RSS Raptors Team Notes

[Toronto Raptors]

Player Preview: The Jakob Poeltl conundrum

There isn’t anyone on the Toronto Raptors who can replicate what Jakob Poeltl does, and that alone may be why he’s the most important player on the roster.

The front office likely subscribes to a similar belief, as evidenced by the four-year $104-million extension they offered Poeltl during the off-season.

Poeltl, who was drafted by the Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, has graduated to veteran status, but that hasn’t changed his mentality on the court.

“I don’t think being 30 or getting older really changes too much in my mindset,” said Poeltl. “I’ve always had this approach of trying to get a little bit better every year.”

Toronto is far removed from the days when its centre rotation consisted of veterans Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. Since returning for his second stint with the Raptors, Poeltl has played in front of bigs like Precious Achiuwa, Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, Bruno Fernando, Kelly Olynyk and Orlando Robinson.

This season, the group of Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jonathan Mogbo, and Ulrich Chomche will be relied on to give Poeltl a breather.

With unproven and flawed options behind Poeltl, it’s important to begin any discussion surrounding the Austrian with his health. The availability of Raptors like Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley has been hotly debated, but Poeltl hasn’t been the healthiest player since being traded back to Toronto.

In his four full seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Poeltl played in an average of 70 games per season. In the last two years with the Raptors, that number dropped to 53.5 games. Some of that can be attributed to conceding the chase for a playoff spot, but anything that takes Poeltl out of the lineup is a scenario the Raptors aren’t equipped to handle.

When Poeltl is on the court, the concern shifts to his fit with the current iteration of the Raptors. Fans and pundits have long clamoured for a stretch five option that harkens back to the 2019 championship team, but that player archetype is rare to come across through trade or free agency.

Most of the best centres in the league are ones that can, at the very least, occasionally stretch the floor. Poeltl finally expanded his horizons last year from the arc and still only averaged 0.1 attempts per game. The bigs that fall outside of that category often play next to four shooters or provide another skill at an elite level, like in the case of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ centre Rudy Gobert – but even he gets pulled out of big moments for spacing.

Another concern is whether Poeltl helps maximize the current starting five. In Toronto, he won’t be playing next to four shooters. Instead, it could be argued that he’ll be flanked by only two perimeter threats.

If the Raptors are hoping to deploy an elevated version of Ingram’s time in New Orleans, it’s encouraging that there’s existing evidence that it can be done with a big man like Poeltl. Ingram has had productive campaigns with power forward and centre tandems like Derrick Favors and Zion Williamson (2019-2020), and Williamson and Steven Adams (2020-21).

For Poeltl, the potential Raptors Rubik’s Cube type of roster construction is something he’s faced before.

“I’ve played in pick-and-roll situations, the dunker spot, at the top of the key as a connector,” said Poeltl. “I don’t think where you put me is that big of a difference; it’s just how I can find my impact there.”

Ideally, the seven-footer continues to work on his three like former Pelican centre Jonas Valanciunas did during his time next to Ingram, but even if Poeltl continues to be exactly who he is, that’s a quality starting big man.

Poeltl is one of the most efficient centres in the NBA, and that has long been his calling card since entering the league. He’s a near-lock to give the Raptors 12-15 points and nine to 10 rebounds on any given night. He’s not the most athletic big, but he’ll also consistently average close to one steal and block per game.

In addition to his reliability, Poeltl is a low-maintenance type of big man. Playing next to four other players who prefer to have the ball in their hands, Poeltl is a great fit in the Raptors’ starting lineup.

Another aspect to keep an eye on this season will be Poeltl’s success at the free-throw line. He made impressive strides last season, shooting a career-high 67.5 per cent from the charity stripe. His defence and presence on the glass are precious to this Raptors team, and continuing to improve at the line only increases his chances of staying on the court in crunch time.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...07/toronto-raptors-player-previews-nba-poeltl

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Player Preview: Brandon Ingram, ‘a hooper’s hooper’

TORONTO, CANADA – MARCH 8: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors smiles before the game against the Washington Wizards on March 8, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Toronto Raptors have been starved for offense. Brandon Ingram is here to help.

The Raptors are coming off a 30-52 season during which they ranked 26th in offensive rating. Only the Orlando Magic made fewer than the team’s 11.8 three-pointers per game. They succumbed frequently to offensive droughts that took them out of games.

If there’s one type of player the Raptors have needed to address those problems, it is a three-level scorer who can draw the defense’s attention. One who can go get a bucket when the shot clock is winding down, or when the rest of the offense is stuck in the mud. They’ve needed, in the more succinct words of GM Bobby Webster, “a hooper’s hooper.”

The Raptors traded for that very hooper in February when they acquired Brandon Ingram in exchange for Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk, plus a first- and second-round pick.

Ingram did not suit up for the Raptors following the trade, instead sitting out the last couple months of the 2024-25 season with an ankle injury. Now, Ingram is healthy and entering the first of a three-year, $120 million contract.

Having never seen him play in a Raptors uniform, fans are faced with one major question ahead of the season: What will Ingram look like alongside the existing core? And how will he look coming off his extended absence?

Head coach Darko Rajakovic says he expects Ingram to play as well as he ever has.

“He’s 27 years old, he’s entering his prime — I also expect him to take his game to another level,” Rajakovic said during the team’s media day. (Ingram turned 28 in early September, but the point still stands.)

Ingram was named an NBA All-Star back in 2020, his first year with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the same season he won Most Improved Player. While his counting stats have largely hovered around the same numbers since that 2019-20 season, Ingram has not been back to the All-Star Game; one contributing factor is that he hasn’t played 70-plus games in a season since 2016-17, his rookie campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rajakovic told media that Ingram’s ankle was “pain-free” back in July, and that he is healthy heading into the season. Whether Ingram’s health holds up will naturally be a major factor in the success of his 2025-26 season.

But what about his actual performance on the court? Fans’ predictions have ranged from concerns that Ingram will be Rudy Gay 2.0 (i.e. lots of shooting, not many wins) to elation that Ingram will be the primary scorer needed to elevate the Raptors to the playoffs.

One thing is for sure: Ingram is now the Raptors’ best pure scorer.

His role in New Orleans has fluctuated a bit over the past few years, depending on Zion Williamson’s availability. But his points per game output has consistently fallen in the 21 to 25 range since 2019-20.

When it comes to shot diet, Ingram is one of the NBA’s leading mid-range shooters. He’s able to use his length — Ingram is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan — and high release point to shoot over defenders, smoothly navigating the floor to get to his spots and knock down off-the-dribble, off-balance shots.

Ingram played just 18 games last year, but in his most recent full season (64 games played in 2023-24) Ingram scored 25.2% of his points off mid-range jump shots. That was the third-highest mark in the league among players with 50-plus games, behind only Khris Middleton and Chris Paul, and just ahead of the mid-range legend himself, DeMar DeRozan (24.9%). Those shots range from short mid-range (i.e. just outside the paint) to long twos, and as a three-level scorer, they’re an important part of what makes Ingram a threat with the ball.

But mid-range pull-ups will not solve all the Raptors’ woes. They are dreadfully in need of some three-point juice, and while the return of a healthy Immanuel Quickley will help in that department, the Raptors might need Ingram to take threes at a higher clip than he’s used to.

Ingram only attempted 3.8 threes per game in that 2023-24 season, after attempting 3.6 the previous year; his percentages were a very solid 39% and 35.5% those seasons. Last year Ingram took a positive step (albeit with a small sample size) with 6.4 three-point attempts per game, hitting 37.4% of them. The Raptors’ coaching staff will likely want him to match, if not exceed that number.

With that being said, three-point shots are not the main appeal of Ingram’s game. Raptors fans can look forward to watching Ingram use his length and a bevy of moves — stutter steps, up-and-unders, crossovers, spin moves — to attack defenses for mid-range looks, as well as to get into the interior.

Of course, this begs the question of how Ingram, who’s great with the ball in his hands, will fit in an offense that seeks to thrive off ball movement and had the second-highest assist percentage of any team last year.

Ingram’s usage rate last year was 30.5, the league’s 13th-highest mark. (The highest mark on the 2024-25 Raptors was RJ Barrett’s 28.1 usage rate.) One area where fans have concerns is the idea that there isn’t enough to go around for Ingram, Scottie Barnes and Barrett to all share the ball. Another concern is that Ingram will be a ball-stopper who disrupts the flow of the offense.

As for the first concern: I would expect to see a fair bit of staggering, with two of Ingram, Barnes, Barrett and Immanuel Quickley on the floor basically at all times, but with all four of them sharing the floor at only the very beginning and end of halves.

As for his reputation as a ball-stopper, Ingram has actually developed into an underrated playmaker, averaging more than 5 assists in each of the last 4 seasons.

“Obviously he’s a lead scorer — we’re gonna put him in situations where he can not just score, but play-make,” Rajakovic said. “I think that’s one area of his games that a lot of times has been overlooked, is his willingness to pass the ball and make the right play.”

Ingram had 3.6 isolation possessions per game last season; the Raptors’ team high was Scottie Barnes with 2.2. But Rajakovic said that Ingram will not only draw attention with his scoring chops, but that he believes Ingram will leverage that attention into opportunities for his teammates.

“With his size and his scoring ability, he’s gonna be attracting a lot of attention to him, and I believe that he’s gonna be really good [at] finding his teammates and making the right play,” Rajakovic said.

One facet of the game Ingram is not necessarily known for is the defensive end. But Ingram brought that up as a point of emphasis during media day, saying one of the first things he noticed after arriving in Toronto was “how hard the guys played on the defensive end.” (He also said he immediately noticed that Scotiabank Arena was packed night after night regardless of team performance, unlike New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center.)

“Coming here, I know Darko speaks a lot about defense, so he’s gonna be on me a lot about the defensive end, and trying to make my game complete,” Ingram said.

The Raptors are not keeping any secrets about having an aggressive defense that picks teams up full-court and aims to force turnovers.

Ingram received a vote of confidence from Jakob Poeltl during the veteran big man’s media day press conference.

“I think what’s really impressed me is how much he’s bought into it,” Poeltl said about Ingram.
“He’s really dialed into our pressing, being-aggressive style of play.”

Poeltl expanded, saying that Ingram could be a natural fit for the Raptors’ specific style.

“I think his greatest skill on defense is he’s good at anticipating where the ball is going and using his length to be disruptive,” Poeltl said. “I don’t know if that’s something he’s done a lot in his career, but I think he has the natural build and instincts for it.”

Time will tell what Ingram’s defense looks like, and how his addition will impact the team’s often muddy offense.

What we know already is that Ingram — a player who’s made an All-Star Game and is ostensibly entering the prime of his career — is being added to the Raptors’ lineup at the expense of no rotation players. If he can overcome durability concerns, and if he does mesh well with Barnes, Barrett, Quickley and Poeltl, and can effectively lead bench units with younger teammates, the Raptors could very well see themselves levelling up from last season’s 30-win total.

Of all the people eagerly awaiting Ingram’s return to the court, the most excited might be, as you’d expect, Ingram himself.

“I’m just excited to bring my skill level and make things easier for other guys — playmaking, scoring the basketball, defense, getting steals, going on the other end,” Ingram said. “Just having fun.”

