:58 a.m. — According to the broadcast, the Raptors are about halfway to Nathan Phillips Square, so the expected arrival time of 12:30 p.m. is looking like a long shot at this point.

11:50 a.m. — There has been no shortage of MVP chants for Kawhi Leonard as the Raptors continue to make their way to Nathan Phillips Square.

 

11:29 a.m. — Hall of Famer Steve Nash, who grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, congratulates the Raptors on their championship and says he couldn't be prouder of how "far the game has grown in our incredible country."

11:13 a.m. — While a Kawhi Leonard lookalike continues to roam the streets of Toronto, the real Kawhi Leonard is snapping photos with his Finals MVP trophy and Drake.

 

10:57 a.m.  — An update on the size of the crowd:

 

10:52 a.m.  — A Kawhi Leonard lookalike is making his way through the crowds, signing autographs and taking pictures.

 

10:30 a.m. — Drake has joined Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry on their bus.

 

10:20 a.m.  — As for Kawhi Leonard, he's wearing a "Board Man Gets Paid" shirt. 

 

Meanwhile, someone at Nathan Phillips Square made a "Board Man Gets Parade" sign. Well done.

 

10:03 a.m. — Kyle Lowry is rocking a Damon Stoudamire jersey. As Josh Lewenberg of TSN noted , Stoudamire was Toronto's first-ever draft pick. He was also a teammate of Lowry's on the Memphis Grizzlies.

 

9:56 a.m. — If you can't make it to the parade, you can watch it live on the Raptors Mobile App. Click here for details on how to download it.

9:39 a.m. — Danny Green is trying out a new look for the parade.

 

9:35 a.m. — You think Raptors fans are excited?

 

Author(s)
Scott Rafferty Photo

Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News