{"product_id":"we-the-raptors-eric-smith-9781668069202","title":"We the Raptors: 30 Players, 30 Stories, 30 Years","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe the Raptors: Thirty Players, Thirty Stories, Thirty Years\u003c\/i\u003e is about the grinders, glue guys, bench heroes, and more. Alvin Williams, José Calderón, T. J. Ford, Jonas \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eValanciunas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, Danny Green--whether\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e regular or part-time starters, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003erole players, key cogs, or even short-term stars--all of them felt blessed to call Canada home.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eForeword by Kyle Lowry \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAmir Johnson immediately fell in love with the diversity of the country. From special events with fans to Zombie Walks down Yonge Street, few players connected with Toronto--on and off the floor--more than Amir. At the age of thirty, Anthony Parker--known as the \"Michael Jordan of EuroLeague\"--finally found his place in the NBA with the Raptors, a role that had eluded him as a young draftee and during his six seasons overseas. NBA vet and Toronto native Jamaal Magloire mentored younger players in the shadow of his brother's murder in Regent Park. Bismack Biyombo, a fan favourite for his big, burly play and endless energy, couldn't decide which team to sign with as a free agent, until a phone call from Masai Ujiri made the choice easy. The Junkyard Dog, Jerome Williams, drove himself to Toronto in a snowstorm, becoming in the process one of the most recognizable players in franchise history. Matt Bonner, dubbed the Red Mamba by none other than Kobe Bryant, emerged as a national hero after going toe to toe in the post with Kevin Garnett. Jorge Garbajosa, a superstar in Italy and his native Spain, gambled on a second career at the age of twenty-eight, becoming the hustle and heart of a playoff-bound Raptors squad only to see his NBA dreams crumble in a career-ending on-court injury. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEvery team has unheralded but dogged players but none more so than the expansion-era Raptors, a team that many NBA players and free agents often ignored--until the Raptors became one of the most interesting and winningest teams in the league. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis rich tapestry comes alive in \u003ci\u003eWe the Raptors\u003c\/i\u003e, as told by Raptors radio voice Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker through thirty exclusive interviews with former and current Raptors. Every bounce, every rebound, every elbow to the face--this is a rare view of the NBA through the eyes of those who made it to the pinnacle of their profession.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Eric Smith, Andrew Bricker\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1668069202\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781668069202\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/04\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"Eric Smith","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47039929549055,"sku":"9781668069202","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_9340a46e-2430-4536-b0cb-4eec5beb3b30.jpg?v=1752753036","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/we-the-raptors-eric-smith-9781668069202","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}