[Grange] Vince Carter had a huge impact on Canadian basketball, which is one reason his HOF honour is deserved. But the notion he ‘saved’ the Raptors is oversold. The Leafs bought the Raptors in Feb. ’98 and they moved into ACC together the following year (Vince’s rookie season).
Vince Carter had a huge impact on Canadian basketball, which is one reason his HOF honour is deserved. But the notion he 'saved' the Raptors is oversold. The Leafs bought the Raptors in Feb. '98 and they moved into ACC together the following year (Vince's rookie season). /1
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) April 3, 2024
by CazOnReddit
18 Comments
Grange continued:
[As part of one company (MLSE) the Raptors were in their own building and — crucially — benefited from the might of the the Leafs brand. You couldn’t buy suites/seats for ‘just’ the Leafs. You bought them for the ACC, so Raptors instantly had a strong season ticket base.](https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1775608629078479170)
[There were other synergies, but that was a huge one and something the Grizzlies, in contrast, never had, and we know what happened there. At the outset the Leafs were MLSE’s Goliath, but there were visionaries — Richard Peddie and Larry Tanenbaum being two — who believed that over time the Raptors as part of NBA — a bigger and faster growing business than the NHL and the growth of Toronto as an international city — would pull it’s weight and potentially even surpass the what the Leafs meant to org’s bottom line. ](https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1775609319267946866)
[When you look at where NBA revenues are and seem to be headed, that time might be here already. What Vince represented during those first two or three ascendant seasons, was an undeniable proof of concept: basketball could be and would be huge here, in right the circumstances](https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1775610424471294253)
[There are MANY reasons basketball is where it is in Canada today. Vince is one. Steve Nash is another. I think a lot of hard-working basketball-loving parents building an infrastructure from scratch is a big one and a growing a population wanting something more than just hockey or baseball or whatever was also huge. So as important and transcendent a figure as Vince is/was, I think crediting him with ‘saving’ the Raptors or ‘turning Canada on to basketball’ is a bit too much credit. ](https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1775611162987524578)
[Vince is a hall-of-famer. He proved at an early stage what the NBA could look like in Toronto when done right, and how much passion there was for hoops in this city and our country. But I like to believe we would have got here anyway. It was great to have his help though](https://twitter.com/michaelgrange/status/1775612460952633677)
Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point
Vince Carter didn’t “save” the Raptors, he inspired Canadian kids to play basketball. Just like Joe Carter inspired Canadian kids to play baseball and presumably how some Canadian soccer star has inspired Canadian kids to play soccer.
Has anyone actually made the argument Vince single-handidly saved the Raptors or introduced Canadians to basketball? Most people would say he played a role in those things, or had a big part but it feels like Grange is arguing against a straw man here to make it seem like saying something obvious is some sort of insight.
It was just a PR Stunt that claimed he saved the Raptors, while also drawing comparisons to the Vancouver Grizzlies (Even though those two markets were entirely different).
Bro this guy was a Luka type sensation who had fans world wide. He also topped all star votes and whatnot, would even beat Kobe in voting. Don’t take carter’s influence lightly. We never had a player of that hype level before. Look at what Ant is doing to the Wolves rn for example or what Steph did to the Warriors. The players make this league.
He didn’t save the franchise. But his impact on Canadian basketball as a whole is undeniable and deserves to be recognized by retiring his jersey.
he helped regardless. dude who was beating kobe and mj in all star voting definitely helped with growing the game here
So you’re telling me that Vince Carter saved the Raptors AND the Leafs? /s
No one I have heard has ever claimed Vince saved the Raptors; there was always a solid basketball market in Toronto. Vince did put us on the map and really help shed that ‘expansion’ tag though with his popularity, All-Star appearances and taking us to our first playoff series.
That dunk contest tho 
Even his impact on basketball in Canada, while important, is irrelevant when talking about his legacy and accomplishments with the Toronto Raptors. If his contributions and influence on Canada basketball are so important, put him in the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.
Platinum club made sure the Raps were always fine
If Vince saved the Raptors then that means Steve Francis killed the grizzlies.
He didn’t save them. He built basketball in Canada. Have you seen our olympic team? We need a statue of Vince hanging off the rim by his elbow and we need it now.
This is what teams do when they are having one of their worst seasons in their history…..they retire a jersey of one of the greats. Unfortunately Kyle Lowry is still an active player so we have to settle for Vince “Went to his graduation on the morning of Game 7 cause NBA wanted to prove a point against high school players” Carter.
Also what saved the Raptors was MLSE buying them and forcing all the Maple Leaf season ticket holders to buy seats as well. I always said the President of companies took the Leaf tickets the Raptors tickets went to the Junior Accountants nephews which built up the fan base.
Also history showed that the Raptors chose the wrong cousin.
He can go to the Hall of Fame in his Nets jersey…
Sure maybe he didn’t “save” the raptors from folding, but the carter effect is real and a very important factor to Canada basketball, may even be the single biggest factors but we’ll never know.