We The Raptors: 30 Players 30 Stories 30 Years by Eric Smith & Andrew Bricker
Reviewed by Shawna Butler
Was it an entertaining read? Yes
Did I learn something new about the Raptors? Yes
Did it help bring back memories of the past 30 years of Raptors basketball in Toronto? Yes
Most importantly, it evoked emotions and memories of my days of playing and coaching basketball! Yes!
We The Raptors: 30 Players 30 Stories 30 Years about Canada’s team, the Toronto Raptors. When a whole country only has one team, they receive love and support from coast to coast. This book is about players, key games, forgotten games and everything in between. I read the book first when I got it as an advanced copy for reviewers. Then I reread it again last month, each time I got a different takeaway. The first reading was more of wow I remember that, or I never knew that before. The second read through was because I wanted to experience the love for the stories again. Some I skimmed through and others I couldn’t wait to read once more.
“A great read from a well-known face of Raptors basketball, Eric Smith.”
Some of my favourite stories are about Jerome Williams, a member of the team from 2001-2003. JYD “Junkyard Dog” as he’s known on court was a colourful character on the floor with his rebounding and defensive abilities. He was also a fan favourite as an off the bench player, the fans would light up and the volume would rise with cheering in the Air Canada Centre.
The Bosh Era (2003-2010) by the time Chris Bosh joined the team, they were in a rebuilding stage. During his seven-year run as a Raptor, there were plenty of lows and a few highs, including roster and coaching changeovers.
One of the most memorable games in Raptors’ history happened on January 22, 2006 when they were playing the Los Angeles Lakers at home. This will forever be known as the night Kobe Bryant dropped 81 points on the Raptors — the second most points by a player in a game in NBA history.
Plenty of players to read about and moments from the past 30 years of Raptors basketball. I recommend this book for any basketball, sports, or Canadian who wants a great read from a well-known face of Raptors basketball, Eric Smith.
About the Author
Eric Smith has been working at Sportsnet and Sportsnet 590 the FAN, covering the Raptors in some capacity, for nearly thirty years. He has also done work for Global TV sports, as their Raptors/NBA analyst, and he has appeared on CNN, NBA TV, CBC Newsworld, and more. For over twenty years, he has been the radio voice for Toronto Raptors radio broadcasts and a full-time sports talk radio host. When he is not working on the radio, Smith jumps over to TV, often appearing on the pre-game and post-games shows for the Raptors broadcasts on Sportsnet and appears regularly on NBA TV Canada. He also spent seven years as the pre-game and halftime host and sideline reporter for Sportsnet’s Raptors coverage.
Andrew Bricker is an associate professor of English literature at Ghent University. We the Raptors is his first book about basketball.
About the Reviewer
Shawna Butler is a mother, a retired athlete, and a fitness professional. She currently works in the skincare industry with Drunk Elephant. In her spare time, Shawna enjoys watching baseball and reading about sports, fashion, poetry, and biographies. She loves to travel to warm and sunny destinations. Shawna holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Mount Saint Vincent University and resides in Paradise, Newfoundland.
Book Details
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Publication date : Nov. 4 2025
Language : English
Print length : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1668069202
ISBN-13 : 978-1668069202