So, the other day, I got to thinking about that 2016 Toronto Raptors team. Just popped into my head, you know? And I was trying to remember exactly who was on that squad. It’s funny how time makes things a bit blurry. I could easily picture a couple of the main guys, but the whole list? That took a bit more effort, let me tell you.
Trying to Piece It All Together
I sat down and really tried to go back in my mind. It wasn’t like I could just pull up a file, right? I had to dig deep into the memory banks. First, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, of course. Those two were the heart and soul, no doubt about it. Easy. Then, things got a little trickier.
I remembered the big man, Jonas Valančiūnas, holding down the paint. He was a key piece. And Bismack Biyombo! Man, he had that incredible playoff run that year, especially when JV got hurt. So, Bismack Biyombo definitely made my mental list.
Then I started thinking about the other starters and key role players. DeMarre Carroll, he was supposed to be that big free-agent signing for them on the wing. And Patrick Patterson, stretching the floor a bit. Yeah, Patrick Patterson was there. Cory Joseph, a Toronto kid, running the point off the bench – he was crucial. So, Cory Joseph got added.
It took a bit more head-scratching for the rest. I was like, “Okay, who else was getting minutes, who was on that bench?” And then it started to click a little more.
- Kyle Lowry
- DeMar DeRozan
- Jonas Valančiūnas
- DeMarre Carroll
- Luis Scola (Ah, Scola! Almost forgot him, the veteran presence.)
- Bismack Biyombo
- Patrick Patterson
- Cory Joseph
- Terrence Ross (T-Ross! The athletic wing, always good for a highlight.)
- James Johnson (He was a tough dude for them.)
- Norman Powell (Rookie year, right? Showed some flashes.)
- Delon Wright (Another young guard.)
- Lucas Nogueira (Bebe! The fans loved Bebe.)
- Bruno Caboclo (“Two years away from being two years away,” classic.)
- Anthony Bennett (Yeah, he was on that team for a bit too.)
Phew! I think that’s pretty much the main group I could recall after some serious thought. It’s quite a list when you lay it all out. That team went to the Eastern Conference Finals, a big step for the franchise. It’s always fun to take a trip down memory lane and see how much you can actually remember. That 2016 squad was definitely a memorable one for Raptors fans.
