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We the North: 25 Years of the Toronto Raptors
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
"Doug Smith always gets the first question in any Raptors press conference--as the dean of our press corps, he's been in the front row for every development over the past 25 years. There's no one better placed to write a history of our team's first quarter century."
--Nick Nurse, head coach, Toronto Raptors
Bringing Jurassic Park to your home, a celebration of Canada's most exciting team.
When the Toronto Raptors first took the court back in 1995, the world was a very different place. Michael Jordan was tearing up the NBA. No one had email. And a lot of people wondered whether basketball could survive in Toronto, the holy city of hockey.
More than two decades later, the Raptors are the heroes not only of the 416, but of the entire country. That is the incredible story of We the North , told by Doug Smith, the Toronto Star reporter who has been covering the team since the press conference announcing Canada's new franchise and the team's beat reporter from that day on.
Comprising twenty-five chapters to mark the team's first twenty-five years, We the North celebrates the biggest moments--from Vince Carter's amazing display at the dunk competition to the play-off runs, the major trades, the Raptors' incredible fans, including Nav Bhatia and Drake, and, of course, the challenges that marked the route to the championship-clinching Game 6 that brought the whole country to a standstill.
We the 25 Years of the Toronto Raptors tells the story of Canada's most exciting team, charting their rise from a sporting oddity in a hockey-mad country to the status they hold today as the reigning NBA champions and national heroes.
"Doug Smith always gets the first question in any Raptors press conference--as the dean of our press corps, he's been in the front row for every development over the past 25 years. There's no one better placed to write a history of our team's first quarter century."
--Nick Nurse, head coach, Toronto Raptors
Bringing Jurassic Park to your home, a celebration of Canada's most exciting team.
When the Toronto Raptors first took the court back in 1995, the world was a very different place. Michael Jordan was tearing up the NBA. No one had email. And a lot of people wondered whether basketball could survive in Toronto, the holy city of hockey.
More than two decades later, the Raptors are the heroes not only of the 416, but of the entire country. That is the incredible story of We the North , told by Doug Smith, the Toronto Star reporter who has been covering the team since the press conference announcing Canada's new franchise and the team's beat reporter from that day on.
Comprising twenty-five chapters to mark the team's first twenty-five years, We the North celebrates the biggest moments--from Vince Carter's amazing display at the dunk competition to the play-off runs, the major trades, the Raptors' incredible fans, including Nav Bhatia and Drake, and, of course, the challenges that marked the route to the championship-clinching Game 6 that brought the whole country to a standstill.
We the 25 Years of the Toronto Raptors tells the story of Canada's most exciting team, charting their rise from a sporting oddity in a hockey-mad country to the status they hold today as the reigning NBA champions and national heroes.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2020
32 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 24, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the digital review copy of this book
A very surface level look into the 25 years of the Toronto Raptors spurred on by the recent championship. Each chapter deals with a specific person or era that was significant to the team. Some are interesting but most of the chapters lack depth or any inside information so there doesn't really seem to be much point to this book. If you are looking for books telling the history of the Toronto Raptors, I'm sure there are more comprehensive options available and the same goes for books chronicling the championship year. Might be of interest for absolute die hard Raptor fans but otherwise I'd not recommend
A very surface level look into the 25 years of the Toronto Raptors spurred on by the recent championship. Each chapter deals with a specific person or era that was significant to the team. Some are interesting but most of the chapters lack depth or any inside information so there doesn't really seem to be much point to this book. If you are looking for books telling the history of the Toronto Raptors, I'm sure there are more comprehensive options available and the same goes for books chronicling the championship year. Might be of interest for absolute die hard Raptor fans but otherwise I'd not recommend
May 24, 2021
Very readable and interesting!
I like how Doug Smith chose to split the chapters up by topics rather than going chronologically through the 25 years of the Toronto (say it right: Toronno) Raptors, even though there was a sense that we were mostly moving through time.
Any good Raps fans knows that Doug has been on the sidelines from the beginning and so it was nice to get his inside scoop on the many personalities and people that have been a part of the Raptors team and org over the years. He had quite a few good stories - my sole complaint about the book was that it could be quite general at times. As a *fairly* knowledgeable Raps fan, I wished at times he went into more detail or gave more background information that only he would know. But to be fair, that wasn't really the point of the book - it was to give an overview of the last 25 years.
I would say a must read for Raps fans!
I like how Doug Smith chose to split the chapters up by topics rather than going chronologically through the 25 years of the Toronto (say it right: Toronno) Raptors, even though there was a sense that we were mostly moving through time.
