Police: 4 People Suffer 'Serious' Injuries in Shooting During Raptors' Parade
Jun 17, 2019
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 3: An aerial view of the Toronto city skyline and downtown buildings and Islands and Lake Ontario in the background on May 3, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
The Toronto Police Department confirmed a shooting occurred Monday near Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, where the Toronto Raptors were celebrating their 2019 NBA championship:
SHOOTING: Nathan Phillip's Square **Update** -4 victims located -None of the injuries are life threatening -3 people arrested -2 firearms recovered -Investigators wish any video to assist in investigation -Please use portal: https://t.co/NGv3aZdlDO ^dh
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) June 17, 2019
Police originally said two victims suffered "serious but not life-threatening" injuries but have subsequently announced four people were treated for injuries related to the shooting. Three people were arrested in connection with the shooting as well.
According to Stephanie Smyth of CP24, police said one of the victims was a woman and were asking for fans to remain calm to avoid a stampede in the square:
#BREAKING - Toronto Police tell @CP24 woman has been shot at Bay and Queern...appealing for calm from the podium. Stampede feared at Nathan Phillips square.
TheToronto Sun's Antonella Artuso and CBC's Meagan Fitzpatrick shared a look at Nathan Phillips Square from ground level as word of the shooting spread (warning: video contains profanity):
According to Reuters'Tyler Choi, an estimated 2 million people traveled to downtown Toronto for the parade and victory rally. Sportsnet'sFaizal Khamisareported some fans were camping out Sunday night in preparation for the event.
The city of Torontotweetedat 11:59 a.m. ET that Nathan Phillips Square was at capacity and no more fans would be permitted in the area.
The Raptors won their first-ever championship after defeating the Golden State Warriors Thursday in six games in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Toronto FC were the last major sports champions in the city when they won an MLS Cup in 2017.
Raptors Parade 2019: Twitter Reaction, Photos, Videos and More
Jun 17, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 holds up the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors holds up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors celebrated their 2019 NBA title with seemingly all of Canada at the championship parade Monday.
The sheer number of fans who turned out for the celebration was truly awe-inspiring:
Nathan Phillips Square is at capacity, no one else will be allowed on the Square. Watch the parade + rally on big screen at Coronation Park. Everyone onsite: please celebrate safely... @TorontoPolice want you to be able to enjoy the entire event! #WeTheNorthDay#WeTheNorthpic.twitter.com/D9AfdMnEZr
Organizers expected about two million fans to be in attendance for the parade, per Reuters (via Yahoo), and the actual totals might have exceeded that.
While the fans seemed to be having fun, the players were the real stars of the show while enjoying themselves on the buses:
Marc Gasol is chugging wine on the parade bus. Legend 🤣
He isn't technically part of the team, but you would never know from his reactions during the playoff run or the championship celebration.
It was a big moment for everyone involved as the franchise brought home its first title in more than 20 years of existence. The fans were clearly more than ready to celebrate after the long wait.
Raptors Parade 2019: Start Time, Live-Stream Schedule for Victory Celebration
Jun 17, 2019
Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka, left, guard Kyle Lowry, center, and guard Danny Green celebrate with teammates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
This is a day Toronto Raptors fans have waited 24 years for.
On Monday morning, the Raptors, along with their newly acquired Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, will ride through the streets of Toronto in celebration of their NBA Finals victory over the Golden State Warriors. It was the first championship win in the team's history, as well as its first Finals appearance.
The parade will culminate with a one-hour rally at Nathan Phillips Square, which is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Here's everything else you need to know about Monday's celebration.
Raptors Parade Information
Date:Monday, June 17
Time:10 a.m. ET
Weather: High of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, 0 percent chance of precipitation (per Weather.com)
While the Raptors have had plenty of success the past few seasons, culminating with this year's championship, their fans endured many struggles early in the franchise's history.
From its inaugural 1995-96 season to 2014-15, Toronto won only one playoff series—a first-round matchup against the New York Knicks in 2001. But the Raptors have won a postseason series in each of the past four years, including this season when they defeated the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks before toppling the two-time defending champion Warriors.
"I thought they really fought hard, they were tough-minded. They didn't seem like this was wearing on them at all," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of his team, according to the Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk. "Two months of playoff basketball, they never seemed tired to me. Mentally they kept wanting film sessions, they kept wanting to walk through things, they kept wanting to keep learning and improving."
