2000–01 Toronto Raptors season

The 2000–01 Toronto Raptors season was the sixth season for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association. Key departures before the season included former head coach Butch Carter, Tracy McGrady, Doug Christie, and Dee Brown. During the 2000 off-season, the Raptors selected small forward Morris Peterson out of Michigan State University with the 21st overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, acquired Corliss Williamson from the Sacramento Kings, and signed free agent Mark Jackson. Basketball Hall of Fame member Lenny Wilkens became the fourth head coach in the team's franchise history.

The Raptors lost their first three games of the regular season, but played above .500 in winning percentage as the season progressed, holding a 26–23 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, Williamson was traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jerome Williams and Eric Montross, while Jackson was traded along with Muggsy Bogues back to his former team, the New York Knicks in exchange for Chris Childs, and Kevin Willis was dealt to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Keon Clark and Tracy Murray in two other separate mid-season trades. The Raptors won 11 of their final 14 games of the season, finishing in second place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for their second NBA playoff appearance.

Vince Carter averaged 27.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, led the Raptors with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Antonio Davis averaged 13.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. In addition, Alvin Williams provided the team with 9.8 points, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while Charles Oakley averaged 9.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Peterson contributed 9.3 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and three-point specialist Dell Curry contributed 6.0 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., Carter and Davis were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was Davis's first and only All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Peterson was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Rookies team. Carter also finished tied in eleventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Williams finished tied in ninth place in Most Improved Player voting, and Peterson finished tied in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2001 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Raptors faced off against the 4th–seeded Knicks, who were led by All-Star guard Allan Houston, All-Star forward Latrell Sprewell, and former Raptors center Marcus Camby. The Knicks took a 2–1 series lead, after the Raptors lost Game 3 at home, 97–89 at the Air Canada Centre. However, the Raptors managed to win the next two games, including a Game 5 win over the Knicks on the road, 93–89 at Madison Square Garden, thus winning in a full five-game series, and also winning their first ever NBA playoff series in franchise history.

In their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Allen Iverson, All-Star center and Defensive Player of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo, and Sixth Man of the Year, Aaron McKie. The Raptors took a 2–1 series lead over the 76ers, before losing the next two games, which included a Game 5 loss to the 76ers on the road, 121–88 at the First Union Center. The Raptors managed to win Game 6 over the 76ers at home, 101–89 at the Air Canada Centre to even the series. However, the Raptors lost Game 7 to the 76ers at the First Union Center, 88–87, thus losing in a hard-fought seven-game series. The 76ers would reach the 2001 NBA Finals, but would lose in five games to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors finished sixth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 793,256 at the Air Canada Centre during the regular season. Following the season, Oakley was traded back to his former team, the Chicago Bulls. The Raptors would not win another NBA playoff series until the 2015–16 season.