Toronto Raptors: 10 stars you didn't know played for the Raptors

Toronto Raptors: 10 stars you didn’t know played for the Raptors

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 13: Hedo Turkoglu #26 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on March 13, 2010 in Oakland, California. The Warriors won 124-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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8. Rod Strickland

Rod Strickland‘s career had two high points that came very far apart. The first came during his rookie season with his hometown Knicks, where he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors despite backing up and sharing time with Mark Jackson on the court. The other came almost 10 years later when Strickland made All-NBA Second Team after leading the NBA in assists (10.5 assists per game) with the 1997-98 Washington Wizards.

The point guard’s time with the Raptors is a hidden footnote of his career, as they were one of seven teams Strickland played for during his final five seasons in the NBA. After being released earlier in the season by the Orlando Magic, Strickland signed with the Raptors in March 2004 to help the team cope with the losses of Alvin Williams and Jalen Rose (h/t ESPN).

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It did not go particularly well. Strickland played 15 games for the Raptors, starting once. He managed to keep his assists up, averaging 3.9 per game, but he couldn’t score the ball, averaging just 4.7 points per game. He didn’t even hit a single 3-pointer during his time with the team.

After the season, Strickland would play just 16 more NBA games with the Houston Rockets before calling it a career. The godfather of Kyrie Irving now works for the NBA’s G-League.

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