The NBA Finals, which went to six games, ended on the Warriors' court at Oracle Arena, so Raptors fans have not yet had a chance to celebrate alongside their team. But there will be many people with the opportunity to do just that in the streets of Toronto on Monday.
On Sunday, Toronto mayor John Tory announced via Twitter that Monday will be known as "We The North Day" in honor of the Raptors bringing the championship trophy to Canada for the first time in NBA history.
I'm proud to proclaim Monday as #WeTheNorth Day in the @CityOfToronto. As we gather to celebrate the first NBA championship in @Raptors' history, I encourage everyone in our city to show our support, pride, love, and appreciation for this incredible team. #WeTheChampionspic.twitter.com/SvsVnOLGiy
And they didn't even wait until Monday to start arriving. Per the Toronto Star's Sherina Harris and Kate Allen, some Raptors fans began camping out Sunday night to get the best spots for the parade.
Raptors Parade 2019: Date, Time, Route and Latest Weather Forecast Report
Jun 17, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors holds up the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors during Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jack Arent/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors are 2019 NBA champions, and the capital of Ontario is ready for another celebration on the downtown streets.
Immediately after the buzzer sounded on Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Raptors fans flooded Yonge-Dundas Square to commemorate the franchise's first-ever title. The hours-long elation was expected, given the city's championship drought.
Other than Toronto FC's memorable 2017 season, The Six hadn't watched a major professional team win a title since the Toronto Blue Jays earned back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-93.
But thanks to head coach Nick Nurse, Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the Raptors, the party is just beginning.
Monday should be a pleasant day for a parade. According to Weather.com, the high is 65 degrees with a gentle breeze and only a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
Blake Murphy of The Athletic shared the details of what to expect during Toronto's victory celebration.
The team will be loaded onto open-air double-decker buses, and the parade will begin at Exhibition Place's Princes' Gates and is scheduled to arrive at Toronto City Hall at 12:30 p.m. ET. Nathan Phillips Square will contain the hour-long rally to follow.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment official Mike Bartlett said he anticipates between 1.5 and 2 million people will attend the parade, per Chris Fox and Joshua Freeman of CP24.
"We got a few surprises up our sleeves but we are going to leave some of that for [Monday]," he said, according to Fox. "I can guarantee you that each and every Toronto Raptor will be there as will our front office team."
The loudest cheers will likely materialize for Leonard and Kyle Lowry.
Leonard joined the Raptors via trade last offseason, forcing his way from the San Antonio Spurs to a new destination. He rewarded Toronto's faith despite being a potential one-year rental, averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in the Finals to propel the Raps past the Golden State Warriors.
His arrival required the organization to send all-time scoring leader DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio, breaking up the memorable six-year stretch featuring him and Lowry.
After several years of subpar performances in the postseason, the five-time All-Star finally helped the Raptors win a title. The face of disappointing previous teams is now an NBA champion, and the city is ready to celebrate.
Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
Fred VanVleet: 'Nothing More' Raptors Can to Do to Recruit Kawhi Leonard to Stay
Jun 16, 2019
If you believe Fred VanVleet, the Toronto Raptors have already made their best sales pitch as they try to convince Kawhi Leonard to sign a contract extension this summer.
VanVleet told reporters Sunday there's nothing else the Raptors can do after they won an NBA championship:
"I think for us, there is nothing more that we can do. We've done it. The city has done it. This franchise had done it. The coaches have done it. My teammates have done it. We've done our job. The best way to recruit somebody is to just be yourself over the course of the year, and I would assume that he knows what is here and what makes this place special."
VanVleet jokingly added that if Leonard happens to sign with another team, "then we just have to kick his ass next year."
Leonard can become a free agent by opting out of his $21.3 million option for next season.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on a Friday episode of SportsCenter the Los Angeles Clippers "are at the very top" of Leonard's wish list and the Raptors "still have work to do" before the start of free agency on June 30.
Toronto does have the ability to offer Leonard a contract worth $190 million over five years. No other team can offer him more than four years and $141 million.
If Leonard's time with the Raptors only lasts one season, it was as close to perfection as anyone could have hoped for. The franchise won its first title, and he was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in six games against the Golden State Warriors.
Raptors Parade 2019: Start Time, Live Stream Schedule for Victory Celebration
Jun 16, 2019
Prior to this past NBA season, the Toronto Raptors had never reached the NBA Finals. Now, their fans are preparing for a huge celebration.
