The Raptors did it, they freakin’ did it, and Toronto got to celebrate.
On Monday, the Toronto Raptors slowly made their way through millions of revelers as Canada’s largest and best city cut loose. Minus one very bad incident, it was a remarkable day for the centre of the universe, and a lousy day for productivity.
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Fans came in from all over the GTA to pay homage to the first team outside of the United States of America to win the NBA championship. An estimated two million people lined Toronto streets from the Princess Gates to Nathan Phillips Square as the players slowly made their way through the city atop buses. Kyle Lowry proudly showed off the NBA trophy, Boardman showed off his MVP trophy, Marc Gasol showed off his impressive alcohol tolerance, proud pappa Fred VanVleet showed off his daughter, and Drake showed off that he was invited.
Why don’t you get us started, Serge?
Thanks buddy.
For the fans, well, the fan’s celebration styles were, like the fans of the team themselves, incredibly diverse. Here’s some of our favourite clips and photos from Toronto’s Big Day.
We had some Raps fans hanging of the dang roof of the CN tower to get a better view of the historic parade.
We had this shirtless maniac reliving the glory moments of Thursday nights party at Yonge and Dundas by climbing the arches of Nathan Phillips square.
He was soon joined by other maniacs—shirts on though.
There was this guy who channeled a Dumpster Raccoon—Toronto’s true mascot, sorry Drake–and climbed this pole.
There was this person who seemingly broke their house arrest by hitting up the parade.
Worth it.
And of course, then there were the reason we were all there, the Raptors. Five touring buses carrying the players, led by Serge Ibaka and a We the North flag, parted the mass of celebrators like the Red Sea. In just one of the buses Kyle Lowry brandished off the NBA championship to the crowd, Drake smiled like a happy, happy boy… except when he looked emo, Kawhi went A Ha Ha HA Ha and Fred VanVleet showed off his baby like it was the Lion King. Ahead of them Norm Powell chugged champagne and Danny Green showed off his massive mohawk and smoked a cigar.
It was pretty tippity top, champs all of them. But it was the veteran Marc Gasol, who was the parade’s MVP.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGG
AAAAAAAAAAAAA
SSSSSSSSSSSS
OOOOOOOOOO
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
There were a few things outside of Gasol’s, uh, exuberance as well. We had Kawhi in a Board Man Gets Paid shirt (!!!!!!!) rightfully saying he doesn’t think anybody went into work today. [Editor’s note: We will discuss this later, Mack]
The crowd chanting “one more year” at the star and Lowry correcting them by saying, “No! Five!“
The plant guy got to deliver his Kawhactus to Kawhi.
A HA HA HA HA
Then there was all this.
We got a taste of Big Dad Energy from Vanvleet.
Danny Green is cooler than all of us. ALL OF US.
Jeremy Lin is a freakin’ NBA champ.
I repeat, Jeremy Lin is an NBA champion.
Drake was there because the mascot is just as important as the team.
Drake also reminded us that even though you have everything, sometimes… well, sometimes that’s not enough.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford got booed heavily and treated like an adoring fan with a bad stench by Our President Masai Ujiri.
Look at how many people skipped work.
Amazing. Thanks boys.
Kawhi, please stay…
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