This year (2025) marks the 30th anniversary of the Toronto Raptors, and this new book celebrates the stories behind Canada’s NBA team through exclusive interviews with current and former Raptors. We the Raptors: 30 Players, 30 Stories, 30 Years is written by longtime Raptors radio voice Eric Smith and writer Andrew Bricker as they share a wealth of personal, behind-the-scenes stories of those who wore the Raptors’ jersey. This is not just a book about the team’s superstar players, but it also includes interviews with what the book calls “quietly inspirational players who made their mark on the franchise and this city.”
More than just a story about the 2019 championship year, Smith and Bricker take readers into the locker rooms and onto the court as they take a deep dive into the lives of 30 players. Through in-depth interviews and research, each story beautifully captures the energy, passion, excitement and commitment to the game of basketball; from Jamaal Magloire mentoring young players or Jose Calderon’s leadership, to the energy of Bismark Biyombo, to an interview with RJ Barrett (born in Toronto and the son of former basketball pro Rowan Barrett), the intimate stories bring the athletes to life through their awe-inspiring stories.
This is a must-read for Raptors fans who can join in the celebration of Toronto’s (and Canada’s) NBA team’s 30th anniversary.
We the Raptors: 30 Players, 30 Stories, 30 Years by Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker is being released on November 4, 2025, available at bookstores across Canada. Copyright © 2025 by Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker. Published by Simon & Schuster Canada. Eric Smith photo by Jack Victor, Rogers. Andrew Bricker photo by Wibke Schniedermann.
About the Authors
Eric Smith has been working at Sportsnet and Sportsnet 590 the FAN, covering the Toronto Raptors for nearly 30 years. He has also worked as the Raptors/NBA analyst for Global TV and has appeared on CNN, NBA TV, CBC Newsworld, and other stations. He has spent over 20 years as the radio voice of the Raptors radio broadcasts and a full-time sports talk radio host.
Andrew Bricker is an associate professor of English Literature at Ghent University in Belgium. We the Raptors is his first book about basketball.
Book Review by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
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