1995 David Stern Signed Toronto Raptors "Birth of a Franchise" Letter. Typed letter on official NBA letterhead is dated May 15, 1995 and grants the Toronto Raptors entry into the league as an expansion franchise. Reads in part:
"In my capacity of commissioner of the National Basketball Association (the "NBA")...the Franchise (as defined in the Expansion Agreement), has been duly grated to Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. in accordance with the Expansion Agreement and the Constitution and By-Laws of the NBA...Congratulations and welcome to the NBA!"
Signed by NBA commissioner David Stern
This document was obtained from an executive member of the Toronto Raptors. The frame is 15 inches high by 14 inches wide.
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional Basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Scotiabank Arena, which it shares with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since the 2001-02 season, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the league, as the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis Tennessee.
In the 2019 playoffs, the Raptors won their first Eastern Conference title and advanced to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and won their first NBA championship.
