The Raptors’ dino jersey became a classic -- with a little help from Vince Carter | Threads

The Toronto Raptors arrived in the NBA with a classic '90s aesthetic that has only grown in cultural relevance since. This is the story of how the Jurassic Park-inspired jersey was designed -- and how stars like Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady made it beloved. #NBA #Sports
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[@kaysheye7784]

not even a Raptors fan but this is genuinely one of my favourite jerseys out there - all time classic especially the purple

[@b.b4229]

The spelling of 'favourite' has betrayed you.

[@BTM866]

@@b.b4229 it's how we spell it in Canada

[@b.b4229]

@@BTM866 My point exactly. Now I know the world uses 'favourite' spelling but basketball is not too popular worldwide. The only place that uses that spelling and likes basketball is Canada. Therefore OP might be Canadian. Given that he is Canadian, I concluded that he might be a raptors fan or at the very least be in good favor with the team.

[@jona.scholt4362]

I'm not a Raptors fan either but I have one of those jerseys/t-shirts you can get in the NBA Hardwood collection of T-Mac's purple raptor jersey. I also have just a regular t shirt with the big Raptor logo. To me it is the best of the crazy '90s jerseys; most of those I dislike especially the sixers set uniforms from the era, the black uniforms being the worst of the worst in pro sports. I wish the Raptor just went back to the purple with the big Dino.

[@kaysheye7784]

@@b.b4229 I'm British actually

[@leonellangston2009]

I also like the old Vancouver Grizzlies jerseys, 90s Cavs jersey is underrated too.

[@TWIZZTHEWHIZKID]

The 90's Rockets, Hawks, & Jazz jerseys as well.

[@djstyles97]

Always wanted that blue and black Shawm Kemp jersey!

[@ryantwitter343]

Yes! I wish the Cavs would lose the wine and gold and build a New Jersey sets based all on blue black and orange.

[@alexpisco1613]

Charlotte Hornets with Larry Johnson was lit 🔥

[@fakeemmcee]

@@TWIZZTHEWHIZKID Bucks and Pistons too. 90s were a good time for jerseys.

[@akwasigoines4279]

Greatest NBA threads of all time! Nobody wore them better than Vincent Lamar Carter! Shame on Paul Anthony Pierce for denouncing the Dino jerseys!

[@R.B.90]

What's crazy about these jerseys is they were mocked when they came out but are now classics lol

[@josephxowen]

Facts everyone hated them

[@Mr4one6]

I'm glad for this comment cause it's looking like people are forgetting

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Not by me. It thought it looked beautiful the first time I saw it.

[@paul734]

Put some respect on Damon Stoudemire's name. He was the first player to rock these being the Raptors first ever pick and he was the Rookie of the year.. He made me want one of these jerseys as a kid.

[@hiraiken3]

First rule of respect - spell the man’s name correctly

[@paul734]

@@hiraiken3 aight Einstein

[@ShariaLawAllDay]

Vince Carter is the best thing that ever happened to Canadian basketball. He is the man, myth and legend himself who put Toronto and Canada on the map during the late 90's and early 2000's. They better retire that #15 and hang his number up in the rafters in the Scotiabank Arena.

[@blacki4268]

They will...after Lowry

[@nostradumass6248]

i just want 90s jerseys to make a permanent comeback

[@vickpanchal5559]

The city edition jersey's this year are incredible. They should make those the main jersey's tbh.

[@nostradumass6248]

@@vickpanchal5559 absolutely but bring back the original colors or just do the red and black ala 00s

[@Chicagowhitesox-iz6zl]

From Chicago & I still rock that jersey

[@TheToyRoom]

Keep this series going!

[@jasonrussell8088]

I remember when those jerseys first came out, everyone thought they were terrible. Goes to show, sometimes in order to be a trend setter, you have to do something nobody else is doing. Now they are iconic!

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Not me. I liked it since the first time I saw it.

[@edwardhelb1139]

One of the greatest threads I loved that Dino jersey reppin 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@thegagz]

2 of the greatest jerseys of all time are from the 2 Canadian expansion teams

[@nightwing4065]

OG Raptors jerseys are LIT!

[@rayneozier]

I’m a life long NBA head born in 96 and I love those purple Raptor jerseys. It was amazing seeing VC and TMac run wild in those jerseys.

[@goku..7]

All 90s jerseys are🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MichaelPolera]

That original design is still the best one today 🔥🇨🇦

[@xq8152]

Isiah Thomas said they picked those jerseys because they thought kids would love a big raptor on the front. Which proves a point that a lot of things done in sports are for kids. Especially all star games.

[@edupbeat]

zeke don't get enough credit for building that raptors team..

[@shanellmoonesinghe896]

Thankfully I got the version of Lowry’s jersey with this design

[@boris2997]

Best Jersey ever made in the NBA

[@denimdiadora]

What if Vince and T-Mac would’ve stayed together?

