LeBron Praises Raptors' Rabid Fans: 'I've Never Been a Part of Something Like This'

The Raptors' franchise-best season came to an end Friday at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but the team didn't go down without a fight. They handed the Cavs their only two playoff losses in three rounds, and the Raptors' fans didn't exit without some noise, either.

Toronto's die-hard fan base proved worthy of its crazy reputation throughout the playoffs, making the Air Canada Centre an electric and difficult place for opponents to play. Even outside the ACC, fans consistently showed up in droves and packed the streets on game day, regardless of the weather, to watch and support the Raptors on a video screen situated outside the team's arena. The stomping grounds, known as Jurassic Park, were rowdy.

They loyal Toronto fans even got the attention of LeBron, who showered the NBA's lone Canadian team with praise following a 113-87 Game 6 victory that propelled James to his sixth consecutive Finals appearance. "Let's Go Raptors" chants were still going strong once the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter, and even after it was completed. That wasn't lost on LeBron:

With Toronto often looked at as the outsiders of the NBA, or the Others, LeBron tipping his cap to Canada and the ACC crowd was not an insignificant moment. Small victory for a team and country that's fought hard to gain respect south of the border.

Time and time again, Toronto has shown that its a basketball city, and the Raptors proved during the 2015-16 season that they are contenders in the East. Now, to take it to that next step, they just have to figure out an answer to one small problem—his name's LeBron.

[ESPN]