Any good Raps fans knows that Doug has been on the sidelines from the beginning and so it was nice to get his inside scoop on the many personalities and people that have been a part of the Raptors team and org over the years. He had quite a few good stories - my sole complaint about the book was that it could be quite general at times. As a *fairly* knowledgeable Raps fan, I wished at times he went into more detail or gave more background information that only he would know. But to be fair, that wasn't really the point of the book - it was to give an overview of the last 25 years.
I would say a must read for Raps fans!
November 18, 2023
Vraiment intéressant d'apprendre l'histoire des Raptors depuis leur début au Skydome jusqu'à leur championnat!
J'ai trouvé le niveau d'information et de détails parfait pour un nouveau fan de basket comme moi, mais je peux m'imaginer que ce livre laisserait un hardcore fan un peu sur sa faim.
Lets go Pacers!🏀
J'ai trouvé le niveau d'information et de détails parfait pour un nouveau fan de basket comme moi, mais je peux m'imaginer que ce livre laisserait un hardcore fan un peu sur sa faim.
Lets go Pacers!🏀
March 18, 2022
Big Raptors fan so I was excited to read this book, even more so when I saw it was Doug Smith who wrote it (top Raptors journalist). I had high expectations for this book but I was disappointed.
Doug is a decent but plain writer. While this makes for an easy read, it was not as engaging as it could have been. He goes very broad and covers many topics but leaves a LOT of room for detail. Considering his long history with the organization, I was hoping for more specific anecdotes, especially his relationship with players. The few that are included in the book are at best two paragraphs long, which left me unsatisfied.
The order of the chapters was confusing to me. In general, it did follow the history of the team chronologically. However, some chapters that don't really fit into a specific timeline (ex. Canadian players) felt randomly inserted which interfered with the flow of the book. There is also some overlap between some of the chapters, causing Doug to be repetitive leaving me a bit annoyed during my reading.
Overall, I did learn some new things about the team and got some insight into its inner workings over the years, but finished wanting a lot more. If you're already a diehard fan from the beginning, you probably won't gain much from reading this book. Newer fans may appreciate this book more.
Doug is a decent but plain writer. While this makes for an easy read, it was not as engaging as it could have been. He goes very broad and covers many topics but leaves a LOT of room for detail. Considering his long history with the organization, I was hoping for more specific anecdotes, especially his relationship with players. The few that are included in the book are at best two paragraphs long, which left me unsatisfied.
The order of the chapters was confusing to me. In general, it did follow the history of the team chronologically. However, some chapters that don't really fit into a specific timeline (ex. Canadian players) felt randomly inserted which interfered with the flow of the book. There is also some overlap between some of the chapters, causing Doug to be repetitive leaving me a bit annoyed during my reading.
Overall, I did learn some new things about the team and got some insight into its inner workings over the years, but finished wanting a lot more. If you're already a diehard fan from the beginning, you probably won't gain much from reading this book. Newer fans may appreciate this book more.
November 29, 2020
A solid, if unspectacular overview of the Raptors history. A few anecdotes not publicly known, specifically the tension between Casey and Nurse,
after the former was fired and replaced by the latter.
Numerous errors found in the book - Chris Bosh was drafted in 2003, not 2004. Also, author refers to Ricky Rubio as a journeyman player in 2016, when referring to Kyle Lowrys free agency possibly leading him to Minnesota. At that point in his career, Rubio had played for exactly one team...
after the former was fired and replaced by the latter.
Numerous errors found in the book - Chris Bosh was drafted in 2003, not 2004. Also, author refers to Ricky Rubio as a journeyman player in 2016, when referring to Kyle Lowrys free agency possibly leading him to Minnesota. At that point in his career, Rubio had played for exactly one team...
February 28, 2022
When one thinks of sports in Canada in general and Toronto in particular, the first one that comes to mind is hockey. Yet, while the city’s NHL team has not won a title since 1967, the Toronto Raptors of the NBA won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2019 and in doing so, made it be known that basketball has a place in the country as well. Doug Smith has been reporting on the Raptors for every year of their existence and shares his stories in this book.
It is easy to see that Smith is not only very knowledgeable about the Raptors, but also about the game itself. His writing about the early days of the Raptors and how they came about illustrate not only those years about the team, but about the NBA in general. For that time frame, his accounts of what first Damon Stoudamire and later Vince Carter meant to the team and the city. It was especially nice to read about how Carter gave credibility to the team – not only for his individual achievements but also for how the team improved as well, going from the expansion growth pains to making the playoffs.
