Being able to watch DeRozan and Lowry on the U.S. Olympic team has turned out to be a pretty good fix for the usual feelings of withdrawal that come during this time of year.
It’s a good time to be Raptor fan. The franchise is led by two blue collar, All Star guards who love playing for the city and country. JV looks like he could be an All Star in two seasons. Norman Powell is the new Kobe. Let’s get the season started already!!
When it comes to the greatness, there is no offseason. This applies to players and fans. For fans, this can be a good time of year to reassess your Raptor wardrobe. How are you showing your support for the team clothing wise?
T-shirts and hats are the most sensible choices for fan wardrobe. Hats can be worn multiple days with multiple outfits and everyone loves t-shirts.
Raptor hoodies are good too and of course there’s the OVO collection courtesy of the Global Ambassador.
But there’s no greater statement a fan can make than wearing a player’s jersey. It’s a true commitment for a couple of reasons. For one: it’s one of the more costly investments when it comes to team paraphernalia and two: there’s no grey area. Jerseys aren’t just about the team but an individual. If that player leaves the team for whatever reason the jersey becomes obsolete.
For these reasons a couple factors should be considered before investing in a player jersey.
1. Skill Level
How valuable is the player to the team? Is he replaceable?
2. Contract Situation
How long is the player locked up for? Could the leave through free agency?
3. Off Court Shenanigans
Does the player stay out of trouble or is he a distraction off the court or in the locker room? If they’re on TMZ more often than ESPN the likelihood of being dealt increases. Unless they play in Sacramento.
With these factors in mind it’s time to present the first edition of the official Toronto Raptors Jersey Power Rankings. These rankings act as a guide for Raptor fans looking to make a jersey purchase with long term value. Like team power rankings, they can fluctuate throughout the season. If you’re already a hard-core fan of a particular player, by all means make the move and get that jersey. However, if you’re a hard-core fan of the whole team in general and looking for some guidance on a sound player-jersey investment, this chart is for you.
