Raptors fans come in all shapes and sizes. Some have been here since the start, others when Vince Carter put his arm through the rim, some arrived during the 2019 championship run, and others are just getting into it now. Whether you’re the person who lives for trade rumours, still talks about 2019 like it happened yesterday, or thinks every loss is somehow the coach’s fault, there’s a good chance you’ve seen yourself somewhere on Raptors Twitter (X). So, in no particular order, here are eight types
of Raptors fans you’ll find watching the team in 2026.
1. The 2019 nostalgia fan
This fan is still living in the greatest summer in Raptors history. They remember every moment of the championship run, have The Shot permanently saved somewhere, and will find a way to bring up the 2019 team in almost any conversation. And now that Kawhi could potentially be coming back? They’re having the time of their life.
2. The Bobby Webster “trust the process” fan
No matter what the front office does, this fan has an answer: trust Bobby. Trade away a young player? There’s a plan. Give up draft picks? There’s a plan. Make a move nobody understands? Don’t worry, Bobby knows something we don’t. They may not understand the move themselves, but they’re willing to wait and see.
3. The “TRADE EVERYONE” fan
The Raptors lose one game and this person has already opened the trade machine. Nobody is safe. Bad shooting night? Trade him. Bad defensive possession? Trade him. Missed a free throw? Probably time to move him. Somehow, by the end of the night, they’ve traded half the roster and turned three second-round picks into an All-Star. I admittedly could be this type of fan sometimes.
4. The “we just need shooting” fan
Every Raptors problem can be solved with one thing: shooting. Bad defence? Need shooting. Too many turnovers? Need shooting. Lost by 20? Should’ve shot better. This fan has probably mentioned three-point percentage at least five times before halftime and has already identified the next shooter Toronto needs to acquire.
5. The “we’re actually contenders” fan
This fan doesn’t need much convincing. Give Toronto one good win and suddenly they’re looking ahead to the Eastern Conference Finals. Add Kawhi Leonard to the roster and they’re already planning the parade route. Injuries, seeding, roster depth, none of it matters. They’re winning the championship until someone mathematically proves otherwise.
6. The doomer
The complete opposite. The Raptors could be up 25 with two minutes left and this fan is worried. A bad first quarter? Season over. A three-game losing streak? Blow it all up. A player misses one shot? Trade him. Somehow, every season ends with the exact same conclusion: “I told you this team wasn’t going anywhere.” At times, I am definitely a doomer fan, something I need to work on this season!
7. The Darko defender
You don’t understand the rotation. Darko does. You don’t understand why a certain player is getting 28 minutes. Darko does. You don’t understand why the Raptors just called that timeout. Don’t worry about it. There’s a reason. This fan will defend Darko’s decisions until the final buzzer, and may have a 10-minute explanation ready if you ask.
8. The LeBronto survivor
It’s been years. They’ve moved on. They’re perfectly healthy and emotionally stable whenever LeBron James comes up: No, they haven’t. They remember the 2018 playoffs. They remember the sweep. They remember that bank shot, that dunk and every other time LeBron made Toronto look helpless. LeBron could be retired for 20 years, would only have amazing things to say about the Raptors, Toronto, and the fans and this fan would still see him walk into Scotiabank Arena and think, “not again.”
Despite all the differences, arguments and questionable takes, Raptors fans all want the same thing: what’s best for the team. Whether you’re calling for a blockbuster trade, defending every move the front office makes, or still recovering from LeBronto, we’re all watching because we care. And at the end of the day, that’s what makes being a Raptors fan so much fun.