[@markanderson3826]

Chip easily

[@TWIZZTHEWHIZKID]

Don't forget about Damon Stoudemire, Marcus Camby, & Tracy McGrady also... they all helped make the Raptors (Dino) throwback jerseys famous as well.

[@cesnav7593]

The first player they named is literally Tracy McGrath.

[@krbourne]

Vince Carter, greatest Raptor of all time

[@tahas8261]

One of the best looking jerseys ever and i just love the teeth signature around the name on the back

[@bruskydu]

I became a Raptors fans back in the late 90's because of Vince and the iconic dinosaur jersey.

[@kennethevans4056]

Those were cool jerseys then and cool jerseys now

[@r.j2023]

BEST CLASSIC JERSEY IN HISTORY

[@darrenjones6075]

Lifelong Lakers fan. The 90’s Raptors jerseys are timeless & flawless.

[@Nestle245]

Jerseys were sooooo much better back then.

[@SmoothBrownMan]

No question those 95-99 Raptors jerseys so amazing. Top 3 of all time.

[@paulw.ogradysicphockey4420]

A great feature EPSN. The Raptors 1995 NBA team identity is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks!

[@onidtubes]

VC should have been included in the top 75th, not Lillard nor AD.

[@reck0n3r]

Yup

[@jonathanzheng1273]

75 is a fking joke

[@arthurau9231]

I like the retro Raptors jersey because it's unique and different. I also like the purple colour they chose because purple is such a rare colour to be seen on team logo's and uniforms.

[@andrewsadikin5226]

One of the most iconic jersey

[@aresdagawd2324]

Bring the Dino jersey back it’s really 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@amilcarberrios641]

Love the shirt with a #15 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@2outhpawmma158]

Still my fav

[@slim..reaper]

Bring it back

[@kaysheye7784]

they did like a season or 2 ago I think

[@Nestle245]

They did but it didn't look as good. Different material and the font lettering is smaller.

[@user-gg5td1dk2w]

We have the dinosaur on our city jersey's the black/gold one.

[@fantasticvoyage262]

I liked that dinosaur dribbling the ball so much in my youth, I had my dad buy me a shirt. And I wasn't even a fan of the team. Most teams were wearing plain text on their uniforms that didn't appeal to me. But I respected the Raptors and Grizzlies so much for going against the grain with badass logos. The Raptors should have kept those. What they wear now doesn't hit as hard.

[@dakotabrewer3930]

I like the Memphis grizzlies throw back jerseys. That grizzly bear with the basketball looked so cool.

[@thegagz]

you mean Vancouver Grizzlies

[@dakotabrewer3930]

@@thegagz nope I mean Memphis.

[@djgolf3256]

@@dakotabrewer3930 if you look closely those throwback jerseys still say Vancouver on them ;)

[@dakotabrewer3930]

@@djgolf3256 if you actually knew basketball. You would know that they kept that logo. They where Memphis grizzlies with that same logo from 2002-2004.

[@duffyy1]

It’s a beautiful jersey and it’s a shame they don’t use it anymore but I do like the current red black and gold colours. Both work well.

[@HoopsCulture]

The reason why it was KD's favorite team growing up! I JUST talked about this 😂

[@mr.lowermerion1977]

How can I see more episodes of this segment

[@adammurphy7992]

The stripes are also in the shape of barbed wire. The only thing that could maybe contain a Raptor!

[@chikowashere]

I'm glad they got over the T shirt jersey phase of a few years ago. All of those were terrible, and the players hated them.

[@knephsabir3245]

Ikr those tight blouse tops lmfao!

[@chikowashere]

@@knephsabir3245 Kevin Hart called them V Neck Jerseys. 🤣

[@knephsabir3245]

@@chikowashere lol

[@daydreamer4451]

My FAVORITE Raptors uniforms 👍🏿

[@CHICKENfat88]

Iconic!

[@90ackt]

Animal version jerseys Bulls and Raptors are dope

[@ScottiePimpin416]

I like to add Tmac to this topic. Him and VC looked like the coolest kids on the block with those jerseys!

[@jonathanzheng1273]

top 1 jersey in nba history. vancouver one holds the second place. Rock it Canada!

[@dacyndaquil]

Grew up a Raptors fan cause of the jersey & logo (but still rooted for my hero AI down in Philly lmao 🤣)

[@markanderson3826]

Nba needs another team in Canada

[@fantasticvoyage262]

I wish the Grizzlies stayed in Vancouver.

[@CaptureKing247]

5:19 Would love to see the jersey modified to just have the head of the Raptor and without the Barney body

[@djgolf3256]

Never understood the Barney comparison. Barney is a purple dinosaur, the raptor is red. Completely different colour...

