For the first time ever, the Raptors are facing a chance to win it all in Monday’s Game 5 against the Warriors. It’s no biggie, just 24 years of franchise history has built to this point, to being in a position where they can secure the championship with just one more win.
Kevin Durant is listed as questionable for the potential decider, but ironically, he could’ve factored into Raptors history in a greatly different way.
In 2013, Durant appeared on The Dan Patrick Show, saying that he grew up wanting to play for the Raptors. (In this video, beginning around the 4:15 mark.)
“Believe it or not, I wanted to play for the Toronto Raptors; that was my favorite team...I was a big Vince Carter fan growing up. I liked their jerseys to be honest. They were a new team when I was growing up, so I wanted to be a part of that... His enthusiasm he showed, just his athleticism, and how he brought Toronto from being one of the newer teams in the league to almost going to the Finals. He changed the culture there in Toronto.”
How different would things be if Durant ever came to Toronto? Would the Raptors have been able to surpass LeBron James in one of those years? Would they possibly have gotten to the Finals, perhaps even win it all, sooner than now? It’s impossible to revise history, but it’s certainly fun to think about.
Of course, we don’t think Raptors fans have anything to complain about now. All what-ifs aside, this moment, with Kawhi in town and just one more win needed to win it all, is plenty good, right?
Even those 24 years of history, struggle and all, are crucial to what the Raptors experience has been.
