The Toronto Raptors’ official mascot is The Raptor. He is a dinosaur who wears a red costume with the jersey #95, signifying the year of establishment of the franchise. The Raptor is known for performing skits, dancing and cheering his team at games. He is also part of numerous viral videos. Some of them are mentioned below:
The Raptor ate a cheerleader or security guard.
The Raptor annoyed Robin Lopez by wearing a wig to mock his hair and Lopez responded by charging toward the mascot and pushing him to the ground.
Lopez returned to Toronto while playing for the New York Knicks and the Raptor compiled a poster named “My Favorite Lopez” which included Jennifer Lopez, Mario Lopez, George Lopez and Nancy Lopez, but Robin Lopez was not there on the list. Robin took the poster and cracked it over the Raptor’s head.
The Raptor also showered Rachel McAdam with gifts that included a Raptors jersey with her name and no. 1 on it. He gave her a flower bouquet and a stuffed Raptors toy.
The Raptor Real Name
According to NBAMascots.com, The Raptor is currently played by three people. The first performer is a professional dancer, the second is a stuntman, and the third performer is a voice actor. The Raptor mascot reflects the team’s toughness and aggressiveness on the court. While the mascot’s design has undergone changes over the years, he has always been an aggressive dinosaur. The Raptor performs his signature “Raptor Claw” move after every win.
While NBA mascots’ salaries are kept confidential, their average salaries range between $25,000 - $50,000 per annum.
FAQs
A. The name of the team was dubbed as the Toronto Raptors, influenced by the Steven Spielberg film, Jurassic Park, which is why their mascot is a raptor.
A. The management of the team chose a velociraptor as the team logo’s basic element. It represents a fast creature that responds to circumstances quickly and has enormous endurance.
A. It was to increase civic engagement and raise awareness around voters of opportunity in local and national elections.
A. In 2013, The Raptor missed an entire year after suffering a torn Achilles while performing in Halifax for school children.
