1998–99 Toronto Raptors season

The 1998–99 Toronto Raptors season was the fourth season for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association.^[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.^[2] The Raptors received the fourth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and selected small forward Antawn Jamison from the University of North Carolina, but soon traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for his "UNC" college teammate, shooting guard and fifth overall pick Vince Carter along with cash considerations;^[3][4][5] Carter is also second-year star Tracy McGrady's cousin.^[6] During the off-season, the team acquired Charles Oakley from the New York Knicks,^[7][8][9] acquired Kevin Willis from the Houston Rockets,^[10][11][12] and signed free agent and second-year center Michael Stewart.^[13]

During the regular season, the Raptors moved into their new arena, the Air Canada Centre.^[14][15] With the addition of Carter, Willis and Oakley, the Raptors struggled losing five of their first six games of the season. After a 6–12 start to the season, the team soon recovered and won 12 of their next 14 games, posting a five-game winning streak in March, and posting a six-game winning streak between March and April; the team also posted an 11–6 record in March, which was their first monthly winning record in franchise history. The Raptors held an 18–14 record as of April 4, 1999, and were on the verge of making their first ever NBA playoff appearance in franchise history.^[16][17] However, the team struggled losing 13 of their final 18 games of the season, which included two six-game losing streaks between April and May. The Raptors finished in sixth place in the Central Division with a 23–27 record, and failed to qualify for the playoffs.^[18]

Carter averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.^[19][20][21] In addition, Doug Christie averaged 15.2 points and 2.3 steals per game, while Willis provided the team with 12.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and sixth man Dee Brown contributed 11.2 points per game off the bench, and led the league with 135 three-point field goals. Meanwhile, McGrady averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game also off the bench, while Oakley averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, John Wallace contributed 8.6 points per game off the bench, and second-year guard Alvin Williams contributed 5.0 points and 2.6 assists per game.^[22]

Carter also finished tied in 16th place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[23] while Brown finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting;^[23] McGrady finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Brown finished tied in tenth place,^[23] and head coach Butch Carter finished tied in eighth place in Coach of the Year voting.^[23]

The Raptors finished tenth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 439,190 at the SkyDome and Air Canada Centre during the regular season.^[22][24] Following the season, Wallace re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the New York Knicks,^[25][26] and Reggie Slater was released to free agency.