[@ThePatriotDragon]

Raptors and van grizzlies are the best

[@MrBeekay12]

You can't go wrong with the Dino look when I am ok financially am gonna get the authentic shorts in white that V.C used to wear with the Dino jersey

[@therealmrstaten1]

Classic jersey

[@Salvadormarkqgmailcom]

Slam hated that jersey in the 90’s 😂

[@Wthtiktok24]

Actually it was Damon Stoudamire

[@pawelgorniak8550]

too bad Thomas didnt stay GM for longer, Stoudamire - rookie of the year, great potential, Camby - blocking machine, McGrady - hall of fame. He should have been given more time, he was great, just like Brendan Malone would have been a great coach for years to come, people forget he was Chuck Daly's assistant with the champion Pistons for the back to back titles. Stoudamire, McGrady, Camby, Carter and who knows who Thomas might have drafted after that.

[@davincileo5078]

Give Vince respect for what he did but there is no way there's a better jersey than that purple raptors jersey. Hands down

[@science4life486]

Respect to all the NBA fans for the love for the OG Toronto jersey. Thank you to Isaiah Thomas for putting it forward and taking a risk on it.

[@KT-ih1rr]

The Dino the pistons horse the red supersonic the suns blk and the magic pinstripe and stars and the bulls pinstripes some of the best jerseys all time

[@RS7evenSLDR]

Y’all really left out the Gatorade commercial with Vince Carter playing against two raptors?? 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@briant.8553]

As a Raptor fan, I was not a fan of the uni and I still don’t care for it. I actually like the one VC had at the dunk contest. However, up to a day like today I see people rocking’ the Dino and the Raptor is no doubt the best mascot in the Association. Props to the T Dot.

[@RoadtoGloryNetsJetsUnited]

Vinsanity!

[@arcsine]

such a great video no idea why this wasn't in my feed earlier. Thanks man. I remembering being like 6 or 7 when i first saw that logo / jersey and thought it was THE COOLEST THING ever. like which kid that age doesn't just automatically think dinosaurs are cool lmao. As i got older it started to seem cheap and obnoxious compared to the more timeless/legacy logos but now its kinda come back a bit and can be appreciated more objectively I can say. Still kinda ugly lol but can def respect it more now.

[@benhenderson8952]

🦖🦖🦖

[@smolaether]

Bosh really was a perfect fit for Toronto though.

[@westville1916]

Why?

[@leoak]

Much better than those “North” Jerseys. North of what? Why the American-centric branding? Toronto’s as south as you can get in Canada… lol Don’t even get me started on “We The North” - Raps fan since Mighty Mouse days.

[@Eric-ci1of]

If you actually watched the Raps in the 90’s and early 2000’s, you wouldn’t have fond memories of that jersey.

[@fantasticvoyage262]

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't associate fashion with what happens on the court. If something pops, I want it. It makes no difference to me how someone plays wearing it.

[@justinmohan7103]

Its no nostalgia. The jersey is pretty cool.

[@syntheticmaplesyrup7217]

Its so 90s ya

[@zahrinh9926]

if only Tracy did not quit on us we could have have a chip

[@frednunziata5]

just starting this..... better mention we had a national VOTE for the name.. YES we the Canadians CHOSE the RAPTOR name. dont think the team did it. WE did it

[@NatureFlow]

looking back it did seem rigged. I voted Raptors in Grade 4, but the other options were ridiculously horrible - Hogs, Towers, etc. Like they made us pick Raptors. Either way, I'm glad it played out that way!

[@TORULEZ10]

I never got people who made fun of these jerseys. Just hatin' to be cool.

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Old geezers like to hate on anything different from the norm.

[@zoradelaney9412]

I thought they were terrible uniforms at the time.....and I *STILL* think that they are terrible uniforms.

[@nanaopoku1124]

But isn't a raptor a bird just goggle it and you will see so what is a bird or dinosaur

[@FREESTYLER130580]

Wow. Sherman, cousy parrish, miller, rodman all these dudes not better basketball playes than vince and tmac.

[@cesnav7593]

Stop it. Rodman deserves to be on every list

[@godspeed8236]

So ESPN doesn’t mention us when we go on a 8 game win streak, but they do a feature on our jersey…American media is disgusting

[@CaptureKing247]

Why should the American media care or focus on a Canadian team? 😂 That's what TSN and Sportnet is for

[@august6281]

Forgot what channel but i saw a video of most ugly NBA Jerseys and they included *this* ? He was wrong

[@rafaeashraf605]

One of the worst possible logos of all time prbly belongs to the Celtics with the leprechaun

[@actionhiro4222]

It's bad luck to hate on Leprechauns.

[@iancole2789]

The raptor belongs on a kids cereal box. It is a joke.

[@paulw.ogradysicphockey4420]

It was on a cereal box... that's the idea... Raptors really appeal to kids.

[@REALTRUEJOURNEY]

That jersey is terrible lol

[@markanderson3826]

Hater

[@borood1188]

It’s stupid looking. Those late 90s cartoon art jerseys were the worst uniform idea ever