Former Toronto Raptors players have six-year NBA Finals streak
For the last six years, the Toronto Raptors have been trying to accomplish something they’ve only done once in their history: play in the NBA Finals.
Getting through three playoff rounds just to get to the championship round isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world to do.
But no matter which two NBA teams make it to the Finals, Raptors fans in recent memory seem to have always had someone worth rooting for.
In each of the six NBA Finals since 2019, at least one former Raptor AND at least one player that would later end up on the Raptors has suited up.
This year, it’s a contingent led by ex-Raptors star Pascal Siakam, who is leading his Indiana Pacers to the Finals after winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in a hard-fought six-game series over the New York Knicks.
Here’s a full look at former Raptors in the NBA Finals in recent years, and how they fared.
- 2020 featured Danny Green, as well as future Raptors Kelly Olynyk and Goran Dragic. Green won his third NBA title with as many teams, with his Los Angeles Lakers topping the Miami Heat.
- 2021 featured P.J. Tucker and future Raptor Jordan Nwora. Tucker had two stints with the team in 2006-07 and again in 2017. He was traded to the Raptors this past February as part of a five-team trade, but was quickly waived and never suited up. His Milwaukee Bucks won the title in six games over the Phoenix Suns.
- 2022 featured Juwan Morgan, who played just one game for the Raptors in the 2021-22 season before his Boston Celtics lost in the Finals that year. As well, future Raptor Otto Porter Jr. was on the winning side, with the Golden State Warriors winning the title in six games.
- 2023 featured Raptors legend Kyle Lowry, as well as future Raptor Bruce Brown. Both players eventually found themselves on new teams the next season, with Brown signing with the Pacers and Lowry being bought out before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
- 2024 featured Oshae Brissett and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk teaming up on the Boston Celtics, who won the title in five games over the Dallas Mavericks. Future Raptor A.J. Lawson was on the losing side.
- 2025 will feature Pascal Siakam, as well as James Johnson, who had two stints with the Raptors in 2011-12 and 2014-16.
The NBA Finals tip off this Thursday, when the Pacers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1.