Coming off the franchise's first NBA championship since joining the league for the 1995-96 season, Toronto is prepared to host its parade Monday morning. The Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games to cap a postseason in which they also beat the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Kawhi Leonard, who won Finals MVP in his first year with the Raptors, will lead the team into the celebration. He's been in this position before, as he earned Finals MVP when he helped the San Antonio Spurs win a championship at the end of the 2013-14 season.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the Raptors' parade Monday.
The Raptors' parade will depart Princes' Gate at 10 a.m. ET, according to Blake Murphy of The Athletic. It will then head east on Lakeshore Boulevard to York Street, north on York Street, north on University Avenue and enter Nathan Phillips Square via Queen Street at approximately 12:30 p.m.
There will be a one-hour rally when the Raptors arrive at Nathan Phillips Square. The team will ride on double-decker buses along with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
Per Weather.com, Monday is expected to be a clear day with only a 10 percent chance of precipitation. The temperature is projected to be in the low-to-mid 60s (degrees Fahrenheit).
This will be a championship celebration that Toronto fans are sure to enjoy. Of the four major professional sports, the last team from the city to win a title was the Toronto Blue Jays, who won the World Series in back-to-back seasons from 1992-93.
The Raptors had never previously won a championship, and the Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. The Raptors' championship win will bring a celebration that has been long in the making.
To reach this point, the Raptors not only had to take down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks, but they also had to beat the Warriors, who had won three of the previous four NBA Finals.
Toronto beat Milwaukee in six games then took control of the series against Golden State by winning three of the first four games. After dropping Game 5 at home, the Raptors went on the road and toppled the Warriors with a 114-110 win in Game 6.
Leonard is a free agent this offseason, which could bring some uncertainty about the future of the Raptors franchise, but that won't matter Monday as the players and fans come together to celebrate a historic championship.
NBA Finals 2019: Best Highlights from Warriors vs. Raptors Full Series
Jun 16, 2019
The Toronto Raptors claimed their first NBA title on the Golden State Warriors' floor—the last game at Oracle Arena. In October, many would have viewed that scenario as a pipe dream, but the underdogs knocked off a reeling champion.
The Warriors only saw 12 minutes of Kevin Durant because of calf and Achilles injuries. Klay Thompson missed Game 3 with a hamstring ailment and tore his ACL in Game 6. Still, Steve Kerr's group pushed for a rare three-peat, but the Raptors had a little more firepower.
We saw stellar performances and jaw-dropping highlights throughout the 2019 NBA Finals, with two heavyweight clubs going shot-for-shot down the stretch in multiple games. Let's take a look at the biggest moments from the championship series between the Raptors and Warriors.
In past NBA Finals, we have watched LeBron James smash layups against the glass in defining moments. This time, Most Improved Player candidate Pascal Siakam put an exclamation point on his outstanding Game 1 performance with a block on Draymond Green.
Siakam shadowed Green all the way to the hoop and timed his leap perfectly to reject the shot. At the time, Toronto led Golden State 103-92 with six minutes and 11 seconds left in regulation. The Raptors forward finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Stephen Curry nearly turned over the ball with a reckless pass to Shaun Livingston, but the Warriors maintained possession and found Andre Iguodala all alone behind the three-point line. He had enough time to set his stance and knock down a triple to seal the victory.
At that moment, the Warriors held a two-point lead, but a long miss could have sparked a fast-break opportunity at the buzzer on the other end. Iguodala had a little more time to drain the shot clock, but critics can't argue against a big bucket in the clutch.
Danny Green put together his best performance in Game 3; he shot all 10 attempts behind the three-point line and made six of them.
During the Western Conference Final, the Warriors routinely erased the Portland Trail Blazers' first-half leads in the third quarter. Green didn't allow that to happen with the series tied. He scorched the net on three shots beyond the arc during the third frame of the contest.
Kawhi Leonard Puts Raptors Up 16 Points in 4th Quarter (Game 4)
Kawhi Leonard didn't have to carry the entire weight of the Raptors across the finish line in the championship series. He earned the 2019 NBA Finals MVP, but his supporting cast provided significant help along the way.
With that said, Leonard took over Game 4. He shot 11-of-22 from the field, 5-of-9 behind the three-point line and dominated the Warriors down the stretch. The three-time All-Star reached his spots on the court and scored 36 points—his highest total in the series.
