TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors’ new uniforms pay tribute to the City of Toronto, and to Canada as the country’s only NBA team.
The Raptors unveiled their four new uniforms on their website late Monday, moments after Drake, the Toronto rapper and the team’s global ambassador, donned one for his OVO Fest at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.
Canada’s national colours of red and white remain the main focus, while black and silver will continue to feature in the trim.
The club will also sport two alternate black uniforms. A version with red, silver and white trim will return, joined by a special alternate featuring gold and white trim – a nod to Drake’s OVO label.
Drake wore a Cory Joseph No. 6 alternate jersey during his concert. The Toronto player switched to No. 6 in honour of his Toronto roots when the Raptors signed the free agent in July.
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The Raptors had unveiled their new logo for the upcoming season back in December, part of their rebranding that included the popular “We the North” campaign by creative agency Sid Lee.
Gone was the basketball-dribbling dinosaur. In its place is a ball ripped by dinosaur claw marks, inside a circle.
The jerseys have several features that continue the north theme, including chevrons on the side of the jersey that now point north instead of downward.
At the waist-level hem of the jersey is an upside-down tag with the “We the North” slogan that will be visible to players when they tuck in their jerseys, “and will serve to remind them of what they represent,” according to the Raptors’ release.
Among other changes, the players’ names will be spelled in an arc rather than a straight line.
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