DEKYAS NEWS World Breaking News and Trusted Source
Related Articles
TORONTO – A special edition Toronto Raptors jersey unveiled Thursday attempts to encapsulate the franchise's 30 seasons in the NBA.
The black uniform features a red dinosaur wearing Vince Carter's purple No. 15 jersey amid a between-the-legs bouncing dunk, a replica of one of the Hall of Famer's iconic jams that helped him achieve the NBA Slam Dunk competition in 2000.
Shannon Hosford, the chief marketing officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, said she loves all the little details on the jersey that pull different design cues from the Raptors' three decades of uniforms.
“It really is the mixtape of our history,” Hosford said. “The scratches can be found on the jersey from '95, the icon on the front is a redesigned version of that dinosaur.
“I would say every little piece means something to us, so I love it all.”
Although the Raptors unveiled the jersey Thursday, it won't be worn in a game until Nov. 21, when Toronto hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. It will be worn for a total of five games this season.
It is the Raptors' first City Edition uniform that features all of the team's brand colors over the years, including purple, red, gold and silver. The jersey is also the first to feature a logo without any text on the front, including the conventional 'Toronto' copy.
Related videos
Some additional design elements include the tone-on-tone claw scratch pin stripes that Hosford alluded to, a nod to the Raptors jersey from the 1995 inaugural season.
Receive the latest national news
For news affecting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen.
Hosford said the jersey's creation began two years ago in collaboration with the NBA.
“What they initially presented wasn't exactly how we envisioned our 30th anniversary, so we went back and hired a local artist (Kevin Briones) who we had worked with before, and came up with this Vince Carter dunking Raptor version,” Hosford said.
Carter was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on October 13 and his number 15 jersey was retired by Toronto on November 2, the first player so honored in team history.
Although the City Edition jersey wasn't unveiled until Thursday, Carter alluded to it during a press conference before his number was retired.
“Do you know how big that is?” Carter said. “Even if this day (when his jersey was retired) doesn't happen, wherever I work and watch TV, I'll be able to watch a Raptor game with a photo of me dunking a basketball on a jersey.
“That equates to me, like Jerry West, 'The Logo,' on an NBA sock, on an NBA sign. That's me now. That's crazy.”
Hosford said Carter was “fantastic” during the draft process.
“He loved the jersey, he loved the design, he was right behind it,” Hosford said. “He really defined our organization at a crucial time.
“Anyone who's a Raptors fan knows that moment, knows that dunk. It inspired a generation, so I think he's very proud to be part of that too.”
Team president and vice chairman Masai Ujiri said in a statement released Thursday that the 30th anniversary is a season to celebrate the people and the moments that shaped the Raptors franchise.
“Is there a better example of that feeling than the image of Vince's incredible dunk?” said Ujiri. “It reminds us that we can inspire. It makes us dream of flying. It's proudly Toronto.
“And this kit is unique in the competition, just like the team and fans who will wear it with pride.”
The Art Gallery of Ontario is hosting a temporary installation highlighting the City Edition uniform with a statue of the dunking dinosaur. Fans can view the captivating exhibition from November 14 to 17 as part of regular admission to the AGO.
Those who visit and scan the installation's QR code will have a chance to win a City Edition jersey signed by Carter.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
Globalnews Digital
Source link
