Toronto Raptors: 3 thoughts on the 2018-19 NBA schedule
3. Welcome home, sport
After a massive personnel shakeup this offseason, all eyes will be on a couple of dates that feature homecomings for players who departed the only franchise they had ever known.
The first reunion game will come just after the new year begins, when the Raptors travel to San Antonio on Jan. 3. Kawhi Leonard will have a contentious reunion with Spurs fans, while Danny Green probably won’t.
The return date in Toronto will take place on Feb. 22 — Toronto’s first game following the All-Star break. It’s then that Jakob Poeltl will return to Canada for the first time since the July trade that sent him to San Antonio.
Oh yeah, DeMar DeRozan will be back at Scotiabank Arena as well.
Do you think this game matters to him?
February 22 in Toronto, @DeMar_DeRozan. 🗓 pic.twitter.com/gTwt18DYAt
— ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2018
Without any other major personnel moves this offseason, there aren’t other reunion games to eye over the course of the season. It’s always interesting to see what kind of reception legend Vince Carter will receive though; he’ll come to town with the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 8.
There’s also the little matter of the coaching firing that took place, when Toronto relieved Coach of the Year Dwane Casey of his duties. His new team, the Detroit Pistons, comes to town on Nov. 14.