With the tragic news of Kobe Bryant’s passing we brought together a great group to be a part of the conversation this week. Not to mourn, but to celebrate Kobe’s life, we wanted to share our first impressions of him, our perspective into his mentality, his 20-year illustrious career, through a Raptors lens, but most importantly who he was as a person and father. 

To best represent this conversation we sat down with Alex McKechnie a 6-time NBA Champion (5 with Kobe's Lakers and 2019 with the Raptors), Leo Rautins a 25-year Broadcaster for the Raptors, Bruce Arthur an award-winning NBA writer, and Akil Augustine a co-host of this show and a man who’s recognized deep into Toronto’s basketball culture.

We hope you enjoy this special episode and take away a moment or story special to us. We as fans and professionals in the NBA family have all channeled the Mamba Mentality one time or another and will continue to do so. There will never be another Kobe Bryant.

#24. THE LEGEND OF KOBE FROM A RAPTORS PERSPECTIVE

Welcome into Raps unPublished: Season TWO(FIVE) with Akil Augustine, Matt Tierney, and Duane Watson. The podcast with the most Raptors guests and Raptors stories. You won't want to miss an episode as we'll be featuring some of your favourite Raptors to have played or coached for the team, as well as other prominent and recognized voices in the history of the franchise. We are your 2019 defending NBA Champions, 25 years in the making.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Sports

Fitness

Health & Fitness

Basketball

On this week's alumni episode of Raps unPublished we're joined by one of the all-time great centers in Toronto Raptors history, Antonio Davis. AD had his most productive seasons as a Raptor in the NBA, and is one of only seven Raptors to ever make it to the All-Star Game. To this day, he's 3rd on the all-time rebound leaders for the franchise, as well as 5th in blocked shots.

In his debut season, he helped the Raptors reach their first-ever playoff berth, he was also a large piece to the first playoff series win in 2001. The veteran leadership and toughness he brought complimented the talents of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. He was such an iconic player that the Raptors brought him back to finish his career in Toronto.

#28. Antonio Davis on Being Part of the Raptors Movement, Appreciating Time Spent with Alumni, Touching on the Chris Bosh Era

#27. Charles Oakley and Alvin Williams on Real Veteran Leadership, Vince Carter's Impact on the Franchise, Remembering the 2001 Playoff Raptors

On this week's episode of the Toronto Raptors official podcast Raps unPublished Season TWO(FIVE), we've got one of the all-time greats at the point guard position in franchise history, Jose Calderon. 

The 2-time Olympic Silver Medalist spent 8 years with the Raptors and led the 2006-07 team to its first Atlantic Division title and at that time the franchise's best regular season record. He ranks second all-time in assists as well as top-10 in points, steals, games played, minutes, and 3-pointers made.

Jose played for 8 different teams over a 14-year career in the NBA but found a second home here in Toronto. Numero Ocho was known for his perfection from the free-throw line, his league leading assist-to-turnover ratio, and also introducing the NBA to the 3-point celebration.

#26. Jose Calderon on Being Welcomed to Toronto, The International vs American Approach, Outcomes of the Raptors' European Experience

On this week's edition of Raps unPublished Season TWO(FIVE), the original Mr. Raptor himself, Morris Peterson took the time to join our show. Mo Pete was known for his tenacious defence, circus shots, clutch buckets, and his love and appreciation to be on the court.

Mo was drafted 21st overall by Toronto which he then made the 2001 NBA All-Rookie 1st Team. All of this coming just after he won an NCAA Championship with his hometown Michigan State Spartans. He spent seven seasons with the Raptors and had career averages of 12.0 ppg, 3.8 rbg, 1.0 spg, and shot 37.1% from deep.

Mo was the ultimate 3-and-D guy and would've fit right in today's uptempo style. He at one point held the longest consecutive streak at 371 games and also played 4-straight seasons of 82 regular season games from 2002-2006, something you may never see again.

#24. THE LEGEND OF KOBE FROM A RAPTORS PERSPECTIVE

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