1998–99 Toronto Raptors season
| 1998–99 Toronto Raptors season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Butch Carter |
| General manager | Glen Grunwald |
| Owners | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment |
| Arena | |
| Results | |
| Record | 23–27 (.460) |
| Place | Division: 6th (Central) Conference: 10th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | |
| Radio | CJCL |
The 1998–99 NBA season was the fourth season for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association. Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.
The Raptors received the fourth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and selected small forward Antawn Jamison from the University of North Carolina, but soon traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for his "UNC" college teammate, shooting guard and top draft pick Vince Carter, who is also second-year star Tracy McGrady's cousin. During the off-season, the team acquired Charles Oakley from the New York Knicks, acquired Kevin Willis from the Houston Rockets, and signed free agent and second-year center Michael Stewart.
During the regular season, the Raptors moved into their new arena Air Canada Centre. With the addition of Carter, the Raptors got off to a 6–12 start to the regular season, then played their best basketball by winning 12 of their next 14 games, while posting their first monthly winning record at 11–6 in March. However, they lost 13 of their final 18 games of the season, and finished in sixth place in the Central Division with a 23–27 record.
Carter averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Doug Christie averaged 15.2 points and 2.3 steals per game, while Willis provided the team with 12.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and sixth man Dee Brown contributed 11.2 points per game off the bench, and led the league with 135 three-point field goals. Meanwhile, McGrady averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game also off the bench, while Oakley averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, John Wallace contributed 8.6 points per game off the bench, and second-year guard Alvin Williams contributed 5.0 points and 2.6 assists per game.
Following the season, Wallace re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the New York Knicks, and Reggie Slater was released to free agency.