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-f...layer-preview-brandon-ingram-a-hoopers-hooper

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The time to deliver is now for Darko Rajakovic

As we kick off the player previews for the upcoming season, my colleague, Julian Apolinario wrote a great piece about Scottie Barnes and how this is his first “real” season. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, THIS is the first real season for Darko Rajakovic.

He was hired on the 4th anniversary of the Toronto Raptors winning the championship, yet the team couldn’t be further from being that good. Fred VanVleet was one month away from surprisingly signing with Houston. The rumours would grow louder until OG Anunoby was eventually traded away before the new year. Pascal Siakam was quietly being pushed out to make way for Scottie, and eventually traded at the deadline. Darko, in his first year as a Head Coach, was tasked with coaching so many dramatically different teams.

Last season? Well, let’s dive straight into this season to help illustrate where Darko’s mindset is heading into his third season.

“If you look (at) my two years here with the team, the first year was all over the place, looking for direction, then deciding and starting to go into a rebuild.” Rajakovic added, “What I’m really looking for is consistency and continuity.”

Bobby Webster RE: coach Darko Rajaković:

“He had one big summer of development, the second big summer of development, that’s one of the big reasons why we hired him.”

“He knows he can coach, he knows he’s well communicating with his players, they all know their… pic.twitter.com/7BtCTxgE63

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) September 26, 2025

One of the first questions Darko fielded during Raptors Media Day on Monday was around growth and development. Last season, that would have been par for the course. Once Masai Ujiri uttered the word “rebuild” at the same event one year ago, the franchise’s focus was clearly shifting towards growing the young talent around Scottie Barnes and developing an identity that didn’t exist in Darko’s first year as Head Coach.

But Masai is no longer around. The word “rebuild” was not mentioned once throughout Media Day. Darko took the question about growth and development and tweaked it to fit a new era of Toronto Raptors basketball. “My focus is on winning and developing at the same time. I’m really blessed and grateful to have a group of guys like we have in this organization. They’re just hungry guys that are really excited to be around each other, very hungry to go out there and compete.”

It’s hard to argue with Darko’s thinking. The proof was in the pudding after the All-Star break last season. Toronto had the 2nd-best defense, according to Cleaning The Glass, just a hair behind Golden State for top spot. Say what you will about the level of competition — 22 of 27 opponents finished below .500 — but the you play the schedule that you’re given. Despite a clear mandate to lose as many games as possible and increase odds to “capture the Flagg,” Rajakovic maximized the effort of the players he did have at his disposal. Not only did he work in important reps for the young players, he built a solid foundation for the team moving forward.

That foundation carried over to Summer League where the Raptors displayed a maniacal defense that guarded 94 feet all game long, wreaking all kinds of havoc. Toronto would finish the round robin as the top seed, thanks in large part to the defensive identity the team had established. While the Raptors fell short in the semi-finals, the chemistry between the players was an encouraging sign that brighter days are ahead for Toronto.

Laying the groundwork for a solid defense, and possibly the next iteration of the Bench Mob, is great but the success of this season will hinge on the cohesiveness of the starters. Darko has always been very vocal about the importance of Barnes and his abilities on the defensive end. Scottie has the tools to make an All-Defense team, but it’s up to Rajakovic to make sure he’s in a position to shine.

Darko Rajakovic on #Raptors’ defensive identity:

“Everything starts with Scottie Barnes. He's one of the most elite defensive players. I don’t see a weak link for us defensively… I want to keep everybody accountable to a high standard.” pic.twitter.com/vLurjJKkRT

— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) September 29, 2025

Equally, if not more important for Darko is how he integrates Brandon Ingram. The former All-Star is the biggest addition to the roster, so his contributions will play an integral role in how successful the Raptors season goes.

“I want Brandon to be himself, to feel comfortable in his own skill. He’s 27 years old, and now entering his prime. I expect him to take his game to another level. Obviously, he’s a lead scorer, (we’re) going to put him in situations where he can not just score, but play-make. He’s going to be attracting a lot of attention, and I believe that he’s going to be really good at finding his teammates and making the right play.”

With two All-Star forwards, a healthy Immanuel Quickley ready to prove he’s an All-Star calibre Point Guard, a top-10 Center in Jakob Poeltl, an opportunistic RJ Barrett eager to take advantage of all the open looks he’s about to receive, and a hungry group of young, rising stars on the bench, Darko Rajakovic has the entire pantry at his disposal to cook up a special season.

“I’m really excited about the group that we have this season. It’s going to be really exciting to see how those guys develop and grow together, where we can go as a team, and all the signs that I’m getting from the players and being around it during the summer, they’re very positive.”

It doesn’t seem that long ago when Nick Nurse was squatting in front of the Raptors bench, but as Rajakovic enters his third season, he already has a longer tenure than 13 other coaches in the league. That speaks to the volatility of the current state of the coaching position and, therefore, the pressure that’s on Darko’s shoulders to succeed. The proverbial training wheels are now removed for Rajakovic and the time to deliver is now!

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...toronto-raptors-player-previews-nba-rajakovic

 

[Toronto Raptors]

It’s time for Immanuel Quickley to become the Raptors’ X-factor

The 2025-26 Toronto Raptors will be remembered for whether or not they were able to return the franchise to the playoffs for the first time in four years. While most eyes will be on how Brandon Ingram looks as a Raptor, what Scottie Barnes adds to his bag in year five, and if RJ Barrett has a long-term role on the team, it could be Immanuel Quickley that ends up being the team’s x-factor.

2023-24 (38 games): 18.6 points, 6.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 turnovers, 42.2 FG%, 39.5 3P%

2024-25 (33 games): 17.1 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 turnovers, 42.0 FG%, 37.8 3P%

After acquiring Quickley – along with Barrett – from the New York Knicks in a package including OG Anunoby, Raptors fans immediately cast lofty expectations on the Kentucky product to help justify the trade.

Quickley answered any doubts in just his second game with the team. He led all Raptors in scoring (26 points) while hitting five triples and adding five assists in a 116-111 win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 3.

It’s been some time since Quickley skipped his way into Toronto’s heart that night. After that initial stretch, his tenure has been marred by injuries and inconsistency.

Even after re-signing with the Raptors on a five-year deal worth $175 million, the 26-year-old knows his support has wavered,

“I always have a chip on my shoulder,” said Quickley. “I love when people doubt me and I look forward to it.”

Outside of forward Brandon Ingram, who is slated to become the Raptors’ focal point on offence, Quickley is arguably the most dynamic scorer on the team.

Whether it’s with a live dribble or finding gaps in the defence off-ball, Quickley has the skillset to attack all three levels of the defence.

One of the key takeaways from Raptors media day was Quickley’s self-awareness. Despite what he may ultimately be capable of, Quickley understands the team will deploy his versatility on offence, and that likely means a slight change in his opportunities.

“I think a lot of them will probably be more catch and shoot”, said Quickley.

His ability to hit the home run ball is a tremendous value to a team typically devoid of three-point shooting prowess. But Quickley’s perimeter shooting has always been most effective when he’s lurking away from the action.

In his two breakout seasons with the Knicks from 2022-2024, Quickley was assisted on 73 per cent of his made threes. That number dropped to 64.2 per cent when he first arrived in Toronto. To the coaching staff’s credit, Quickley hit a career-high 74.1 per cent last season, but on an unreliable and uneven 33-game sample size.

Subsequently, another storyline to follow is where Quickley ultimately finds his shots. In his five-year career, Quickley has been a significantly better non-corner three shooter, where he’s ranked comfortably in the top quartile.

He knows that better than anyone else too, with only 6 per cent of his field goal attempts coming from the corner three since being traded to the Raptors. Now that Ingram is likely to take on a considerable amount of the on-ball usage, it’ll be interesting to see where Quickly gets most of his catch-and-shoot opportunities, especially in pick-and-roll scenarios involving Jakob Poeltl or Scottie Barnes as the roller.

“I’ll have to bring that outside threat first for sure,” said Quickley. “Having gravity on offence…I can get other guys open.”

The aspect of Quickley’s game that has always made him an intriguing player is his floater. It definitely begins with his three-ball falling, but Quickley also attacked closeouts at an elite rate in his final season-and-a-half with the Knicks. During that period, Quickley shot 50.5 per cent between four and 14 feet, good for the top quartile in the league among guards. Quickley also ranked among the best guards in the league at finishing at the rim, averaging 67 per cent in 2022-23, his final full season in New York.

“Offensively, he's our best player when attacking closeouts.” — Darko Rajakovic on Immanuel Quickley

Darko also talked about how Scottie will have to spend more time off ball as a screener/finisher too.

Roles shaping out next to BI this season.

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) October 1, 2025

He has unfortunately struggled to find that same touch in Toronto, finishing in the bottom half for guards in both rim and short mid finishing. Last season’s numbers and issues mirror Quickley’s first two seasons with the Knicks. Another season of struggles in these areas of the court signals that his final campaign with the Knicks may have been an outlier.

Even with Quickley operating more as a catch-and-shoot threat, attacking the second and third levels of the defence has always been an integral element of his game. Since entering the league in 2020, nearly 30 per cent of Quickley’s shot diet has come between four and 14 feet, which ranks near the top of the league.

Everything will also hinge on whether or not the six-foot-three guard can remain healthy. Quickley suited up for only 33 games last season and hasn’t played in more than 70 games since 2022-23. His two most successful seasons were also his healthiest years in the league. For Quickley, the best ability will be his availability, especially while playing next to Ingram.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t.../toronto-raptors-player-previews-nba-quickley

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Could the Toronto Tempo’s debut be postponed?

The WNBA’s contract with the players’ union expires on October 31st, 2025. That is 25 days from when this is being written.

Negotiations seem to be in shambles, if the news cycle of the past week has taught us anything. Let’s do a quick recap of everything that has happened regarding the WNBA and its leadership in the past 10 days:

• Cheryl Reeve is ejected from the Minnesota Lynx’s semi-final series game three, criticizing the WNBA’s officiating in her post-game press conference.
• Reeve is then fined $15,000 for this behaviour and suspended from game four.
• $1,000 fines are given to Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon and Indiana Fever head coach Steph White for their public comments in support of Reeve.
• $500 fines are given to Lynx assistants Eric Thibault and Rebekkah Brunson for their own comments on the situation.
• After the Lynx are eliminated from the playoffs, Napheesa Collier shares a prepared statement on her thoughts about WNBA leadership, the state of CBA negotiations, officiating in the league, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leadership.
• Some of the things Engelbert said, according to Collier, were that the players should be “on their knees” thanking her for the opportunities they have, they Caitlin Clark should be “grateful to the WNBA” for her sponsorships, and that “only losers complain about the refs” in WNBA games.
• Collier also called the WNBA’s leadership “the worst in the world” and demanded better for the players.

After this statement went public, Engelbert and the league responded in their own statement:

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s Statement pic.twitter.com/NkxBHSRXMf

— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 30, 2025

Engelbert talks in circles at WNBA Finals press conference​

As she always does before the WNBA Finals, Engelbert spoke to the media in a press conference before game one in Las Vegas on Friday. While she did not deny any of what Collier said, aside from the comment about Caitlin Clark, she expressed that social media exaggerates these types of things. The issue with that framing was that these were not just reports coming from journalists and edited to meet a wider appeal — they were literal direct quotes from players. It felt like she was avoiding speaking on these comments and also not confirming they were said, while also not being able to deny them either. Engelbert’s entire conference was a lot of pr talk, without actually giving much updates. She did commit to starting a “multi-stakeholder task force,” but even the explanation on that was vague.