Smith is equally good when he writes about the post-Carter years and how the team seemed stuck despite finding talented players such as DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. He writes glowingly about both of these players. It was really evident how much DeRozan felt a connection to the city and the team when he was crying when learning that he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 for Kawai Leonard. Smith’s writing about DeRozan almost felt like a love fest – but I won’t call it over the top because it is an accurate description of the city’s relationship with him.
The subsequent single season that Leonard spent in Toronto, capped off by the 2019 NBA championship, is covered well, but the reading is not quite as good as the human interest type of stories that fills this book. However, the best basketball writing is in this part, with a passage that compares two buzzer-beating shots in game 7’s 18 years apart in Raptors history. In 2001, Vince Carter launched a shot in game 7 of the second round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2019, Leonard did the same thing, in the same round of the playoffs against the same team. In 2001, the shot was close, but not good. In 2019, the ball hit the rim four times before going in. The comparison between the two was excellent – even better than Smith’s writing about the championship and subsequent celebration.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book for any basketball fan, but especially Raptors fans. Smith certainly knows the Raptors and the NBA and it shows throughout the book.
It is easy to see that Smith is not only very knowledgeable about the Raptors, but also about the game itself. His writing about the early days of the Raptors and how they came about illustrate not only those years about the team, but about the NBA in general. For that time frame, his accounts of what first Damon Stoudamire and later Vince Carter meant to the team and the city. It was especially nice to read about how Carter gave credibility to the team – not only for his individual achievements but also for how the team improved as well, going from the expansion growth pains to making the playoffs.
Smith is equally good when he writes about the post-Carter years and how the team seemed stuck despite finding talented players such as DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. He writes glowingly about both of these players. It was really evident how much DeRozan felt a connection to the city and the team when he was crying when learning that he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 for Kawai Leonard. Smith’s writing about DeRozan almost felt like a love fest – but I won’t call it over the top because it is an accurate description of the city’s relationship with him.
The subsequent single season that Leonard spent in Toronto, capped off by the 2019 NBA championship, is covered well, but the reading is not quite as good as the human interest type of stories that fills this book. However, the best basketball writing is in this part, with a passage that compares two buzzer-beating shots in game 7’s 18 years apart in Raptors history. In 2001, Vince Carter launched a shot in game 7 of the second round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2019, Leonard did the same thing, in the same round of the playoffs against the same team. In 2001, the shot was close, but not good. In 2019, the ball hit the rim four times before going in. The comparison between the two was excellent – even better than Smith’s writing about the championship and subsequent celebration.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book for any basketball fan, but especially Raptors fans. Smith certainly knows the Raptors and the NBA and it shows throughout the book.
March 23, 2022
my first time reading any long-form sports writing so admittedly I might be the problem here, but there wasnt really any sort of unifying theme or narrative to tie the whole thing together. it read like a List of Events with footnotes tacked on for flavour. I enjoyed the chapters about things I already knew or experienced in my short career as a Basketball Casual, but I think without a cursory knowledge of the history of the Toronto Raptors already under one's belt the reader will come away largely unstimulated.
I'm sure Doug's a nice guy and his tenure as a sportswriter lends him a lot of legitimacy here, but it still seemed like he farted out 25 chapters of vague memories in order to capitalize on a championship season rather than crafting a lovingly detailed history of a team he's worked alongside for a quarter of a century.
I'm sure Doug's a nice guy and his tenure as a sportswriter lends him a lot of legitimacy here, but it still seemed like he farted out 25 chapters of vague memories in order to capitalize on a championship season rather than crafting a lovingly detailed history of a team he's worked alongside for a quarter of a century.
February 5, 2021
So, I am not a Raptors fan, but was only caught up in the 2019 Playoff season and ultimately the NBA championship. That was such a memorable and exciting moment for the city and Canada.
I listened to the audiobook and it gave me a good history of the team. There would have been nothing new for the die-hard fan but for me it was very informative. A 3.5 star read.
I listened to the audiobook and it gave me a good history of the team. There would have been nothing new for the die-hard fan but for me it was very informative. A 3.5 star read.
February 17, 2021
It is the journalistic point of view more then the story itself.
April 26, 2021
One of my favorite book I have read this year. Make's you proud of the 2019 raptors all over again!
December 30, 2020
I decided to read this entire thing in the span of an afternoon, as it seemed to be on the lighter side of the literary spectrum and I needed a break from the massive novels I’ve been tackling as of late.
Honestly, while I appreciate the brevity, I think that condensing this story to a mere 230 pages was a mistake.
