The1996–97 Toronto Raptors season was the second season for theToronto Raptors in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] The Raptors received the second overall pick in the1996 NBA draft, and selected centerMarcus Camby from theUniversity of Massachusetts,^[2][3][4] and hired assistantDarrell Walker as their new head coach.^[5][6][7] During the off-season, the team signed free agentWalt Williams,^[8][9][10] acquiredPopeye Jones from theDallas Mavericks,^[11][12][13] acquired three-point specialistHubert Davis from theNew York Knicks,^[14][15] and signedJohn Long, who came out of his retirement. The team also signedBenoit Benjamin, but released him to free agency after only just four games.^[16][17]

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NBA, the Raptors started the regular season by wearing throwback uniforms of theToronto Huskies in their season opener against theNew York Knicks at theSkyDome on November 1, 1996, but lost to the Knicks, 107–99.^[18][19][20]

The Raptors got off to a 3–3 start to the regular season, but then lost six straight games afterwards, and held a 17–29 record at the All-Star break.^[21] At mid-season, the team re-signed free agentOliver Miller after a brief stint with theDallas Mavericks,^[22][23] and tradedAcie Earl to theMilwaukee Bucks in exchange for second-year guardShawn Respert,^[24][25][26] while signing free agentsReggie Slater andClifford Rozier. The Raptors finished in last place in theCentral Division with a 30–52 record, which was a nine-game improvement over their inaugural season.^[27]

Second-year starDamon Stoudamire averaged 20.2 points, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and led the Raptors with 176 three-point field goals, while Williams averaged 16.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and contributed 175 three-point field goals, and Camby provided the team with 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition,Doug Christie contributed 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, along with 147 three-point field goals, whileCarlos Rogers averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game off the bench, Jones provided with 7.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, Slater averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 26 games, andSharone Wright contributed 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.^[28]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theGund Arena inCleveland, Ohio, Williams participated in theNBA Three-Point Shootout,^[29][30] while Camby was selected for theNBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team; Camby scored 18 points along with 12 rebounds and 4 assists, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 96–91.^[29][31][32] Christie finished in second place inMost Improved Player voting, behindIsaac Austin of theMiami Heat.^[33][34]

The Raptors finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 744,550 at the SkyDome during the regular season.^[28][35] Following the season, Davis signed as a free agent with theDallas Mavericks,^[36][37] while Rozier signed with theMinnesota Timberwolves, and Long retired.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	2	Marcus Camby	C/PF	United States	UMass

• November 1, 1996 – To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the NBA, the first game of the season was played between the Raptors and the New York Knicks. Both teams wore throwback uniforms to recognize the anniversary. The Raptors wore the jerseys of theToronto Huskies. The reason the game was played in Toronto was to recognize that the first ever NBA game was played in Toronto. The final score was 107–99 for the Knicks.^[18]
• November 8, 1996 – The Raptors pulled a huge upset by defeating theLos Angeles Lakers by a score of 93–92. One of the game's highlights was Popeye Jones blocking a shot by Shaquille O'Neal.^[38]
• December 8, 1996 – In a game against the defending NBA ChampionChicago Bulls, the Raptors pulled another upset by defeating the Bulls 97–89
• February 25, 1997 – Versus theDenver Nuggets, the Raptors had their highest point total of the season. The final score was 124–122 for the Raptors.

• January 15, 1997 – The Raptors suffer one of their worst losses of the season. It was at the hands of the defending Western Conference championSeattle SuperSonics by a score of 122–78.

• Marcus Camby, First Team,NBA All-Rookie Team

• 1996-97 Toronto Raptors season at Basketball Reference
• 1996-97 Toronto Raptors season at Database Basketball

• Toronto Raptors seasons
• 1996–97 NBA season by team
• 1996–97 in Canadian basketball by team

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