When reporters then asked her pointed questions about what was said by the players in the past week, Engelbert deflected and expressed her disappointment in the players. She then discussed how she is a human being and how her kids have felt about the criticism directed at her this week. When asked about her future in her role, she told the media that she “is not a quitter” and will not be willingly leaving her post as Commissioner.

While she expressed that she had faith in the CBA negotiations and that they would result in an agreement on or around the deadline, that doesn’t seem to be the case from the players’ perspective. She expressed that their current offer to the players includes a significant pay raise and benefits increase, but we don’t know the exact offer, and Engelbert’s opinion on what is a good deal may not actually be a good deal to the players.

WNBA players have an opposing opinion on the legitimacy of Engelbert’s offers​

The players continue to express their concern about Engelbert as a leader as well, many of them saying she doesn’t have people or relationship-building skills. They give the illusion that she treats them like a business asset as opposed to treating them like human beings. The players also continue to express their concern for these negotiations, saying that the league’s offers are offensive, out of touch, and not fair to the work they put in. Sabally called one offer “a slap in the face.”

#Mercury union rep Satou Sabally calls #wnba CBA offer to players a “slap in the face” pic.twitter.com/x6rc00ZeEO

— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) July 1, 2025

The players have a very clear idea of what they want out of these negotiations. Not only do they want an increase in salary and benefits, but they also want to be treated fairly. One topic within this conversation is the discrepancy between NBA revenue sharing and WNBA revenue sharing. This is the money that the league gets from its media rights deal and other sponsorships, and a percentage of it is then shared with the players as part of their salaries. This amount of revenue share contributes to how high the team’s salary cap can be, because this money is distributed to the players via salary.

Right now, the NBA players get 49-41% of the revenue the NBA makes from the media and other streams of revenue. The WNBA makes 9%. It’s not like the WNBA players are suddenly asking to make the same amount of money, or even have the same amount of revenue percentage given to them. They want to close the gap a little more, given that 9% versus 50% is a huge discrepancy. PLUS, that’s the percentage the league makes from these deals, so 9% of the WNBA’s revenue is much lower than 9% of the NBA’s revenue. It’s about equity.

The league has also created benchmarks to depict when WNBA players can receive additional revenue, but that data is not shared with the players. That is another aspect of the negotiations.

this should be at the forefront of the conversation pic.twitter.com/Y50FLEqXZe

— correlation (@nosyone4) October 6, 2025

So, what’s being made public is only a portion of the story. Yet, Engelbert’s highly optimistic perspective on things from Friday does not really match the players’ growing concern and criticism. If we are trusting the players’ statements, it feels like we may not get a deal made by October 31. We could be looking at a WNBA strike or lockout, as discussed last week.

What does this mean for the Toronto Tempo?​

Well, the most clear thing is that if the 2026 WNBA season is cancelled or delayed because of a work stoppage, the Toronto Tempo will not debut as planned. There’s no risk for the WNBA not going forward with expansion — that’s set in stone. Yet, fans in Canada may have to be a little patient when it comes to the start date of the Tempo.

While the 2026 season is still a little distant in the future, things are happening soon that could affect the Tempo. The WNBA should be holding an expansion draft for the Tempo and the Portland Fire in early December, and a work stoppage may hinder that from happening. If the WNBA goes into a lockout, it seems like they probably would not hold the draft. If it’s the players striking, the draft may still happen, but no players would be involved with it or participate in it. It may also be hard to get fan engagement going for the teams drafting, given that people will be wary about crossing the picket line.

Crossing the picket line even makes things like events and announcements hard for these expansion teams. Fans engaging with any sort of WNBA-related event or even buying merch may be considered frowned upon during a player strike. This is going to be a peak time for Portland and Toronto to raise hype about their inaugural seasons and announce jersey and court designs. Fans are very involved and educated about the players’ negotiations, and it’s assumed the majority of fans would side with the players in a strike situation.

If there is a work stoppage on either side, free agency would come to a halt. Players would not engage in contract talks, and teams would not be signing players. No trades would happen, no free agents would be signed, and things would be postponed until a deal is reached. That means the Tempo would not be able to negotiate and sign free agents.

A work stoppage is a serious thing that will affect a lot of people on many levels. No one wants to go into a work stoppage — especially when you think of the impact of lower-level workers on the teams and league side of things, and how this will affect their livelihood — and is used as a last-ditch effort. If a work stoppage happens, it is because there is no other avenue to agreement. While it may be necessary in this instance, it would have a ton of impact on the league as a whole. Expansion teams may see a unique side to these impacts.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/wnba-news/48146/toronto-tempo-wnba-strike-lockout-cba

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Player Previews: Reserve Corps is ready to serve

If you asked any NBA fan, and probably most Toronto Raptors fans, when the team compiled its best regular-season record, most would guess the 2018-19 championship season.

They would all be wrong. The best record was actually compiled the season before Kawhi Leonard joined the club. In the 2017-18 season, the Raptors trotted out a starting lineup led by an MVP candidate (DeMar DeRozan finished 8th in MVP voting), another All-Star (Kyle Lowry made his 4th consecutive All-Star appearance), a bruising frontcourt duo in Serge Ibaka & Jonas Valanciunas, and a promising, two-way rookie named OG Anunoby. In any given game, the starters could hold up against any other group in the league.

Alright, I’ll stop burying the lede and get to the point. A large reason the Raptors were so successful during the 2017-18 regular season was the Bench Mob!

Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Norman Powell, Delon Wright, and CJ Miles provided depth and versatility unmatched in the league. Siakam and VanVleet led the Raptors 905 to a G-League championship while also providing excellent minutes on both ends of the floor for the Raptors. VanVleet and Poeltl would both receive Sixth Man of the Year votes that season, with Fred finishing 3rd. Future Sixth Man of the Year staple, Powell, did not receive any votes, but was already showing flashes of his microwave scoring ability. Wright was a steadying force, as seen by the fact that he played the most minutes of the entire bench. Miles led the NBA in 3-point field goals made, per 36 minutes AND per 100 possessions. The Bench Mob was solid enough to be a starting unit!

Can the current group of plucky, young stars emulate the success of the Bench Mob? Is there a future All-Star (or two) ready to break out? Can Darko Rajakovic maximize the skills and abilities of his reserves and surprise all the naysayers? Will the fanbase come up with a better nickname than Bench Mob 2.0?

Summer League is just the beginning

Watch our Open Gym extended moment https://t.co/MFq30w3E82

Presented by @Bell pic.twitter.com/7cDr1qf817

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 27, 2025

For this post, I’m going to exclude the Two-Way players (separate post coming), non-guaranteed contracts (AJ Lawson, Jared Rhoden, David Roddy, and Olivier Sarr), and a coach masquerading as a player (Garrett Temple).

Since training camp kicked off last week, Coach Rajakovic has been quite vocal about how he expects this team to play, especially on the defensive end. The theme for this season is conditioning! All 8 players making up the bench core — I’m tentatively naming them the ‘Reserve Corps’, but this is still open for debate — will get playing time in Darko’s system. Fresh legs will be key, so expect the Raptors to run 12-13 players deep in each game. The Vegas Summer League Toronto Raptors are not too different from what the Toronto Raptors will be this season. The young group sitting on the bench (only 1 of the players discussed below was born in the 90s. Damn, I feel old.) has already shown they’re capable of applying ball pressure for 94 feet.

Similar to the 2017-18 reserves, success and leadership start with the Point Guard. Jamal Shead has been a vocal leader in the locker room, an example setter on the court, and the glue that binds this whole team together. His outspoken nature is an immeasurable intangible that this roster has sorely needed since the departures of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. Last season, Shead ranked in the 90th percentile in defensive turnover percentage. Whether he was inciting backcourt violations, drawing charges, or causing turnovers with his active hands, Shead is a natural tone setter whose infectious energy fuels the rest of the team.

Gradey Dick is in an interesting situation. On one hand, he’s entering his third season and, as far as lottery picks go, should be expected to make some sort of leap. On the other hand, the injection of talent from the last two drafts has shifted the spotlight away from Dick. With last season’s shift towards rebuilding, a.k.a. tanking, Gradey saw an increase in usage (from 15.5 to 19.3). The bad news is that his shooting accuracy took a dip, especially in corner threes where he plummeted from 48% (92nd percentile) in his rookie season to 32% (19th percentile) last year. The good news is that less will be expected from him, which, hopefully, leads to a more efficient season. Dick will be playing with more shooters and playmakers than in either of his first two seasons, so a successful season is in the cards.

Day in the life of Gradey: from Media Day in the 6 camp grind in Calgary. Open Gym moment presented by @Bell pic.twitter.com/DTmUUVBvo3

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 30, 2025

I love it when I’m right about a player, but probably not as much as I love being proven wrong by the Raptors front office. Collin Murray-Boyles should have his name added to the Pascal Siakam All-Stars as Raptors draft picks that confused us on Draft Night but ultimately became gems. The Draymond Green comparison drew a chuckle from me in June, a single eyebrow raise during Summer League, and now a wide-eyed expression as I hear teammates fawning over him. CMB has the passing acumen to orchestrate an offense and the defensive excellence to be in the closing lineup. I don’t envy the cognitive work it will take Darko and his staff to find minutes for all of these players.

How have we gone this far into the Reserve Corps without talking about the difference maker, Ja’Kobe Walter? After cutting his hair and adding some bulk, Walter built to overcome the Sophomore Slump. In College, Ja’Kobe was excellent at getting to the free-throw line and that has carried over to the NBA. Walter ranked in the 78th percentile in shots at the rim and was slightly above average (59th percentile) in generating fouls on shot attempts. With the additional play-making and passing from CMB and Ingram, Walter should continue getting good looks around the basket. The extra weight he’s put on should help when guarding bigger wings.

Ja'Kobe Walter sits down with @william_lou at Raptors training camp

•⁠ ⁠Ja'Kobe watching 2019 as a Kawhi fan
•⁠ ⁠His incredible game-winner against Orlando
•⁠ ⁠His plan to dominate on defense pic.twitter.com/5OKw6sV0Yl

— hello and welcome (@hellowelcomepod) October 6, 2025

With all of 201 games under his belt, Ochai Agbaji is somehow the 2nd-most experienced player off the bench. Agbaji was one of the biggest surprises last season. His 3-point FG% rose from 34% to 40%, his effective FG% jumped to 59.1%, which is 86th percentile among all wings, and he compiled an above-average turnover percentage (9.8%, 68th percentile). Agbaji produced all of those impressive numbers while increasing his minutes to a career-high 27.2 per game. Ochai’s $6.4 million salary is the largest expiring contract on the books, and while that isn’t a lot of money, remember that the Raptors have over $163 million committed to the starting lineup next season! It’s hard to envision him leaving, especially with all his progress since being acquired at the 2024 Trade Deadline, but Agbaji is essentially auditioning for his next team.