The Raptors’ importance for both Canadian sports and Canadian culture as a whole cannot be underestimated. Doug Smith’s proximity to the team deems him uniquely qualified to tackle the material and I was excited to hear what he had to say about the team’s fascinating history. Why, then, did this read like a laundry list of names, emotions and achievements; rather than an honest-to-God narrative about the team? I got the impression that Smith faced considerable pressure from his publisher. Chapters that could have been novel length- tackling issues like DeMar Derozan’s depression, the importance of fan culture in Toronto and the team’s turbulent head office histories- are introduced and quickly glanced over. Smith routinely recalls entertaining anecdotes but never takes the time to explore them beyond the space of a paragraph or two. The whole book feels like it’s in a hurry to reach the end, which similarly lacks the necessary details to tell a compelling story.
This is a Wikipedia article written by someone who would be much better suited writing an epic. I learned basically nothing about this team and wonder who, if anyone, would actually come away from this with any appreciation for the team beyond what they already possess. My dedication to this franchise prevents me from rating this any lower than a two, but my disappointment in this missed opportunity persists.
Honestly, while I appreciate the brevity, I think that condensing this story to a mere 230 pages was a mistake.
The Raptors’ importance for both Canadian sports and Canadian culture as a whole cannot be underestimated. Doug Smith’s proximity to the team deems him uniquely qualified to tackle the material and I was excited to hear what he had to say about the team’s fascinating history. Why, then, did this read like a laundry list of names, emotions and achievements; rather than an honest-to-God narrative about the team? I got the impression that Smith faced considerable pressure from his publisher. Chapters that could have been novel length- tackling issues like DeMar Derozan’s depression, the importance of fan culture in Toronto and the team’s turbulent head office histories- are introduced and quickly glanced over. Smith routinely recalls entertaining anecdotes but never takes the time to explore them beyond the space of a paragraph or two. The whole book feels like it’s in a hurry to reach the end, which similarly lacks the necessary details to tell a compelling story.
This is a Wikipedia article written by someone who would be much better suited writing an epic. I learned basically nothing about this team and wonder who, if anyone, would actually come away from this with any appreciation for the team beyond what they already possess. My dedication to this franchise prevents me from rating this any lower than a two, but my disappointment in this missed opportunity persists.
December 29, 2020
Raps fan who was there from the beginning (saw the first-year team beat the Jordan Bulls in the SkyDome, which remains a cherished memory), but lost hope after Vince (plus T-Mac, Stoudamire, and Camby!) left, and returned to the fold about 5 years back as Kyle and DeMar brought the team back to respectability, all the way to the 2019 title.
This book was a fun, but abbreviated, trip down memory lane, with some interesting stories on the makeup of the Raptors as a team and an organization that I wasn’t aware of. I liked Doug’s dishes on the quirks of the different coaches the Raps have had over the years.
There’s a lot missing – how do you write a Raptors book that essentially does not mention McGrady, Bosh, Antonio Davis, Doug Christie, or Marcus Camby, just to mention a few names from the early days? I had also been hoping to learn a bit more about the decade in the wilderness between Vince and Kyle, but it seems that Doug missed these years as well. So enjoy this for the insider tidbits and observations from a long-time beat reporter, but don’t expect a comprehensive history or much in the way of basketball analysis.
This book was a fun, but abbreviated, trip down memory lane, with some interesting stories on the makeup of the Raptors as a team and an organization that I wasn’t aware of. I liked Doug’s dishes on the quirks of the different coaches the Raps have had over the years.
There’s a lot missing – how do you write a Raptors book that essentially does not mention McGrady, Bosh, Antonio Davis, Doug Christie, or Marcus Camby, just to mention a few names from the early days? I had also been hoping to learn a bit more about the decade in the wilderness between Vince and Kyle, but it seems that Doug missed these years as well. So enjoy this for the insider tidbits and observations from a long-time beat reporter, but don’t expect a comprehensive history or much in the way of basketball analysis.
February 25, 2021
It's really a 1.5, but I am feeling generous.
It reads as if he the author spent one Sunday writing one chapter, then forgetting about it for a week before writing the second chapter, and so on. Everything has to be reintroduced over and over.
It's kind of interesting that the author will tell a story, and then follow it up with "I don't care." Then why write about it? I also feel this was less about the Raptors and more about the reporting of the Raptors.
It gets repetitive. It feels like the author has to recount details that he has spent chapters covering.
Also, a chapter solely on Chris Bosh should have been included.
I feel like some stories weren't complete. Like about Kyle Lowry. The book talks about how he acted when he first got to Toronto, but there was never any mention of what happened to snap him out of it.
