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Yay or Nay? Toronto Raptors Bring Back Retro Purple Dinosaur Jerseys

  • Frank Doyle's Author profile. Frank Doyle

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Whether you like it or not, the Toronto Raptors will celebrate their 20th NBA anniversary by wearing their classic 1995 purple jerseys for select home games next season.

“We are excited to bring back a piece of team history as part of our 20th Anniversary celebration,” Raptors president/general manager Masai Ujiri said in a release. “Our fans have shown affection for the original purple uniform and I think our players will enjoy the chance to wear them next season.”

This is just another part in a massive rebranding project by the Raptors. Toronto has been an underachieving team for years, but is taking steps in the right direction since Ujiri came on board. Since this season began, the Raptors have dumped high-priced superstar Rudy Gay in an attempt to reshape the team’s product on the floor. That, in itself, has been a huge success as the Raptors. They sit at the top of the NBA Atlantic Division at 33-26 are poised to make their first playoff appearance since 2008.

Off the court, they have the support of hip-hop superstar and Toronto native, Drake, which has helped move the club to the forefront of the popular culture stage. That’s also been a major transition.

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It’s so big that the team plans to completely chance its logo and regular colors sooner rather than later and rumor has it they could coincide with the black and gold Drake uses for his marketing. Those changes would be separate from these “Throwback Nights” that are to feature Toronto’s inaugural jerseys.

“There’s a reason why we are now going to submit to the league a new application for new branding and a new image and new colors,” Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) president Tim Leiweke told reporters. “Drake will be an ambassador and help us forge this new vision, this new buzz, this new excitement for where we’re taking this organization.”

So, as far as direction goes, the Raptors appear to be in good hands both on and off the court. But, the big question is, are you for or against the purple dinosaur look? If you ask me, it’s a good idea, as long as it’s in small doses. There’s a reason you’ll find a lot of those Barney unis in the bottom of Canadian closets.