Sandro Mamukelashvili a.k.a. Mamu a.k.a. The Aron Baynes That Was Promised, will very likely earn the coveted “Fan Favourite” moniker this season. Mamu’s 3-point attempt averages over his four seasons have been 1.3, 2.3, 1.4, and 2.6. If you added those averages (7.6), you may end up with the number of threes he’ll attempt this season! (I wrote that previous sentence as a joke, but after watching him drain 3-of-5 from deep in 22 productive minutes during last night’s preseason opener against Denver, I’m bookmarking this for reference when it comes true.) Sandro adds an important facet to this team that has been sorely lacking for years: depth at Center. His shot diet (56% of his shots last season were from three), shooting accuracy (58.7% eFG), and defensive quickness (1.5% steal percentage, 92nd percentile among bigs) will all mesh perfectly in Darko’s system. Selfishly, I couldn’t be happier that Toronto’s two biggest additions this summer (along with CMB) were lefties!

Been a minute since the Raptors had a stretch 5. Nice start from Mamu pic.twitter.com/e2WSBQoAlu

— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) October 7, 2025

Speaking of lefties, Jamison Battle’s role may have gotten simpler. The injection of shooters in Ingram and Mamu, along with the added play-making of CMB and Ingram, Battle just needs to do what he’s already really good at doing: knock down threes. Almost three-quarters (74% actually) of his shots come from behind the arc, and I expect the number to go up this year. Battle was a surprise addition to the team last season. He played so well in pre-season and in training camp that the front office abandoned Center depth (Branden Carlson) and signed Jamison to a Two-Way contract. Battle continued to impress during the season, so the front office converted his Two-Way contract to a regular contract in February. For someone who (ahem) battled his way onto the roster, it wouldn’t surprise me if he carved out a bigger role.

Last but not least (or maybe least?), there’s Jonathan Mogbo. Scottie’s good friend is teetering on Thanasis Antetokounmpo territory. Is he on the team as a glorified cheerleader to appease the face of the franchise? Or is Mogbo another Raptors draft gem, whose triple-double last season is a sign of great things ahead? The addition of Mamu and CMB should be a motivator for Mogbo to continue developing his game because he’s likely been passed on the depth chart. That’s not to say he’ll necessarily lose playing time, but Mogbo will need to improve his scoring efficiency to stay on the court. He was horrendous in his rookie season in all 3 areas on the court: 12th percentile in rim accuracy, 8th percentile in mid-range shots, and 8th percentile in three-point accuracy. Mogbo more than made up for it with a stellar Assist-to-Usage ratio (1.07, or 92nd percentile) and Assist percentage 16.3%, or 81st percentile). Keep a close eye on Mogbo’s usage early in the season (Rajakovic opted for Mogbo over Mamu with Jakob Poeltl out for last night’s game). He’ll have an opportunity to earn more playing time.

If I asked you to name the first two Raptors to enter the game from the bench, who would they be? Gradey and Sandro could replace the Barrett/Poeltl duo. Shead and Agbaji could give Quickley and Ingram the first break. If the offense is struggling, Walter and Battle could inject some offensive juice. What about CMB? If he’s the next Draymond, shouldn’t he get on the floor as early as possible? What’s so great about this bench unit is that there’s so much depth and versatility at Darko’s disposal. The franchise hasn’t had this embarrassment of riches for years. As you already saw in Summer League and in the preseason opener, the Reserve Corps is always ready to follow Darko’s plan, play suffocating defense, and wreak all kinds of havoc. If they perform to their potential, individually and collectively, this group of young, feisty prospects could really make a name for themselves and bring the Raptors back to the top of the East!

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...to-raptors-player-previews-nba-bench-reserves

 

[Toronto Raptors]

How to make sure Raptors HQ shows up in your Google search

As many of you are likely aware, Google searches are … different these days.

The good news is Google is offering a solution for folks who like to get their news from specific sources. If you want to help Raptors HQ — while also streamlining all your Google searches — there is now a way.

Simply click on this link and add Raptors HQ as one of your “Source preferences.” That’s all there is to it!

Back in August, the tech giant debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like Raptors HQ:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …

When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.“

As some of you might know, AI searches are hurting outlets around the world and in all spaces. We’ve worked hard at Raptors HQ to build a brand you can trust and rely on for coverage of the Raptors, Tempo and Canadian basketball in general. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best Raptors and Tempo coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping Raptors HQ out.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/general/48154/how-to-make-sure-raptors-hq-shows-up-in-your-google-search

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The lockdown defence of the Toronto Raptors Two-Ways

Last year, the Raptors utilized 7 different players on their two-way contracts as injuries and a lack of depth in some positions created a bit of a revolving door. It was mutually beneficial, as they got a great look at a bunch of different guys throughout the season and the players had the opportunity to showcase their skills and turn them into their next contracts.

Now, only one will return as a Two-Way: Ulrich Chomche. The other two spots have been given to their 39th pick Alijah Martin and undrafted pickup Chucky Hepburn.

In a best case scenario, the Raptors are healthy and the Two-Ways spend the season honing their skills in the G-League. It would give them the opportunity to build chemistry and work on some of their weaknesses. There may be opportunities for them to be called up as well, depending on the health of the team as the season goes on.

Summer League gave us a brief look at what we can hope for from these guys, so let’s break it down.

Ulrich Chomche

Perhaps one of their most intriguing prospects, a 6’ 11”, 235 pound, mobile big has all of the physical tools you’d want in a modern center. He’s very raw though and his injury in February that derailed his rookie season was a stroke of bad luck.

His MCL has healed though and he returned for Summer League, averaging 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and an assist in about 20 minutes of action.

The biggest claim to fame for him is his defensive prowess, specifically when it comes to blocking:

Ulrich Chomche is a monster shot blocker. Legit shades of Whiteside and Gobert on this block here. pic.twitter.com/pGm1bP5afS

— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) January 19, 2025

He had six games with more than five blocks during the 905 season, which he didn’t even get to play from start to finish.

He is developing an ability to roll as well, using his height to elevate above defenders:

Ulrich Chomche slams it home with the alley dunk!#NBAAfrica #NBA2KSunmerLeague pic.twitter.com/yNMn1JyKYJ

— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) July 16, 2025

The Raptors got a DEMON in Ulrich Chomche. pic.twitter.com/h4AtUKHhjn

— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) July 13, 2025

He’s not just there to get out and run and dunk though. He’s continuing to show a developing basketball IQ that helps him see cutters and lanes and deliver passes on time and on target:

Ulrich Chomche is UNREAL

Get the block on one end.
Then runs the floor at full speed.
And finds Collin Murray-Boyles with the wraparound pass. pic.twitter.com/euq0qacevE

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2025

Ulrich Chomche might be Magic Johnson 2.0 bro… pic.twitter.com/qbir76kAVh

— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) July 18, 2025

Ulrich Chomche can play make?!?!?!?!

It’s over for the rest of the league. pic.twitter.com/NwR3C1uZZm

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) January 22, 2025

His biggest weakness is a toss-up between his lack of shooting and his poor positioning.

From a shooting standpoint, that will just take time in the gym. A modern big man can usually help space the floor. He didn’t attempt a single long-range shot in Summer League or in the seven NBA games he appeared in, but he made 2 of the 4 he took in his 19 games in the G-League. Most of his points come around the rim, but being able to help space the floor by being a shooting threat is a necessity as well.

In terms of positioning, that’s also just a repetition thing. He already looks better in Summer League than he did during the regular season, and he’s talked about watching a lot of tape and learning where he should be.

Out of all three of the Two-Ways, he seems to be the most likely to get a call-up, especially with some limited depth at the center spot. He’d probably benefit from the experience as well. Ultimately though, this is a huge growth year for him, and repetitions are the biggest necessity.

Chucky Hepburn

It’s beyond any doubt that his biggest asset is defence. He was awarded the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts, something that didn’t surprise anyone once he stepped onto the court in Summer League.

In theory, he’s tough, aggressive, and smart at that end and never gives up on a play. In practice, that turned into an average of 4.6 personal fouls per game in Summer League, limiting his playing time to only a little over 13 minutes per game.

In training camp he’s wreaking havoc as well, with his first summer training with the Raps under his belt:

Don’t sleep on Chucky Hepburn.

He’s been picking up guys full court a ton of times, causing many turnovers.

55 and 24 are going to be fighting for the future of the guard position. They’re both dogs pic.twitter.com/iFKl6y9Iiv

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) October 4, 2025

Beyond just defense, he has demonstrated a solid ability to facilitate as well:

Chucky Hepburn vision & defence.

Uses the screen well, snakes, finds a cutting J-Mo. Then look at the 1on1 defence. Enthusiastic to say the least. pic.twitter.com/knM2nFlau9

— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) July 14, 2025

His biggest weakness so far is shooting, a normal occurrence for guys as they transition to the NBA. He shot just over 22% in Vegas. In college, his shot gradually improved over the four years he spent in college to about 43% from the field in his season with Louisville, averaging 16 points per game.

It’s unlikely we’ll see much of him with the Raps, as he’d be competing for minutes with IQ, RJ, Shead, Gradey, and Ja’Kobe for guard minutes. The 905 will be a good opportunity for him to get lots of minutes to help develop his shot and playmaking before he’s called up. He’ll also need some practice on playing his brand of defence without giving up too many fouls.

Alijah Martin

Despite a small sample size, he had a great Summer League with the Raps. Playing 18 minutes per game, he averaged just under 9-3-2. He’s fitting the mold of a defensive minded guard, who’s gritty and tough. With the limited minutes he played in Vegas, he’s already managed to turn that into one of the most exciting posters of the whole week:

CLEAR THE RUNWAY FOR ALIJAH MARTIN

BIG-TIME SUMMER SLAM FROM THE 2025 DRAFTEE! pic.twitter.com/zcCq5HEvy4

— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025

This isn’t new for Gators fans though, they’ve been watching him do this stuff in college:

ALIJAH MARTIN WITH THE POSTER pic.twitter.com/Wp50O8WPY7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 6, 2025

He’s extremely athletic and strong, making him a tough matchup in the paint. He’s shown some creativity moving the defence around to find his shot as well:

Alijah "how's my left" Martin pic.twitter.com/zPENSno3RH

— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) July 12, 2025

Probably not as easy though once he steps onto an NBA court. Then, he’ll need to work on his shooting. From long range, he finished his 5-year college stint at 35%. Pairing that with 45% from the floor provides some room for improvement, especially when you consider the jump in pace and defence he’ll be facing at the NBA level.

For him, the solution will be the same as Chucky. Minutes in the 905 will be a huge benefit to him, allowing him to make the switch to professional basketball while also working on all of the little facets of his game that still need improvement. With more consistent shooting and repetitions, he might work his way up for a game or two with the big team.

Although we may see most of their minutes with the 905, they could have an intriguing season. The aggressive defence and rim protection will prove to be a challenge for any teams that visit the North. Who knows? We might be seeing the first pieces of another G-League championship team coming together.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...7/toronto-raptors-player-previews-nba-twoways

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Game Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics

The Toronto Raptors finally return to the Scotiabank Arena for their pre-season matchup against the Celtics on Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

Here are five storylines to pay attention to during the game.