It also could have used an editor. At one point, he talks about how Vince Carter missed the shot in the second round against the 76ers. The very next line is about how Carter never got the Raptors out of the first round.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend it.
It reads as if he the author spent one Sunday writing one chapter, then forgetting about it for a week before writing the second chapter, and so on. Everything has to be reintroduced over and over.
It's kind of interesting that the author will tell a story, and then follow it up with "I don't care." Then why write about it? I also feel this was less about the Raptors and more about the reporting of the Raptors.
It gets repetitive. It feels like the author has to recount details that he has spent chapters covering.
Also, a chapter solely on Chris Bosh should have been included.
I feel like some stories weren't complete. Like about Kyle Lowry. The book talks about how he acted when he first got to Toronto, but there was never any mention of what happened to snap him out of it.
It also could have used an editor. At one point, he talks about how Vince Carter missed the shot in the second round against the 76ers. The very next line is about how Carter never got the Raptors out of the first round.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend it.
March 22, 2021
This was an enjoyable look back the Raptor's history by one of the key sports writers to cover the team, Doug Smith. That is my quick review. I had fun reading it.
A key question - Would a non-Raptor's fan enjoy this book? Probably not. One of the key critiques I have about this book is that it is very superficial. There are whole chapters that don't provide any more insight to the events that unfolded than you would have gotten following TSN or The Jump. Which is a shame - Doug has devoted a chunk of his life to covering this team I craved more "behind the scene stories" or insight only he could provide. That isn't to say there aren't some nice moments when I felt I learned more about the team (especially about the earlier days), things like his talk about the early practice facility might be a little dull to an outsider but to me they added the flavour I was looking for - insights I wouldn't have known about.
I get the feeling that Doug is being true to himself. He is a kind hearted guy who doesn't want to dig up old wounds or put down old players/coaches too much because he respects them and he doesn't want to hurt his relationships with the current players or coaches. But gosh - if the most salacious remark in the who book is a coach saying "If They find a heart in that s**t, tell them to take it out" about Oliver Miller as he was being wheeled away to the hospital, then the book may be a bit too polite.
What I didn't expect (or want) was a whole book about gossip, but I needed a few deeper insights. Heck, I would have loved some insight about what it's like to be a reporter for the Raptors - a chapter on that, even if it was a tad drab, would let Doug provide facts only he could give.
What you do get is Doug loves this team and became very close to the players and coaches. He all but absolves Carter of his decision to attend graduation the day of the most important game (up to that point) in Raptors' history. He acknowledges that we fans still have lingering resentment (we do!) but dismisses that saying we are pouty babies (we are - but still!! our pout in this case was justified). He glosses over Dwayne Casey' departure while singing his praises. I agree Casey was an amazing coach and we partially owe our championship to him but - that was a moment Doug could have gone deeper into the reasons why he was let go. How Casey has badmouthed Nick Nurse in private. I think the only chapter I felt was digging a bit deeper was the ones on Kawhi and Masai. Oh, BTW - if I am reading between the lines...Masai is NOT re-signing with the Raptors in 2021 (I am writing this in March 2021), Doug practically says as much in the Masai chapter.
I started with a positive, I'll end with one. If you are looking for an enjoyable overview of the Raptors' history - this is it.
A key question - Would a non-Raptor's fan enjoy this book? Probably not. One of the key critiques I have about this book is that it is very superficial. There are whole chapters that don't provide any more insight to the events that unfolded than you would have gotten following TSN or The Jump. Which is a shame - Doug has devoted a chunk of his life to covering this team I craved more "behind the scene stories" or insight only he could provide. That isn't to say there aren't some nice moments when I felt I learned more about the team (especially about the earlier days), things like his talk about the early practice facility might be a little dull to an outsider but to me they added the flavour I was looking for - insights I wouldn't have known about.
I get the feeling that Doug is being true to himself. He is a kind hearted guy who doesn't want to dig up old wounds or put down old players/coaches too much because he respects them and he doesn't want to hurt his relationships with the current players or coaches. But gosh - if the most salacious remark in the who book is a coach saying "If They find a heart in that s**t, tell them to take it out" about Oliver Miller as he was being wheeled away to the hospital, then the book may be a bit too polite.
What I didn't expect (or want) was a whole book about gossip, but I needed a few deeper insights. Heck, I would have loved some insight about what it's like to be a reporter for the Raptors - a chapter on that, even if it was a tad drab, would let Doug provide facts only he could give.
