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Raptors Flashback Friday: How Ted Stepien almost killed Toronto basketball in the 1980s

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 16: The Toronto Raptors logo decal at center court (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The Toronto Raptors were announced in November 1993, and they began their first season of play in 1995. The following decades have seen the team captivate Canada with their brand of basketball and take home a championship for the first time in 2018-19. However, they were almost beat to the punch by…the Toronto Towers?

Outside of one Toronto Huskies season and a handful of Buffalo Braves games in the early 70s, Canada’s largest city was without pro basketball for the longest time.