Jakob Poeltl: The big man on campus​

The seven-foot veteran has yet to hit the court for the Raptors in the pre-season due to sore back stiffness. While that could change tonight, it’s unlikely Poeltl is rushed back against a weaker Celtics frontcourt rotation and with three exhibition games remaining. That leaves the unconventional but intriguing hodgepodge of Jonathan Mogbo, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Olivier Sarr to piece together 48 minutes. Toronto was outrebounded in its games against the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.

Should Poeltl make his pre-season debut on a minutes restriction, it’ll be interesting to see what he does in screening actions, specifically for Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley. Spacing has been the boogeyman for the Raptors over the last few seasons, and while fans can’t expect to see what the coaching staff has planned this season to mitigate concerns, it’ll be fun to watch how Poeltl can exist with this year’s iteration of the team.

The rookie has a chance​

There’s something about how Murray-Boyles moves onto the court that suggests he could one day be a part of a championship team’s rotation. The sequence, in which he blocked a shot at the top of the arc, then raced down the court, and finally dunked the ball while getting fouled, was reminiscent of something we normally see with Scottie Barnes or used to witness with OG Anunoby.

Murray-Boyles is walking into a rare opportunity. Even though the Raptors didn’t reach the post-season last year, they do have a respectable starting five that never got the chance to compete together. While top ten picks historically receive ample playing time in their rookie seasons, Murray-Boyles will come off the bench and be brought on slowly. With the lack of pressure to produce right away, Murray-Boyles can focus on his development. He flashed his versatility against the Kings, finishing with 12 points, six assists, and seven rebounds, and should continue to focus on stringing together solid performances during the remaining low-leverage exhibition games.

New-look Celtics​

While Jayson Tatum continues his best Kobe Bryant impression during his rehab from an Achilles injury, the Celtics are focused on determining what their guard and frontcourt rotation might look like this season.

Neither of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard, nor the newly acquired Anfernee Simons played in the Celtics’ pre-season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. How both fit next to Derrick White and Jaylen Brown could be revealed against the Raptors.

With the departure of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, the Celtics’ centre depth went from elite to being one of the biggest question marks in the NBA. Outside of Xavier Tillman, Boston also boasts a group of rangy defenders with intimidating bounce, including Neemias Queta, Josh Minott, and former Raptor Chris Boucher.

Sorting out the depth chart​

The most fascinating narrative during pre-season may involve what happens with Gradey Dick, Ja’kobe Walter, and Ochai Agbaji. All three players embody a perimeter threat for a team that desperately requires it. Last season, they all finished above team average in three-point shooting percentage. There’s an opportunity for each of them to contribute, but at least two of Dick, Walter, and Agbaji will see their playing time reduced this season.

Dick was drafted for his shooting, but has struggled with consistency. He had a better showing against the Kings (14 points) which didn’t rely on his ability to shoot the ball. But with his tendency to get bullied on the defensive end, Dick must continue to get shots up as often as possible.

Walter also had a bounce-back game in Sacramento, finishing with 15 points on 57.1 per cent shooting from the field and 66.6 per cent from three. The second-year guard might be the most balanced option off the bench.

Meanwhile, it’s been Agbaji who has seemingly been most affected by the change in the starting lineup. After an elite year of shooting the ball, he’s only recorded two three-ball attempts in the opening pair of pre-season games. He doesn’t have the draft pick investment and runway that Dick and Walter have, so it’ll be interesting to see how Agbaji performs tonight against the Celtics.

The long-awaited debut​

Ingram oozes confidence and a skill level that his teammates don’t. The Raptors have solid pieces in the lineup, but the 28-year-old Duke product is clearly the force that raises the team’s ceiling.

It might be his reserved demeanour but Ingram was sleepwalking through the first two pre-season games, and yet still managed to average 20 points in 22.5 minutes. He’ll finally make his Scotiabank Arena debut and Raptors fans should savour it, because it’s becoming increasingly likely we won’t see as much of him as the regular season opener draws nearer.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...ame-preview-toronto-raptors-vs-boston-celtics

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Hepburn and Mogbo lead Raptors to 107-105 comeback victory over the Celtics

With the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle of a captivating playoff run and the Toronto Maple Leafs starting a new season with a victory over the rival Montreal Canadiens, an NBA Preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics probably wasn’t top of mind for many people.

Just don’t tell that to anyone inside Scotiabank Arena.

JONATHAN MOGBO WINS IT FOR TORONTO.

pic.twitter.com/vKfQPjKWuW

— NBA (@NBA) October 11, 2025

Jonathan Mogbo capped a furious second-half comeback with a game-winning lay-in with 1.3 seconds remaining as the Raptors defeated the Celtics, 107-105, in front of a raucous crowd. Gradey Dick led Toronto with 22 points, seemingly providing the only source of scoring for the Raptors’ struggling first-half offense. Chucky Hepburn led the fourth-quarter comeback, finishing with 13 points, 8 assists, and 4 steals. Boston was led by Peyton Pritchard and Chris Boucher, making his return to Toronto after playing 7 seasons with the Raptors, who each scored 19 points.

Playing its third game in five days, Coach Rajakovic opted to sit all of his starters — Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl — along with Ulrich Chomche. With Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili starting, the Raptors offense unsurprisingly struggled to score. Toronto scored 12 of its 19 first-quarter points via transition or the free throw line.

Boston was also lacking star power, as Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both sat out after playing in Wednesday’s preseason opener. The Celtics still had Pritchard, who was the closest thing to a star for Boston and played like it. He scored 15 points in the first half and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.

Boston’s best player was a familiar face for the folks at Scotiabank Arena. The fans were treated to an evening full of the “Boucher Experience.” He was drawing charges, hitting threes and, surprise, was a game-high +22. Chris finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

With Toronto’s main playmakers sitting out, Darko’s troops crashed the glass with reckless abandon. Dick led the way with four offensive boards in the first quarter. The extra possessions didn’t amount to much as Toronto trailed for much of the first half.

One of the few bright spots was Murray-Boyles. CMB showed off his defensive versatility, guarding Pritchard, Queta, and Boucher in the first few possessions. However, Boucher got the better of the rookie, scoring a fallaway jumper while drawing the foul. CMB returned the favour, posting up the skinny former Raptor and bullying his way for a bucket. On the next trip, CMB took a handoff and drove hard into the paint for a tough lay-in over Boucher and Queta. Unfortunately for the promising rookie, he only had one shift as he was ruled out at halftime with an elbow contusion. Post-game, Rajakovic said CMB’s x-rays were positive and that he should be fine.

CHRIS BOUCHER IN A CELTICS JERSEY FEELS STRANGE… pic.twitter.com/RLANkXtQ28

— Bodog (@BodogCA) October 11, 2025

For a third consecutive preseason game, the Raptors were without Jakob Poeltl. While Sandro Mamukelashvili had shown flashes of his offensive prowess in the first two games, his first Raptors game at Scotiabank Arena was not a pleasant experience. He took 4 three-pointers in the second quarter and missed all of them.

Boucher took over near the end of the first half. He hit three-pointers on consecutive offensive possessions. The first was a familiar sight for Raptors fans as Boucher found himself open from the corner for an open triple. On the next trip down the floor, it was a rare sight as Boucher hit a pull-up three in transition. Jamison Battle clued into Boucher’s hot streak and stepped out to defend another three-point attempt by Chris on the next possession. Unfortunately, he planted his feet in Boucher’s landing area, thus, drawing a flagrant foul.

Toronto went ice cold in second quarter, with only a Battle three-pointer over the final 4:27 of the half. The Celtics outscored the Raptors 20-3 during that span, scoring the final 14 points of the half. Boston led 63-42 at the break.

Anfernee Simons, whom the Celtics acquired during the offseason in a trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, started the game slowly, scoring 8 points on 2-for-7 shooting in the first half. In the third quarter, however, Simons came out strong, scoring 13 points in the quarter on increasingly difficult, and well-contested shots.

The Celtics would push the lead up to 27 points in the third quarter, but the Raptors fought back and entered the fourth quarter trailing 87-77. Toronto’s comeback was led by Dick, who added another 11 points in the quarter, and Chucky Hepburn, who had 8 points in the quarter, was a +10 in six minutes, and hit a three at the buzzer to energize the crowd.

CHUCKY WITH A HEAVE TO END THE QUARTER pic.twitter.com/mU8P8YRINW

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 11, 2025

As the fourth quarter wore on, both coaches pulled their starters. Just like in Vegas Summer League, Toronto’s group of young, feisty defenders took over the game. With Boston up by 14 with three minutes remaining, the Raptors kicked up the intensity by a few notches. In the span of 30 seconds, Hepburn hit a contested layup plus a free throw, followed by a steal and layup by Jared Rhoden, followed by another steal (by Jonathan Mogbo), which ended with a David Roddy triple. The roof almost blew off as the Raptors had trimmed the lead down to six with two-and-a-half minutes to play.

After Boston turned the ball over a sixth(!!) time over the last three minutes, AJ Lawson hit a game-tying layup. Wendell Moore Jr and David Roddy traded layups to set the stage for Mogbo’s heroics.

The Raptors head to Washington to face the Wizards on Sunday before a rematch with the Celtics in Boston next Wednesday. Toronto ends the preseason schedule next Friday at home to Brooklyn, on Brandon Ingram Night at Scotiabank Arena.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...mplete-comeback-with-107-105-win-over-celtics

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Game Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

The Toronto Raptors continue pre-season action with a matchup against the Washington Wizards at 3:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

Here are three storylines to pay attention to during the game.

A potential starting five debut?​

It’s been 248 days since the Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram and fans have yet to see him take the court with the complete starting five. Centre Jakob Poeltl was already dealing with sore back stiffness and now may also be battling a cold, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange on Saturday.

Collin Murray-Boyles was not at practice today, instead was getting further testing done on his elbow. Jakob Poeltl was also out as he recovers from a cold.

— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) October 11, 2025

With only three games remaining until the regular season opener, time is running out for the Raptors’ main unit if they want to get meaningful practice reps. The Raptors start the season on the road for the first time since 2011. Toronto also plays 10 of its first 15 games on the road.

The Raptors’ bench went through their signature extended scoring drought in the back end of the first quarter against the Boston Celtics on Friday. It’s imperative that the starter finally live up to the vision the front office has for them.

Mob mentality 2.0​

Should the Raptors sit either the entirety or a majority of their starting lineup, expect to see the latest development surrounding the internal competition over key roster positions and playing time.

One of the carousels includes Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and Ja’Kobe Walter. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has been intentional about distributing playing time among the trio, ensuring that each player has an opportunity to showcase their talents. One of these three will see a drastic change in the consistent playing time they received last year.

Here are their numbers through the first half of the pre-season:

Agbaji: 18.6 MIN, 7.3 PTS, 2 REB, 0.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.6 TOV, 52.9 FG%, 40% 3P%

Dick: 18.6 MIN, 13.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.6 TOV, 58.6 FG%, 45.4 3P%

Walter: 19.3 MIN, 7.0 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.0 TOV, 40.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%

With rookie Collin Murray-Boyles nursing an elbow ailment that limited him to seven minutes against the Celtics, the Raptors will again lean on the end-of-the-depth-chart options against the Wizards.