What you do get is Doug loves this team and became very close to the players and coaches. He all but absolves Carter of his decision to attend graduation the day of the most important game (up to that point) in Raptors' history. He acknowledges that we fans still have lingering resentment (we do!) but dismisses that saying we are pouty babies (we are - but still!! our pout in this case was justified). He glosses over Dwayne Casey' departure while singing his praises. I agree Casey was an amazing coach and we partially owe our championship to him but - that was a moment Doug could have gone deeper into the reasons why he was let go. How Casey has badmouthed Nick Nurse in private. I think the only chapter I felt was digging a bit deeper was the ones on Kawhi and Masai. Oh, BTW - if I am reading between the lines...Masai is NOT re-signing with the Raptors in 2021 (I am writing this in March 2021), Doug practically says as much in the Masai chapter.
I started with a positive, I'll end with one. If you are looking for an enjoyable overview of the Raptors' history - this is it.
June 15, 2023
I'd like to preface this review by saying that I'm a huge sports fan. I am always consuming sports-related media... Even for sports I don't watch regularly. However, I'm also immensely critical to the sports content. I think this book could be a 3 or a 4 to an average basketball fan, sports fan, Toronto Raptors fan or Canada fan. Anyways, I'll get into my review.
Doug Smith, the author is a bit of a controversial media figure in the Raptors community. He made a racist remark which he retroactively apologized for. Also, he made a joke that reported a player resigning for their contract. As a media member, that's not something you joke about. He's not the best representation of the Raptors franchise as a whole but he's not the worst either.
As an author, he does a decent job summarizing the Toronto Raptors as a franchise. I expected a timeline retrospective: in x year, the Raptors did x, y, & z. But, it's a more nuanced discussion about the Raptors history, players and culture.
Although the format was great, I wasn't too impressed with the content. A lot of the information was surface-level facts that any fan could retell.
Going into this book I expected:
1) Getting to learn the perspective of a person IN the action.
2) Learning about Raptors history that I missed.
3) Getting anecdotes from players, and staff.
4) Summarizing the Raptors as a franchise
Unfortunately, the book was mostly 4). At the moment, this book offers as much content as a YouTube fan retrospective. That statement isn't an attack towards YouTubers. It's an attack towards the book itself for not embracing its uniqueness.
Doug Smith, the author is a bit of a controversial media figure in the Raptors community. He made a racist remark which he retroactively apologized for. Also, he made a joke that reported a player resigning for their contract. As a media member, that's not something you joke about. He's not the best representation of the Raptors franchise as a whole but he's not the worst either.
As an author, he does a decent job summarizing the Toronto Raptors as a franchise. I expected a timeline retrospective: in x year, the Raptors did x, y, & z. But, it's a more nuanced discussion about the Raptors history, players and culture.
Although the format was great, I wasn't too impressed with the content. A lot of the information was surface-level facts that any fan could retell.
Going into this book I expected:
1) Getting to learn the perspective of a person IN the action.
2) Learning about Raptors history that I missed.
3) Getting anecdotes from players, and staff.
4) Summarizing the Raptors as a franchise
Unfortunately, the book was mostly 4). At the moment, this book offers as much content as a YouTube fan retrospective. That statement isn't an attack towards YouTubers. It's an attack towards the book itself for not embracing its uniqueness.
March 21, 2021
If anyone would be the ideal choice to write about 25 years of Toronto Raptors, Doug Smith would be high on the list. He has been covering the Raps since day one and has seen all the highs and lows of the franchise and has been able to develop solid
The book is not in chronological order. Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of the team's history from Vince Carter to that magic night in game six against Golden State. Each chapter represents a solid summary of each particular subject that it deals with but this is where the book is lacking. I felt that there were moments when Smith could have expanded the narrative. For example the story behind getting the franchise, the whole Thomas/Bitove departure etc.. I'm sure Smith, given his relationship with former staff/players and current staff/players, could have brought forward some interesting details that may have been new to fans.
Nonetheless, this is a solid read, one I would recommend to those who are part of "We The North".
The book is not in chronological order. Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of the team's history from Vince Carter to that magic night in game six against Golden State. Each chapter represents a solid summary of each particular subject that it deals with but this is where the book is lacking. I felt that there were moments when Smith could have expanded the narrative. For example the story behind getting the franchise, the whole Thomas/Bitove departure etc.. I'm sure Smith, given his relationship with former staff/players and current staff/players, could have brought forward some interesting details that may have been new to fans.
Nonetheless, this is a solid read, one I would recommend to those who are part of "We The North".
