The Toronto Raptors are one the better teams in the league behind the leadership and play of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. They’ve won at least 51 games over the past four seasons with Lowry and DeRozan both earning All-Star stints over that period.
Even with the team success, both in the regular season and the postseason, the Raptors have yet to play a game on Christmas day. If the dynamic duo out of Toronto could have one Christmas wish come true this season, it would be to play on that vaunted stage.
Following from Marc J. Spears of the Undefeated,
“We’ve won. We’ve been one of the best in the league the past few years. To not get that look is definitely crazy. … There is really no excuse. We’ve proven we are a top team in the league for a reason,” said DeRozan, who has played with the Raptors since 2009.
Said Lowry: “I care when the schedule originally comes out. But then, after that I say, ‘All right, whatever.’ I plan my Christmas Day. I get to be with my kids and all my family. So that’s more important.
“That’s one of the first things I look at. I know me and DeMar, that’s one of the first things we see. … I’m not mad at it. We just want the opportunity. It would be really cool to play on Christmas.”
Lowry doesn’t take spending time with his family on Christmas for granted but does want to experience the joy of the holidays on the court.
“I have never played on Christmas,” Lowry said. “I’ve always in my life wanted to play a Christmas game. There are a lot of things I want to say as the reason I think ‘why not’ [for Toronto]. It’s never happened, but I’ve always had the opportunity to always be with my family on Christmas. It’s a blessing to be able to not play, but at the same you always want that one time you play on Christmas.
