1995–96 Toronto Raptors season

Did You Know?

• Point guard Keith Jennings missed the entire regular season due to a preseason knee injury and was on the injured reserve list.
• Point guard B.J. Tyler missed the entire regular season due to permanent nerve damage from falling asleep with an ice pack on his ankle, and never played for the Raptors.
• Alvin Robertson scored the first points in Raptors history with a three-pointer in the team's debut game.

Offseason

The Raptors filled their roster through the 1995 expansion draft, selecting Chicago Bulls guard B. J. Armstrong with the first pick. Armstrong refused to report, and Thomas traded him to the Golden State Warriors for Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander. In the 1995 NBA draft, Toronto held the seventh overall pick and selected point guard Damon Stoudamire from the University of Arizona, a choice booed by fans at the SkyDome who preferred Ed O'Bannon. With the 35th pick, the Raptors took shooting guard Jimmy King from the University of Michigan, a member of the Fab Five.

Regular season

The Raptors played their first season in the Central Division. They concluded the season with a 21–61 record, though they were one of nine teams to defeat the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls, who set an NBA record with 72 wins. Damon Stoudamire averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 assists per game and won the Rookie of the Year Award. On December 10, 1995, Toronto defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies 93–81 in the first meeting between the expansion teams.