1996–97 Toronto Raptors season

The 1996–97 Toronto Raptors season was the second season for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association. The Raptors received the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected center Marcus Camby from the University of Massachusetts, and hired assistant coach Darrell Walker as their new head coach. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Walt Williams, acquired Popeye Jones from the Dallas Mavericks, acquired three-point specialist Hubert Davis from the New York Knicks, and signed John Long, who came out of his retirement. The team also signed Benoit Benjamin, but released him to free agency after only just four games.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NBA in their regular season opener on November 1, 1996, the Raptors played against the New York Knicks at the SkyDome. The game marked the 50th anniversary of the first ever NBA game played, between the Knicks and the Toronto Huskies at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 1, 1946, back when the league was known as the BAA (Basketball Association of America). The Raptors wore throwback uniforms of the Huskies, but lost to the Knicks at home, 107–99; second-year star Damon Stoudamire finished with a double-double of 28 points and 10 assists, while Doug Christie added 24 points, 7 assists and 4 steals.

Under Walker, and with the addition of Camby, Williams and Jones, the Raptors played around .500 in winning percentage with a 3–3 start to the regular season, but then posted a six-game losing streak afterwards, and later on held a 17–29 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team re-signed free agent Oliver Miller after a brief stint with the Dallas Mavericks, and traded Acie Earl to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for second-year guard Shawn Respert, while signing free agents Reggie Slater and Clifford Rozier. The Raptors finished in last place in the Central Division with a 30–52 record, which was a nine-game improvement over their inaugural season.

Stoudamire averaged 20.2 points, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and led the Raptors with 176 three-point field goals, while Williams averaged 16.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and contributed 175 three-point field goals, and Camby provided the team with 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Christie contributed 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, along with 147 three-point field goals, while Carlos Rogers averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game off the bench, Jones provided with 7.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, Slater averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 26 games, and Sharone Wright contributed 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Williams participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout, while Camby was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team. Camby scored 18 points along with 12 rebounds and 4 assists, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 96–91. Christie finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Isaac Austin of the Miami Heat.

The Raptors finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 744,550 at the SkyDome during the regular season. Following the season, Davis signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks, while Rozier signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Long retired.