“We’re no longer called ‘We The North’, we are now called ‘WE THE CHAMPS!'” cried one fan as Toronto was taken over after the Raptors won their first-ever NBA title Thursday night.
Fans spilled into the streets across Canada as the country’s one and only NBA team took home the league championship with a 114-110 win over the Golden State Warriors.
WATCH: Huge crowd gathers at Yonge and Dundas as fans celebrate Raptors first NBA Championship
Canadians jammed into 59 Jurassic Park viewing parties and every bar and restaurant imaginable to watch their team capture the trophy.
After a heartbreaking one-point loss Monday night in Game 5 at home, Toronto came out of the gate Thursday hungry, with Kyle Lowry scoring the first 11 points of the night.
Once the final whistle blew and the Raptors came out victorious, pandemonium ensued, with fans singing O Canada and chants of “MVP” and “we are the champions.”
“It’s the best day of my life,” said one fan, John Cook.
“Tears of joy; it’s spiritual. It’s just an amazing feeling,” said another.
Fans set off fireworks and flares in the streets. Yonge-Dundas Square was overcome with celebrations.
“Oh my God, I feel amazing. This is one of the best moments of my life. Let’s go, Raptors,” said a fan at the festivities.
Get daily National news
One man, now dubbed “Plant Guy” was walking the streets with what he called a housewarming gift for Kawhi Leonard.
At Bremner and York streets, fans started climbing up poles and standing on signs. In some cases, fans lit torches.
-
![]()
NBA Finals: Raptors fan set off fireworks and flares on streets -
![]()
NBA Finals: Fans in downtown Toronto celebrate Raptors first-ever NBA title -
![]()
NBA Finals: Jurassic Park celebrates after Toronto Raptors win first NBA title -
![]()
NBA Finals: Fireworks in downtown Toronto as Raptors win first NBA title -
![]()
NBA Finals: Motorcyclist burns rubber in middle of crowd celebrating Raptors win -
![]()
NBA Finals: Fans take a dip outside Toronto city hall celebrating NBA title
“From ’95, I was a little 16-year-old high school dude, I’ve been dreaming of this moment forever, and it finally happened 24 years later,” one fan told Global News.
Fans even went so far as to jump into the pond at Nathan Phillips Square and start dancing.
However, not all celebrations were safe as a couple of Toronto police cruisers were damaged, their windshields broken and a side mirror broken off.
WATCH: Damaged police car seen in underpass as Raptors fans celebrate
Thousands who attended other viewing parties in Kitchener and Halifax, among others, saw similar celebrations.
Just minutes after the final buzzer sounded, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “And that’s how we do it in the North.” Opposition leader Andrew Scheer also tweeted his congratulations.
“A game we’ll always remember,” Scheer said.
A parade to celebrate the victory is set for Monday at 10 a.m.
Comments