Leonard's open three-pointer in the corner brought a rise out of Raptors' fans back at Jurassic Park in Toronto as the club went up 3-1 in the series.
Klay Thompson Knocks Down Go-Ahead 3-Pointer (Game 5)
Durant tore his Achilles early in the second quarter of Game 5, which put the Splash Brothers back in the spotlight. Right on cue, Curry and Thompson scored the last nine points to extend the series.
Curry led the team in scoring for this contest (31 points), but Thompson had a more efficient night from three-point land, hitting 7-of-13. His final triple kept the Warriors alive for a three-peat.
Fred VanVleet's 3-Pointer Gives Raptors Late Lead (Game 6)
On paper, Fred VanVleet lists as the Raptors' backup point guard, but he's the unsung hero of the 2019 NBA Finals. He received an MVP vote from ESPN's Hubie Brown. Leonard deserved the honors, but the 25-year-old played a vital role in the closeout game.
VanVleet averaged 14 points in the series, but he saved his best performance for Game 6, scoring 22 points, which included a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line and 5-of-11 from three-point territory.
His last triple put the Raptors into a 104-101 lead, and Toronto held on to the advantage for the remainder of the game. He became a major player in a crucial moment, putting his stamp on the series with a career high in points.
Raptors Extend Las Vegas Celebrations of Finals Win vs. Warriors Ahead of Parade
Jun 15, 2019
The Toronto Raptors aren't going to stop celebrating their NBA title anytime soon.
After beating the Golden State Warriors on the road for the first championship in franchise history Thursday, the squad went directly to Las Vegas. They were expected back in their home city Saturday but will stay an extra night in the town, per ESPN.
Drake has unsurprisingly been hosting the team throughout Sin City, bringing them on stage at a club along with the Larry O'Brien Trophy:
.@Drake toasts @raptors players at a Las Vegas nightclub 🎉🥂
The squad is apparently having too much fun for it to end, remaining in Nevada through Saturday night before going back to Canada on Sunday.
Fortunately, the players are expected back in time for Monday's championship parade in Toronto, set for 10 a.m. ET.
Drake Shouts Out LeBron James in 'Omerta' Song Released After Raptors' Title Win
Jun 15, 2019
Drake, an executive producer of the HBO drama series
Rather than sing the praises of his beloved Toronto Raptors following their win in the 2019 NBA Finals, Drake dropped a line about LeBron James in a new single.
In the track titled "Omerta," Drake offers this verse about James' vast fortune and lucrative mansion in Brentwood, California:
"Ethics and values, mob traditions, old fashioned / Monopoly action / Bronny buying up Brentwood like he still in Akron”
James owns two houses in Brentwood, including a brand-new $23 million mansion with 15,846 square feet, 9.5 bathrooms and eight bedrooms he bought in 2017.
The song is part of a two-track EP called The Best in the World Pack that Drake released in the wake of the Raptors beating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
If nothing else, it's a good thing the Raptors won so Drake had an excuse to release his new music without having to change the title of the EP.
Raptors' Danny Green: Kawhi Leonard 'Mastered' Avoiding Social Media, Reporters
Jun 15, 2019
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard celebrates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
In an era when many high-profile athletes try to raise their profile through social media, Kawhi Leonard has been able to tune out all of the extra noise.
Per Sports Illustrated's Andrew Sharp, Danny Green, who has spent the past eight seasons as Leonard's teammate with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors, explained how the two-time NBA Finals MVP is able to keep a laser-like focus at all times.
"Not having social media," Green said. "Totally tuning out. Avoiding [reporters] as much as possible in the summertime. He's mastered it."
The NBA is a league built on constant rumors and speculation, especially involving its biggest stars, but Leonard has managed to remain a great mystery.
Leonard is such a mystery that his laugh became an internet sensation last September, both because it was unusual and no one had seen him do it in public.
For comparison, Kevin Durant caused a stir for havingfake burner accountson social media, in addition to his personal verified accounts, that he forgot to use when responding to people and criticizing the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017.
Leonard and Durant are great players in their own right who also present themselves to the public in very different ways. It works for both of them. They have combined to win the last three NBA Finals MVP awards.
If staying off the grid helps Leonard average 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in the postseason, as he did for the Raptors, no one will have any problem that he isn't speaking openly to reporters or putting his thoughts on social media.
