First Look at Toronto Raptors' 2018-19 NBA Championship Rings and Banner Revealed

The 2019-20 NBA season is officially underway on Tuesday night. And of course, the time honored tradition is to kick things off with the defending NBA Champions. This year, that team is the Toronto Raptors, who beat the odds last June, and now get to face off against the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans.

Prior to the game, the Raptors received their official championship rings for their Finals win over the Golden State Warriors this past June. The Raptors' official Twitter account provided an up close look at the rings, and they're truly something.

As you can see, the Raptors' "We the North" logo is brandished on the front of the ring, with the Toronto skyline in the background, not to mention the numbers of each player on the championship roster circulate around the ring.

Of course, no ceremony is complete without the unveiling of the championship banner, and Toronto also did that in style.

The banner contains the Larry O'Brien Trophy, along with the names of each member of the 2018-19 roster.

Kawhi Leonard, who signed a contract with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers, is obviously absent this time around. Naturally, his name and number are on the ring and banner; he'll be remembered north of the border forever.

Toronto will look to defend their title in a rather wide open Eastern Conference. They got their taste of championship gold. Now, they want it again.