There’s a fascinating tug-of-war happening between Jamal Shead and rookie Chucky Hepburn. If Brandon Ingram and the rest of the starters are the Raptors’ engine, then Shead and Hepburn represent the lug nuts on the roster. It’s less about the statistics between the two and more about how the offence looks when the ball is in their hands. We know what they bring to the table on the defensive end.

Welcoming the Wizards to 2025-26​

The Wizards make their late pre-season debut as the only team in the league with three scheduled exhibition games. By comparison, most teams (17) are set to play four pre-season matchups. Seven teams will play a total of five games. There is a unique group of teams that will play in six games, which includes the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Raptors.

This should be a fun duel even if the Raptors opt to sit their starters again. Washington has a plethora of intriguing and young options on their roster that could represent an entertaining foil to the Raptors’ bench.

Two players that fit that billing are guard Tre Johnson and Canadian wing Kyshawn George.

Johnson was selected with the sixth pick in this year’s NBA Draft and was a popular option for Raptors fans in case he had slipped. It’ll be interesting to see how the 19-year-old handles the scrappy Raptors defence, especially late during a potentially close contest.

For George, it’ll be another opportunity to play in front of Canadian fans after suiting up for the country in the FIBA AmeriCup. A George breakout season could happen this year, and this would mark the beginning of that journey.

Another player to keep an eye on is former first-rounder Cam Whitmore. The athletic wing, along with guard CJ McCollum, was acquired by the Wizards in a three-way trade that sent Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans and salary relief to the Houston Rockets.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...preview-toronto-raptors-vs-washington-wizards

 

[Toronto Raptors]

‘We The Raptors’ book celebrates the unsung heroes of the franchise

What is the defining feature of the Toronto Raptors’ three decades as a franchise?

That’s the question Raptors radio host Eric Smith and his brother-in-law turned co-author, Andrew Bricker, asked themselves when dreaming up their project. Bricker, who teaches English literature at Ghent University in Belgium, is a long-time basketball fan. Smith, as fans know, is the radio voice of the team. They knew they had the right elements as a team to write a great book about the Raptors; it was just figuring out where they could lend their perspective to the narrative.

Doug Smith had written about the team’s history at the 25-year mark in his book, Alex Wong’s Prehistoric took fans through the conception and first season of the franchise. There wasn’t a need for another historical book about this team, not yet anyway.

As Smith travelled for Raptors games, one thing started to become abundantly clear to him — there are Raptors fans everywhere. No matter if he were in Sacramento, New Orleans, Miami or any of the NBA’s other cities, Raptors jerseys were visible in the stands. He started noticing that while many of them were the usual Lowry, DeRozan, Leonard, Carter, and Bosh jerseys that are so popular to this day, there were just as many jerseys for the “other guys.” The ones that aren’t brought up in “GOAT” conversations, but still contributed to the success and culture of the Toronto Raptors. Smith constantly saw people donning jerseys for guys like Powell, Valanciunas, Barrett, Hansbrough, Calderon and more over the years.

“Toronto’s very much a blue-collar city,” says Smith in an exclusive interview with Raptors HQ, “I think there’s plenty of hard workers and grinders, and the fan base of the Jays, of the Leafs, of the Raptors, appreciates those blue collar, bring their lunch pail to work kind of guys, as much as if not more than the stars.”

The duo realized this was where there was a gap in the conversation about this team’s history. We spend so much time talking about the GOATs (for good reason), but the “glue” guys deserve their spotlight too. That became the project — 30 interviews with 30 unsung Toronto Raptors legends from the team’s history.

Fast forward, and Smith and Bricker are now preparing for the launch of their book, “We The Raptors,” on November 4, 2025. That project came to life, and the book is a compilation of 30 conversations with various Raptors spanning from Year 1 to current rostered players. Intertwined through the eras are tidbits and insights from Smith’s own personal experience covering the team for three decades.

There were no parameters on who was “eligible” to be interviewed — guys who spent years with the team, guys who spent a lone season, guys who left and then came back. Smith and Bricker talked to players like Tracy Murray, Doug Christie, Chris Childs, Matt Bonner, Anthony Parker, Patrick Patterson and more. Simple, relaxed interviews about each player’s experiences and stories with the team, how they ended up on the team, and how their chapter with the Raptors ended. Bricker and Smith expected some behind-the-scenes look at this team at various points in history. What they didn’t expect was for these players to be so open and vulnerable with them.

“I think I had a working relationship with almost every single guy in this book, so there was some kind of trust there,” Smith said, but he was shocked at the emotional details every player was sharing with them, things that went beyond what was going on in the game.

Bricker, although he didn’t know any of the players to the level Smith did going into it, felt the same. “One thing that really struck me was how often the players were really thoughtful and emotionally open and reflective about the time they spent in Toronto,” Bricker added. “They would tell us directly about things that they regretted, things that they wish they’d done differently [during their time in Toronto].”

They decided to avoid basketball analysis — no X’s and O’s — and focus on the personal side of these stories. The result? A peek behind the curtain at what these players were going through personally, what they were feeling, and what they were overcoming during their time as Raptors. Stories about overcoming addiction, about battling mental health struggles, about dealing with grief, heartache, pressure, vitriol from fans or the media, losing, winning, being traded, feeling out of control in life, and so much more.

The other through line that wasn’t planned or expected by Bricker and Smith was how highly each player talked about Toronto as a city, and the Raptors as a franchise. No matter if they were on a winning or losing iteration of the team, there is a common theme of appreciation for the city, the country, and the people here. Some of them gained that appreciation later on, some knew it was there when they played for the team, but it’s there.

Fans will soon be able to read these stories for themselves, as We The Raptors hits shelves on November 4th. When it comes to what they want Raptors fans to get out of this book, Bricker and Smith hope that these stories help humanize some of these players who are often talked about as side pieces or forgotten about entirely. Successful teams can’t thrive with just their star players, and this book celebrates the other guys who work extremely hard to contribute to teams, who have contributed to the Toronto Raptors.

“There’s ample proof here that the history of the Raptors isn’t just about Raptors fans loving all the players that played for the Raptors,” says Bricker, “It’s about the Raptors themselves loving playing for the city. I think that comes through.”

This book is for anyone who has been a fan since day one, who hopped on during the Kyle/DeMar days, who celebrated the championship, or for new fans who want to learn about the history of the team. It’s not confined to anyone who was around during each of these players’ tenures, as Bricker and Smith did a great job of contextualizing the era each of these players entered the team in. Yet, if you were around on day one of the Toronto Raptors, there is a ton to learn and appreciate from these untold stories. It’s a celebration of a franchise that captures the hearts of an entire country, of the players who have made this franchise unforgettable, and the fans who make playing here so great.

We The Raptors drops on November 4, 2025. To pre-order your copy, click here.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-f...ok-toronto-eric-smith-bricker-history-players

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Ingram has the missing piece for Toronto, despite loss to Boston

It was finally time for Toronto Raptors fans to get their first taste of the projected starting lineup for the season. Visiting a familiar foe in the Boston Celtics for their second-last game of the preseason, the combination of Barnes, Quickley, Ingram, Poeltl and Barrett stepped out on the floor together for the first of what will hopefully be many games.

There shouldn’t be much of an expectation that they should already look in midseason form at this point, but the first few possessions looked rough. Miscommunications and missed shots were their biggest pitfalls, something that can only be fixed with repetitions. The identity of the Raptors is starting to take hold though, because despite every mistake, effort and defence are everything to this squad. That mindset helped them work their way back into the game, tying and leading at several points before falling to the Celtics 108-110 in another well-fought preseason matchup.

Brandon Ingram (20 points 11 rebounds), RJ Barrett (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), and Immanuel Quickley (14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) were Toronto’s top performers. For Boston, Derek White was, without argument, their best player tonight. Finishing with 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, he helped anchor and lead their offence, ultimately handing Boston the win.

OKAYYY BI pic.twitter.com/jcUi1S1jyK

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

—

Even without Tatum, the Celtics came out swinging. High screen plays and long range shooting helped elevate Boston above the Raptors early. They were able to assert dominance in the paint, led by Neemias Queta, winning extra possessions in the opening minutes. A 19-7 lead for the Celtics was a bit discouraging.

Despite their shortcomings defending beyond the arc, Toronto’s transition game looked comfortable. As soon as they gathered a defensive rebound, guys were able to get to their spots in the open court and move downhill quickly. This created a lot of opportunities for Toronto, letting them chip away at Boston.

YEAHHH @IQ_GodSon pic.twitter.com/HZuA8Qnvf2

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

The Raptors were able to get within a possession or two numerous times, but Boston was crafty and continued to go with what worked. Relying on actions initiated from a high screen and swinging the ball for more long range shooting continued to work for them, drawing away each time Toronto made it close.

In the fourth, the benches cleared with Boston comfortably in the lead. In the fashion we have come to expect, the bench Raps’ grittiness on the defensive end won them extra possessions. Full court press, active hands, running a trap, and then finally a 24-shot clock violation gave them the final chance to tie up the game. Battle answered the call and drilled a shot from well outside the 3-point line, but a miscue on the final possession allowed Boston to finally close the door.

–

After struggling in late-game situations last year, this string of preseason games have been kind of encouraging to watch. Although largely fuelled by defence, the Raptors have still found a way to get their own shots. Although not on the floor in the final few minutes, the best example of this is Ingram.

Leading the scoring for the Raptors tonight with 20, BI was a huge piece of the offence. It’s hard not to see that he’s brought something we haven’t seen a lot lately. Last year, Toronto often struggled to score, going through droughts at times with no one to rely on to consistently get the ball in the basket.

Ingram is showing more than flashes of being the guy who’s able to do this though. A smooth jumper, the ability to shoot over guys with his size, and finish at the rim all while maintaining efficiency is a feat. More importantly though, these are parts of his game that the Raptors desperately needed.

It may be a little premature, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we see more of this from Ingram when the Raptors most need it.

Make that 20 PTS for BI pic.twitter.com/0FLklSun4c

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

Ultimately, this could be the key. Now they have time to play together, to build chemistry, and to refine their defence. But they also now have a scorer that can help them prevent droughts, and suddenly games are looking a lot more winnable.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...sing-piece-for-toronto-despite-loss-to-boston

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Tempo head coaching search might be riding on decision of 1 candidate

When the WNBA season ended, there were 5 head coaching vacancies — Portland and Toronto as new expansion teams, in addition to the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Dallas Wings. With Portland announcing its choice of Alex Sarama from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the other franchises are on the clock.

Per reporting from The Athletic’s Ben Pickman, Toronto is interviewing multiple candidates, yet their No. 1 choice seems to be similar to the other team’s top pick. Ever since the New York Liberty announced they would not renew Sandy Brondello’s contract, she has been the top choice among fans to take over the role in Seattle, Dallas, and Toronto.

Brondello is an experienced coach, former player, and has coaching experience on two WNBA championship teams, as well as many successful Australian national teams. She could fit into any of these team situations extremely well.

In Seattle, her championship experience would help a team just on the cusp of being able to make deep playoff runs. With Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams and the young star Dom Malonga, Brondello would have tons of talent to work with.

In Dallas, Brondello could coach young star Paige Bueckers to new heights. The Wings struggled with consistency this season, and an experienced coach to help their young roster develop would be a fun opportunity.