May 30, 2021
This should be a better book. Doug Smith has covered the Raptors since day one. He’s a talented sportswriter, who is not afraid to take tough stances and gets access inside the team that the average reader cannot. This book is none of that. It feels like it’s written by someone in PR and lacks the depth regularly found in Smith’s daily columns for the Toronto Star.
The book is basically a series of 3-5 paragraph anecdotes that even a casual Raptors fan will recall without too much trouble. I learned almost nothing new.
It is hard for me to understand who this book is written for. A fan will already know most of what’s in here. A non-fan will not be interested.
The best parts are when Smith lets us into his own mind - parts about his writing process and his relationship with Vince Carter are highlights - but these are few and far between. Unfortunately, the entire thing comes across as a superficial contribution to a season, franchise and fanbase that surely deserve more.
The book is basically a series of 3-5 paragraph anecdotes that even a casual Raptors fan will recall without too much trouble. I learned almost nothing new.
It is hard for me to understand who this book is written for. A fan will already know most of what’s in here. A non-fan will not be interested.
The best parts are when Smith lets us into his own mind - parts about his writing process and his relationship with Vince Carter are highlights - but these are few and far between. Unfortunately, the entire thing comes across as a superficial contribution to a season, franchise and fanbase that surely deserve more.
January 11, 2021
As a newbie Raptors fan, I thought I needed some background. This book gave me some really good info about team building.
Hard to choose between a three and a four, but I decided on a three as there were, for me, too many chapters that simply did not deliver
Unfortunately the first few chapters were on 'ancient history' and really didn't have much to offer. The anecdotes about players long gone were not interesting...not because they were long gone players but because the stories themselves were simply not interesting.
The middle chapters of the book...the 'farm team' for instance, were really interesting: and the remainder of the book held my attention although the chapters on the big win and the parade did go on a bit long.
Hard to choose between a three and a four, but I decided on a three as there were, for me, too many chapters that simply did not deliver
Unfortunately the first few chapters were on 'ancient history' and really didn't have much to offer. The anecdotes about players long gone were not interesting...not because they were long gone players but because the stories themselves were simply not interesting.
The middle chapters of the book...the 'farm team' for instance, were really interesting: and the remainder of the book held my attention although the chapters on the big win and the parade did go on a bit long.
January 28, 2022
What an awesome journey - Doug takes us through the history of the Toronto Raptors from the idea of bringing an NBA team to Canada right up to our championship winning season.
The Raptors, and the Grizzlies, had a tough go that first season. It was as if the NBA wanted the teams to fail (one did). Hamstrung in the drafts, the front office had to bring in international players, NBA journeymen, and undrafted rookies.
But with a focus on player development, and multiple coaching and front office transitions, the Toronto Raptors earned an NBA championship. It took guts, a little luck, and us shipping away the face of the franchise, and reigning coach of the year.
This is a perfect gift for any Toronto sports fan. It's a tale of the people and their team.
Here's to another 25 Raps!!
The Raptors, and the Grizzlies, had a tough go that first season. It was as if the NBA wanted the teams to fail (one did). Hamstrung in the drafts, the front office had to bring in international players, NBA journeymen, and undrafted rookies.
But with a focus on player development, and multiple coaching and front office transitions, the Toronto Raptors earned an NBA championship. It took guts, a little luck, and us shipping away the face of the franchise, and reigning coach of the year.
This is a perfect gift for any Toronto sports fan. It's a tale of the people and their team.
Here's to another 25 Raps!!
August 5, 2022
Was hoping for a little more depth from this but it was mainly a series of anecdotes about life as an embedded reporter. Maybe I'm inferring too much, but the upside is a showing not telling of the problems with being an embedded reporter. You get too close to the story, and the people. So when allegations of sexual harassment arise against of them who was good to you and always fed you good stories for your livelihood, for example, you gloss over it with barely a mention. There are stories here, but never the whole story. Not that I read it looking for dirt (it's a fan-service book after all) but anecdotal tidbits are more fun in person, over a beer, than they are over 200+ pages of book.
December 1, 2025
We The North is a jumpy history of the Toronto Raptors that does a lot of good by allowing Doug Smith to tell stories from his unparalleled perspective of the team. The more he inserted himself into the story, the better and more personal I felt it was. The Raptors have a short history that has been told time and time again, and We The North, while enjoyable and thorough, was not totally comprehensive in the way it could have been. That said, Smith is a sportswriter, not a historian, and I’ll not hold that against him too much. The book ends on a lovely note, even more brutal foreshadowing knowing the modern day state of Kawhi, but nevertheless, this book serves as a testament to Doug’s time with the team, and as a solid record of what the boys in red, white, and purple accomplished.
