The NBA has officially revealed the 76 members of the league's 75th Anniversary Team as part of the league's yearlong celebration of its 75th season.
Among the names to have made it, Steve Nash is the lone Canadian, but he isn't the lone representative of Canada, as a number of selections have ties to the Toronto Raptors, from players to executives.
Which members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team are connected to the Raptors? Here is a complete list of them all.
Kawhi Leonard
Selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team... Kawhi Leonard! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/ZPRezKM6aC
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2021
It only took one season for Leonard to make an indelible impact on the Raptors franchise.
Acquired via trade in the 2018 offseason, Leonard appeared in 60 games for the Raptors in 2018-19, earning All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team honours with averages of 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
In the playoffs, Leonard led the Raptors on a historic run to their first-ever NBA title with averages of 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals over 24 games, earning Finals MVP honours in the process.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team... Hakeem Olajuwon! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/BHNYpzCqRw
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2021
He earned a selection to the team for his legendary 17 seasons with the Rockets, but The Dream played the 18th and final season of his Hall of Fame career in Toronto during the 2001-02 season.
At 39, Olajuwon appeared in 61 games (37 starts), averaging 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. Toronto advanced to the 2002 NBA Playoffs, where Olajuwon came off the bench to average 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Raptors, who were eliminated by the Pistons in a decisive Game 5.
Lenny Wilkens
Selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team... Lenny Wilkens! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/rRqF5PecdA
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2021
While Wilkens never took the floor for the Raptors, he did take the sidelines, becoming the franchise's fourth head coach in 2000.
In his first season as head coach in Toronto, Wilkens led the Raptors to their first-ever postseason series win, defeating the Knicks on the road in a decisive Game 5. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of that momentous win, Wilkens spoke with NBA.com for the Raptors Podtable Podcast.
After coming one win shy of leading the Raptors to the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, Wilkens coached for two more seasons in Toronto before finishing his coaching career with the Knicks.
Isiah Thomas
Selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team... Isiah Thomas! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/Enolu5x6nO
— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2021
Immediately after his retirement in 1994, Thomas became part owner and Executive Vice President of the expansion Raptors, making key decisions in the franchise's early years.
During Thomas' tenure as an executive, the Raptors drafted Damon Stoudamire in 1995, Marcus Camby in 1996 and Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady in the 1997 NBA Draft. Thomas' time with the franchise came to an end in 1998, but he is one of the major figures of the Raptors' early years.
Stephen Curry
Selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team... Stephen Curry! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/MielR7MAmY
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2021
Something's got to be said about the kid who honed his game in the practice gym of the Air Canada Centre, right?
Curry, whose father played with the Raptors from 1999 to 2002, lived in Toronto during Grades 8 and 9 and was a mainstay at the Raptors' facilities. Raptors legend Vince Carter often speaks of his encounters with a young Steph Curry, who would insist on competing with the perennial All-Star as an ambitious youngster.
Fast forward 20 years and Curry is the greatest shooter the game has ever seen.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.