Then there is Toronto. A similar situation to Dallas, given that the team’s inaugural roster will likely be youth-focused. Yet, the uniqueness in Toronto is that Brondello would be creating everything from scratch, and likely have a lot of rope to experiment, given the likely lack of pressure to succeed immediately. There is also the fact that Brondello is Australian, and perhaps the idea of coaching in the WNBA’s lone non-USA market is appealing to her and her family.

Per Pickman, the Tempo seem to be focused on Brondello, which isn’t shocking. Every team that is still looking probably is. This choice will likely be Brondello’s to make, and she will be able to choose the situation that excites her the most for her next WNBA coaching chapter. Things on her end seem to be halted a little bit, given she was on a (well-deserved) vacation last week. Yet, there likely won’t be any big decisions made by Seattle, Dallas or Toronto until Brondello makes a decision. Her choice will be the first domino to fall, affecting the rest of the choices around the league.

Of course, Toronto can’t put all its eggs in one basket and has been interviewing other prospects. Pickman reported that former Chicago Sky GM/Head Coach, now Raptors assistant, James Wade interviewed for the role, but his candidacy has waned in recent weeks. Other names Pickman mentions are former Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright, former Dallas Wings coach Latricia Trammell, former Washington Mystics coach and current Minnesota Lynx assistant Eric Thibault, and Indiana Pacers assistant Jenny Boucek.

Toronto Tempo highlights in Ben’s reporting:

-Tempo are targeting Brondello (who wouldn’t be tbh)
-interviewed James Wade but he seems to have faded as a candidate
-other names connected include Tanisha Wright, Latricia Trammell, Eric Thibault, Jenny Boucek https://t.co/flutYeBjdd

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) October 17, 2025

Outside of Pickman’s report, another name of a coach who could step up into a leading role soon is Krisi Tolliver. Currently the Phoenix Mercury’s associate head coach, Tolliver is a former WNBA player with assistant coaching experience in both the WNBA and NBA. Her name is constantly swirling around WNBA head coaching reports, and it seems inevitable that she will get a shot soon.

Yet, there is also a trend being seen in WNBA head coaching searches that is prioritizing NBA assistants, particularly men, frankly. Phoenix started with Nate Tibbetts, who just took the Mercury to their second WNBA Finals appearance in 5 years. The Fire chooses Sarama continues this trend, and the New York Liberty seem to be interviewing coaches with NBA coaching experience. Outside of just men with NBA experience, there was a shift last season to hire more male WNBA coaches. Karl Smesko replaced Tanisha Wright in Atlanta, Rachid Meziane replaced Steph White in Connecticut, and Tyler Marsh replaced Teresa Weatherspoon in Chicago. Another note, as Noelle Quinn parted ways with the Seattle Storm, it also meant that there are currently no Black women holding WNBA head coaching jobs.

Right now, six of the WNBA’s 11 coaches (not including the vacant jobs) are men. With teams being vocal about dipping into the NBA hiring pool, there may be more men hired in the coming weeks.

Of course, Tolliver has NBA experience as well, and there are several women in assistant positions in the NBA. Becky Hammon was once an assistant on the San Antonio Spurs, and Teresa Weatherspoon spent many seasons on the New Orleans Pelicans staff before she coached the Chicago Sky for one season. Jenny Boucek is of course currently in that position with the Pacers. The Toronto Raptors have former WNBA player Mery Andrade on their staff, and while Brittni Donaldson is currently climbing the ranks in Atlanta, she started her career in Toronto as well.

It will be interesting to see, as these last WNBA coaching vacancies are filled, whether some of these women are chosen or if the trend of male-centred hires continues.

For now, all we can do is wait to see which direction the Toronto Tempo will go. It seems like a decision is coming soon, though.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba-team/48246/toronto-tempo-head-coach-search-wnba-offseason

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors lean on excitement in Toronto, defeat Nets in pre-season finale

Despite the Toronto Blue Jays playing in game five of the ALCS nearly 4,000 miles away, baseball fever coursed through the confines of the Scotiabank Arena, where the Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 119-114 on Friday.

Both Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic and Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez fielded questions from the media before the game about Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s interaction with pitcher Max Scherzer. The Blue Jays game was played on the Jumbotron before tip-off and during halftime. Fans throughout the arena kept one eye on the court while occasionally glancing down at their phones.

There’s nothing like a Toronto sports team on the cusp of it all.

Tonight’s halftime show.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/vDPNt8beAh

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 18, 2025

In the interest of having some of the Blue Jays’ aura rub off on the Raptors, here are the Raptors HQ player recaps in the form of a batting order.

Lead-off: Immanuel Quickley​

Quickley could be the X-factor for the Raptors this season and it begins with his impact on the offensive end, both in transition and in the half-court.

His speed was on full display on a night when the Raptors forced 23 turnovers. Quickley often made it difficult for a young Nets team to find their bearings in transition, leading to easy opportunities for players like Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poeltl early in the half.

Entering his sixth season in the league, Quickley’s volume and efficiency will be a fun storyline to track. His first 12 points came on spot-ups. Quickley also snapped the Nets’ 12-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter with four points of his own.

He finished top two on the team in field goal attempts during the Raptors’ previous two pre-season outings, averaging 15 shots on 30 per cent. Last season, Quickley averaged 13.3 attempts on 42 per cent shooting. Against the Nets, Quickley finished with 18 points on 16 shots.

No. 2 Hitter: RJ Barrett​

There’s something about Barrett’s game that can never be fully appreciated through the box score. He seeks out contact on both ends and willingly does the little things that lead to a win. In one sequence during the second quarter, Barrett prevented a dunk before racing down the other end for a flush of his own.

His three-point percentages, particularly out of the corner, will be a sticking point this year. But when his catch-and-shoot threes are falling, he fits the archetype that excels in a Brandon Ingram-led team. Barrett finished the night with 25 points while shooting 42.8 per cent from three.

Three-hole: Scottie Barnes​

The discourse surrounding Barnes’ befuddling pre-season play style has certainly taken on a life of its own. While it’s naive to believe the online chatter had any impact on Barnes’ performance against the Nets, he looked like an entirely different player from the opening tip.

There seemed to be a concentrated effort by Barnes to attack the rim. By the end of the first quarter, the former All-Star led all scorers with 11 points, with each of his buckets either coming at the rim or at the free throw line.

According to Barnes, his instincts tonight can be credited to the coaching staff.

“They’ve been telling me to play with force and get downhill,” said Barnes.

Barnes was just as aggressive on the defensive end, finishing with three steals and one blocks. He was just an absolute force on both ends, particularly during the closing minutes of the contest. The game and stats may not count, but Barnes’ performance should quiet doubts until the season opener.

“That’s what pre-season is for, trying things out and finding your groove,” said Barnes.

Cleanup: Brandon Ingram​

While the Blue Jays were fighting for the road sweep in their final game in Seattle, the Raptors were playing in their final warm-up game.

But even if the stakes couldn’t have been on further ends of the spectrum, it still turned out to be a benchmark evening in Raptors history. On Welcome Brandon Ingram Night, the six-foot-eight forward made his highly anticipated home debut, and did so in dramatic fashion.

Brandon Ingram’s first bucket as a Raptor comes in the form of a flare up from the corner with a Poeltl screen.

BI walks into his signature midrange jumper at the 5:21 mark.

The Notorious B.I.G chorus is his in-arena bucket sound #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/idIaLaWvpY

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 17, 2025

Ingram had 13 points, six assists and three steals in his first home game. With the Atlanta Hawks’ scouts likely in the building before their season-opening clash on Oct. 22, it was interesting that Ingram didn’t touch the ball until almost three minutes into the game. Ingram didn’t take his second shot until the 5:21 mark, which ended up being his first bucket of the night.

Despite taking a backseat on a night dedicated to him, Ingram took centre stage when the game hung in the balance. His game-winner from the left wing sent an already delirious crowd into a frenzy. Ingram was as smooth as ever and looks ready for the season to begin.

No. 5 hitter: Jakob Poeltl​

Poeltl is the stabilizing force the Raptors can’t afford to be without. The Raptors centre left the game with lower back stiffness. It was later confirmed by Rajakovic that it was more of a precautionary measure.

Poeltl finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with a pair of steals and blocks. His health, like many of his teammates, will continue to be a development worth obsessing over through the course of the season.

No. 6 Hitter: Sandro Mamukelashvili​

Mamukelashvili joined the Raptors on a two-year deal with a player option because he knew there was a chance for him to carve out an important role on the roster.

In the pre-season finale, Mamukelashvili led the bench with 10 points and 5 rebounds. His ability to run the floor and deploy a nifty collection of finishes is a nice change-up to Poeltl’s skillset. While he’s not the defensive expert that Poeltl is, Mamukelashvili flashed potential as a weak side rim protector.

No. 7 Hitter: Ochai Agbaji​

A wrench was thrown into the Raptors’ plan to get their starters meaningful reps in a close matchup when it was announced Poeltl wouldn’t return. It was Agbaji whom the Raptors initially relied on in an attempt to go small to counter the Nets’ quickness.

Some Darko insight on potential rotation:

– Some nights will take matchup-based approach

– There’ll be players in the second unit that won’t get minutes that they’re used to

– Expects players to be productive in short stints

Follow @RaptorsHQ for updates.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/FlUeDupaWr

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 17, 2025

Agbaji missed all three of his three-point attempts in the fourth quarter, which may have led to the decision to replace him in the closing minutes.

“I tried to play guys higher minutes and treat it like a regular season game,” said Rajakovic.

Significantly, Rajakovic still viewed Agbaji as his primary pivot. But Agbaji needs to rediscover the shooting stroke he weaponized last season, regardless of how sound he is on defence.

No. 8 Hitter: Jamal Shead​

Shead outperformed expectations in his rookie season last year, and that makes the backup point guard position his to lose. Rookie Chucky Hepburn is undoubtedly doing his best to apply pressure on Shead, but the job likely remains with the former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

An early turnover wasn’t the start Shead planned for, but he constantly pestered the Brooklyn guards during inbounds or when they attempted to set up their offence. His most memorable moment came when he raced out to block a corner three by Noah Clowney. He didn’t attempt a single shot in his 14 minutes of play. It looks like Shead is still trying to find his rhythm while leaving space for the trio of Gradey Dick, Agbaji, and Walter to continue their pre-season battle.

No. 9 Hitter: Gradey Dick​

The 21-year-old struggled with his jumper tonight, going 2-for-7 in 20 minutes. His first bucket of the game came on a floater as he tiptoed the right baseline, while his other score came on a dunk.

But as Toronto sports fans know, the number nine spot is still an opportunity to make a difference. Dick has hit seven threes on 46.6 per cent during the pre-season. The Kansas product will have several opportunities this season to contribute and leave his mark.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...t-in-toronto-defeat-nets-in-pre-season-finale

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Sandy Brondello to be named Toronto Tempo Head Coach, per reports

Per Howard Megdal at The IX Basketball, the Toronto Tempo will be hiring Sandy Brondello as their first head coach.

Last week, I theorized on here about the fit of Brondello as the Tempo’s head coach, and it’s a great fit. The Toronto Tempo have been vocal about their desire for their head coach to be someone who has the experience to be a global ambassador. Brondello is just that.

After her career as a player, Brondello has gone on to win two WNBA championships (one with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014 and one with the New York Liberty in 2024). She also coaches the Australian national women’s team.