October 30, 2020
an excellent book on the history of the first 25 years of the Toronto Raptors - I had the pleasure being a small part at the start and was able to meet Isiah Thomas through his body guard then John Salley on draft night was up in the area where were sitting - if you are a basketball fan this book is worth reading. Even today Doug Smith made a bold statement in his column about an incident with a Raptors player that happened in New York calling for the player's immediate waiver from the team. Doug Smith calls it as he sees it and has covered the Raptors for the 25 years they have been in Toronto
December 31, 2020
An interesting look at the Toronto Raptors through the eyes of a Toronto Star beat writer who was there from the beginning. The focus is mostly on the players, coaches, GMs and their personalities. Unfortunately there was little narrative on the origins of the team and how they were marketed and how some of their early key decisions came to fruition. Interesting look at how the team evolved over time. A chapter at the end comparing the final shots in game 7s against Philadelphia of Vince Carter and Kawhi Leonard was very interesting and seemed to pull it all together. Not exactly what I wanted or expected, but a decent, quick read.
March 9, 2021
A very bland, underwhelming effort on the history of the Toronto Raptors basketball club. The author mentions on several occasions that many times what happened behind the scenes was more fascinating than what happened on the court but you wouldn’t know it reading this book. Anecdotes were few and far between, while parts of it were actually really boring. (There was an entire chapter on the history of the team’s training facility. Seriously.)
Unless you are completely clueless about the club, or merely wish to support Canadian sports publishing, there is no reason to buy this book.
Unless you are completely clueless about the club, or merely wish to support Canadian sports publishing, there is no reason to buy this book.
June 17, 2023
4.5. Some parts of this didn’t age terribly well, but overall, as a raptors fan, I really enjoyed this. I learned about things from the beginning of the franchise’s history I hadn’t known, which made it really interesting, since I’ve been a fan only since the DeMar/Kyle days.
I looked up some of the games/events that Doug talked about and was able to find some YouTube footage to see for myself - very cool!
I Recommend this for any raptors fans. I’m also glad that Doug talked about Nav Bhatia! I read this ebook on Kindle.
I looked up some of the games/events that Doug talked about and was able to find some YouTube footage to see for myself - very cool!
I Recommend this for any raptors fans. I’m also glad that Doug talked about Nav Bhatia! I read this ebook on Kindle.
October 30, 2020
More of a commemoration than an investigation, Doug Smith's account of the Raptors' history covers the major highlights and figures in the team's history. The heroes in the franchise's history get their due and the book ends, ideally, with the celebration of their 2019 championship. Smith leaves me wanting more but that may be more of a reflection on my familiarity with the team than the book. Great read.
November 15, 2020
Doug weet veel van de geschiedenis van de club dat is duidelijk. In het boek zijn iconische momenten en belangrijke personen beschreven. 25 onderwerpen voor 25 jaar.
Af en toe vind ik Doug wat zuur en er zit ook best wat zelfverheerlijking tussen de regels door.
Het aantal unieke inzichten kon veel hoger.
Uiteindelijk vind ik dit meer een soort biografie van een verslaggever die deze eerste 25 jaar van de Raptors heeft meegemaakt dan een uniek inzicht in de club.
Af en toe vind ik Doug wat zuur en er zit ook best wat zelfverheerlijking tussen de regels door.
Het aantal unieke inzichten kon veel hoger.
Uiteindelijk vind ik dit meer een soort biografie van een verslaggever die deze eerste 25 jaar van de Raptors heeft meegemaakt dan een uniek inzicht in de club.
December 25, 2020
Great book! Finished it in a day. I’m born in 1993 and the raptors arrived In 95. They are the reason I enjoyed the sport and had a net in the back yard trying to dunk like Vince Carter.
It was cool to re live the ups and downs of the Raptors franchise. Every chapter had a specific focus such as a player or coach or event, I enjoyed that.
Love the inside look this author gave us. He’s been there since the start. Highly recommend to any die hard raptor fan
It was cool to re live the ups and downs of the Raptors franchise. Every chapter had a specific focus such as a player or coach or event, I enjoyed that.
Love the inside look this author gave us. He’s been there since the start. Highly recommend to any die hard raptor fan
December 26, 2020
Loved the insider stories and learning about the early days before I paid attention to this team and, of course, it’s fun to remember these last few amazing years. Didn’t love how repetitive it could be. It feels like each chapter was originally a separate article and then they were compiled together, which led to some points being covered multiple times. I skimmed a lot in those situations. Still a fun read for a fan though.
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