We the Raptors - by Eric Smith & Andrew Bricker (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

We the Raptors: Thirty Players, Thirty Stories, Thirty Years is about the grinders, glue guys, bench heroes, and more. Alvin Williams, José Calderón, T. J. Ford, Jonas Valanciunas, Danny Green--whether regular or part-time starters, role players, key cogs, or even short-term stars--all of them felt blessed to call Canada home.

Foreword by Kyle Lowry

Amir Johnson immediately fell in love with the diversity of the country. From special events with fans to Zombie Walks down Yonge Street, few players connected with Toronto--on and off the floor--more than Amir. At the age of thirty, Anthony Parker--known as the "Michael Jordan of EuroLeague"--finally found his place in the NBA with the Raptors, a role that had eluded him as a young draftee and during his six seasons overseas. NBA vet and Toronto native Jamaal Magloire mentored younger players in the shadow of his brother's murder in Regent Park. Bismack Biyombo, a fan favourite for his big, burly play and endless energy, couldn't decide which team to sign with as a free agent, until a phone call from Masai Ujiri made the choice easy. The Junkyard Dog, Jerome Williams, drove himself to Toronto in a snowstorm, becoming in the process one of the most recognizable players in franchise history. Matt Bonner, dubbed the Red Mamba by none other than Kobe Bryant, emerged as a national hero after going toe to toe in the post with Kevin Garnett. Jorge Garbajosa, a superstar in Italy and his native Spain, gambled on a second career at the age of twenty-eight, becoming the hustle and heart of a playoff-bound Raptors squad only to see his NBA dreams crumble in a career-ending on-court injury.

Every team has unheralded but dogged players but none more so than the expansion-era Raptors, a team that many NBA players and free agents often ignored--until the Raptors became one of the most interesting and winningest teams in the league.

This rich tapestry comes alive in We the Raptors, as told by Raptors radio voice Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker through thirty exclusive interviews with former and current Raptors. Every bounce, every rebound, every elbow to the face--this is a rare view of the NBA through the eyes of those who made it to the pinnacle of their profession.

Review Quotes

"We the Raptors pulls back the curtain on three decades of Raptors basketball. I was there, in Toronto, for many of those years - on the bench and in the locker room, watching this team and franchise grow into something special. Andrew Bricker and veteran broadcaster Eric Smith have crafted a vivid portrait of a team built on grit, heart, resilience, and belief. Told by the players who wore the jersey--starters and role players alike--these are 30 raw, human stories of what it meant to grow with this team, in this city and country, and with the game itself. If you're looking for an inside look at life in the NBA--and want to truly understand what it's like to wear a Raptors jersey--this is the book for you."
-- DWANE CASEY, former Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Detroit Pistons

"A basketball team's depth plays a crucial role in its success. While supporting players may not always receive the spotlight or accolades of stars, their impact on a franchise is undeniable. In We the Raptors, Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker take a fresh and compelling look at the Raptors' 30-year history through the lens of 30 unforgettable role players. It's a fascinating and rewarding read for true fans of basketball - and of the Toronto Raptors."
-- KIA NURSE, Guard for the WNBA's Chicago Sky and Team Canada

"Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker capture the full arc of the Toronto Raptors' 30-year history through the eyes and voices of the players who lived it. We the Raptors tells the team's story as only those who wore the jersey can. Drawing on in-depth interviews with players across generations--not just the stars, but the sometimes overlooked contributors whose stories shaped the franchise--Bricker and Smith weave together a rich and comprehensive portrait of Canada's lone NBA team told by the players. Essential reading for every Raptors fan."
-- MATT DEVLIN, Toronto Raptors TV play-by-play announcer

"I've been a part of the Raptors broadcast team from the start, and We the Raptors offers a true reflection of this franchise's development over the years. With 30 individual chapters, the book also does something truly special. Each player tells his own story, in his own words - how he came to the Raptors, what his time in Toronto was like, and what he remembers most. There were even surprises for me. These players were right in the middle of the action, and their perspectives reveal some of the finer details that even I didn't know about from my seat courtside. Above all, this book captures the players' memories and the way they fit into the team's growth and evolution. For some of them, Toronto was a complete unknown, especially in the Raptors' early years. It was a new team, a new country, and a new city. But once they arrived in Toronto, that all changed. And for many of them, it was their connection to the fans that made their time in a Raptors uniform especially meaningful. They quickly realized that these fans truly love basketball, and We the Raptors does a great job of capturing that special bond between Toronto's fan base and the NBA players who had no idea just how much this city would embrace them."
-- PAUL JONES, Toronto Raptors radio and TV broadcaster

"If you're a true basketball fan, you'll love this book. In We the Raptors, the voices of Toronto's most iconic players take center stage - not in highlight reels, but in honest, reflective storytelling. Through candid memories and hard-earned perspective, these athletes revisit their time with the Raptors not just as professionals, but as people. They explore the highs and lows, the grind and the growth, the meaning of their journey in Toronto, and how it shaped them. Far from the usual puff pieces or stat sheets, this book offers substance - a rich, introspective narrative that captures the soul of a team, a city, and a basketball culture built on resilience, humility, and heart. Perfect for fans who crave more than just scores - this is the story behind the story."
-- JACK ARMSTRONG, Raptors TV Analyst

"In the NBA, everyone has a story - and it's no different for anyone who's ever worn a Toronto Raptors jersey. In We the Raptors, 30 former players--some well-known, others who passed through Toronto only briefly--share theirs. Jimmy King, one of the team's first draft picks, reflects on the blessing and curse of being part of Michigan's Fab Five. John Thomas recalls growing so disenchanted with the NBA's business side that he walked away in his prime. T.J. Ford describes his return from a frightening neck injury to spark a playoff run. And fan favourite Jonas Valanciunas opens up about watching the Raptors win a title from afar. Alongside Andrew Bricker, veteran broadcaster Eric Smith draws on three decades at courtside to connect with the people behind the jersey, crafting a must-have collection of stories for every Raptors fan."
-- MICHAEL GRANGE, Sportsnet columnist and author of Basketball Now!

About the Author

Eric Smith has been working at Sportsnet and Sportsnet 590 the FAN, covering the Raptors in some capacity, for nearly thirty years. He has also done work for Global TV sports, as their Raptors/NBA analyst, and he has appeared on CNN, NBA TV, CBC Newsworld, and more. For over twenty years, he has been the radio voice for Toronto Raptors radio broadcasts and a full-time sports talk radio host. When he is not working on the radio, Smith jumps over to TV, often appearing on the pre-game and post-games shows for the Raptors broadcasts on Sportsnet and appears regularly on NBA TV Canada. He also spent seven years as the pre-game and halftime host and sideline reporter for Sportsnet's Raptors coverage.

Andrew Bricker is an associate professor of English literature at Ghent University. We the Raptors is his first book about basketball.