Here’s what I wrote specifically about what could bring Brondello to the Tempo:

Then there is Toronto. A similar situation to Dallas, given that the team’s inaugural roster will likely be youth-focused. Yet, the uniqueness in Toronto is that Brondello would be creating everything from scratch, and likely have a lot of rope to experiment, given the likely lack of pressure to succeed immediately. There is also the fact that Brondello is Australian, and perhaps the idea of coaching in the WNBA’s lone non-USA market is appealing to her and her family.

The Tempo have yet to officially announce Brondello as their coach. When they do, they will likely bring her to the city for a welcome ceremony and press conference.

BREAKING: Per @howardmegdal, Sandy Brondello will be the first coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo.https://t.co/xXCVjlmWqE

— The IX Basketball (@TheIXBasketball) October 22, 2025

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/toronto-w...ondello-toronto-tempo-head-coach-reports-wnba

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors set franchise record in blowout win vs. Hawks

With the Eastern Conference in flux, several teams made renovations to their rosters in an attempt to plant a flag on one of the available playoff spots.

On a night when two teams finally got the chance to debut their starting lineups in a meaningful game, it was the Toronto Raptors who staked their claim as an early emerging threat after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 138-118 on Wednesday.

In addition to the Raptors setting a franchise record for points in a season opener, here are the key takeaways from the matchup in a quarter-by-quarter recap:

Q1: Racing for Buckets, Anchored by Fouls​

The Raptors finished in the bottom seven in points per game last season, so it was a pleasant surprise to watch the team race out to 36 points by the end of the opening quarter. Toronto scored 16 points before the 7:30 mark.

It all started with Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes attacking the paint. Most of the time, it resulted in a point-blank look or the offence creating secondary actions. RJ Barrett was the recipient of two early open opportunities from three due to the collapsing defence. He knocked down both triples.

Another reason for the Raptors’ quick start was their defence and an emphasis on getting out in transition. Toronto finished the first frame with a 9-0 advantage in fast break points.

Ironically, the aggressiveness on defence did keep the Hawks within striking distance. The Raptors finished the opening quarter with nine fouls, which led to 15 free throws. On the other end, Toronto attempted two free throws.

Q2: Winning Moments​

Toronto took a 65-59 lead into halftime despite a push from Atlanta to close out the quarter. It seems the team has the weapons to win enough small battles they’ll come across in a typical 48-minute contest.

Two sequences that stick out didn’t involve Ingram.

The first came at the 9:17 mark. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic opted to go with Barrett, Jamal Shead, Ochai Agbaji, Jamison Battle, and Jonathan Mogbo. It was the first time the Raptors didn’t have at least two starters on the court. Some of the reasoning by the lineup composition had to do with managing foul trouble.

The lineup played for 1:40, but they were only outscored 4-3 during that stretch. The Hawks were 2-for-3 from the field, while the Raptors went 1-for-3, with Shead hitting a triple. Agbaji also clanked a three, his first of two misfires in the half.

The second sequence occurred late in the quarter when Ingram subbed out with three fouls at the 2:30 mark. Despite the Hawks crowd getting into it, the Raptors closed out this stretch on a 6-5 run. Toronto also forced the Hawks into two turnovers, including a moment when Dick stole the ball from Young on an outlet pass, before later drilling a baseline fadeaway.

Q3: Bully-Ball and Bench Grit​

Barrett and the Raptors couldn’t agree on an extension but both parties may be better off because of it. The Canadian wing finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists on 75 per cent shooting. He also finished 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. When Hawks forward Jalen Johnson flexed on Barnes after getting the hoop and the harm, Barrett responded on the next possession with his own and-one call. Barrett is a running back masquerading as a shooting guard, and when he gets to his left hand, he’s a force that’s difficult to contain. He was a big reason why the Raptors finished 11-of-11 at the rim in the third quarter.

One of the best moments in the quarter occurred when Rajakovic went to the Ingram and bench (Shead, Dick, Agbaji and Sandro Mamukelashvili) lineup. Both Dick and Agbaji, who struggled with their offence in the first half, each secured an offensive rebound during the same possession, resulting in a gritty two points.

Dick looked tremendous in the third quarter. He has never been the sniper archetype that some fans pegged him as. Dick’s real value comes as a hustle scorer that happens to be a serviceable outside shooter. His length comes into play when he has to create something with a short clock.

The Raptors were on a 14-0 run before Kristaps Porzingis hit a pair of free throws with 12.9 seconds left.

Q4: Garbage time in the ATL​

Mamukelashvili has the potential to be everything that was promised with Aron Baynes. He’ll play a massive role for the Raptors this season as the only big man behind Jakob Poeltl. Mamukelashvili was especially impressive when he attacked closeouts. He has the passing chops and a startling and impressive array of finishing moves to make defences pay for their aggressiveness. The former San Antonio Spur finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Shead also played admirably as the backup point guard. Rookie Chucky Hepburn was winning over fans during Summer League and the pre-season. But Shead was the perfect type of stabilizing defensive pest that the bench needed tonight.

A few nitpicks. At some point, the Raptors will need the 2024-25 Agbaji to reappear. When he’s playing the way fans are accustomed to, Agbaji is truly the perfect auxiliary piece next to Ingram and Barnes. Quickley was brilliant with the ball in his hands and at the rim. But he struggled with his outside jumper, shooting 0-for-7 on the night. The Raptors can steal a playoff spot if Quickley reliably punishes teams this year.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...-set-franchise-record-in-blowout-win-vs-hawks

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Season 31 loading

Welcome to another season of The Rap-Up! This is the 8th season of my weekly post, where I preview the week ahead for Toronto Raptors games.

There’s a weird feeling in the air surrounding Scotiabank Arena. Masai Ujiri is gone. Toronto’s season starts on the road for the first time in 14 years. After spending one season in rebuild mode, the team is ratcheting up the intensity (not just on the defensive end) with the hopes of returning to the playoffs. Brandon Ingram will finally make his Raptors debut.

Oh, and there’s a World Series happening down the road!

If the Toronto Blue Jays have taught us anything during this magical season, it’s that success can come quicker than expected if everything breaks right. Stars turn into superstars. Rookies and young prospects improve. Coaches pull all the right levers. Competition takes a step back or underachieves. Sprinkle in a touch of 2019 Championship vibes, and the feeling becomes palpable, nationwide.

Remember, the Blue Jays started the season with low expectations and jumped out to a very slow start. Their hardcourt cousins have a difficult schedule to start the season. Let’s take a look at how things fare in opening week.

October 22 @ Atlanta Hawks

Flashback all the way to Boxing Day 2011 (strike-shortened season) for the last time Toronto opened its season on the road. The Raptors were still 522 days away from hiring Masai Ujiri. Toronto’s starting 5 included the late Rasual Butler, and the team leader in minutes played that day was James Johnson (off the bench, no less).

The last time we opened the season on the road was in Cleveland back in 2011. Take a look back at how it went down. pic.twitter.com/U6Cm6I4L5I

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 21, 2025

Andrea Bargnani may have been ahead of his time. Outside shooting 7-footers is much more common in today’s NBA. Case and point, Kristaps Porzingis. Atlanta was the surprise winner of Boston’s fire sale, nabbing Porzingod in a 3-team deal with Brooklyn, only giving up Georges Niang, Terrence Mann, Drake Powell, and a 2031 second-rounder.

The Hawks are this year’s sleeper-pick-that-will-likely-disappoint, taking over the title occupied by the Orlando Magic last year. Larry Nance Jr and Caris Levert signed elsewhere, while Clint Capela was traded to Houston. In addition to adding Porzingis, Atlanta beefed up the perimeter with the additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Just as important, if not more, is the return of Jalen Johnson. He was playing like an All-Star before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury in late January.

The pressure to compete and take advantage of a depleted conference is higher in Atlanta. After firing GM (and former Raptor) Landry Fields, the Hawks hired Onsi Saleh, who previously worked with the Golden State Warriors during their most recent championship run. Saleh has made his mark with the franchise and positioned the team to succeed in 2025-26.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Nickeil Alexander-Walker showed his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, some love and waited in line to buy a pair of his new shoes. I love this on so many levels, but mostly for Canada Basketball!

He waited 12 HOURS IN THE RAIN to be the first person to buy a pair of his cousin’s shoes!

Atlanta Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the first person in line at KITH Toronto for the Converse SHAI 001 https://t.co/MXiw0bahRj pic.twitter.com/jwncoz6dxF

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) September 4, 2025

Prediction

This is such an intriguing matchup because, while both teams have expectations to improve on last year’s standing, the Hawks have loftier goals and, thus, more pressure. Atlanta added more big names than Toronto, already had a playoff-calibre team (lost in the final play-in game to Miami last year), and has already been Conference Finalists with Trae Young at the helm. However, a Toronto upset is absolutely in the cards. Immanuel Quickley’s added bulk and defensive improvement, along with Jamal Shead’s aggressive defense will make life rough for Ice Trae. Reigning Most Improved Player (and 2nd-place vote-getter for Defensive Player of the Year), Dyson Daniels, will have his hands full with a rejuvenated Brandon Ingram. The Raptors’ budding chemistry overcomes the star power of the Hawks as Toronto wins and covers the +5.5 spread.

October 24 vs Milwaukee Bucks

What a time to be in downtown Toronto!

The Raptors’ home opener falls on the same night as Game 1 of the World Series. As if parking wasn’t expensive enough, the Blue Jays’ first appearance in the championship series in 32 years will certainly set record prices throughout the downtown core. This may not be the case here, but my cousin in Seattle paid $100 USD for parking at Game 4 of the ALCS. Gulp!

Inside Scotiabank Arena, it should be a loud, raucous crowd for several reasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo is somehow still with the Bucks. He has spent most of the offseason fielding questions about his future in Milwaukee. After Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during last season’s playoffs, Giannis’ dreams of winning another title appeared to be with another franchise.

While the world waits for Giannis to request a trade (at this point, I feel like he’s too nice to ever request a trade), Jon Horst will continue trying to make fetch happen build a championship team around the Greek Freak. He managed to steal Myles Turner from the Pacers to supplant the loss of long-time frontcourt mate, Brook Lopez. Milwaukee also signed Cole Anthony and Gary Harris because when you lose a magical guard like Lillard, the only solution is to get a pair of Magic Guards (sorry, the season is just starting. Give me more time to get into mid-season form).

Fun fact that may only interest me

You have to hand it to Jon Horst. Lillard’s injury — and ultimately his buyout/departure — should have handicapped his ability to build a functional roster around Giannis. He’s managed to pick up the best Center on the market and some serviceable guards.

In case that wasn’t enough to appease the face of the franchise, Horst also signed his brothers (plural), Thanasis and Alex (formerly of the Raptors 905). This marks the first time in NBA history that 3 brothers have been on the same NBA team at the same time.

So, if/when Giannis asks out, would it be a package deal for the 3 brothers?

The Bucks signed Alex Antetokounmpo to a two-way deal, joining older brothers Thanasis and Giannis.

It's the first time in NBA history that three brothers will be on the same team.

But it doesn't have to end there.

Another Antetokounmpo, Kostas, is currently playing overseas… pic.twitter.com/oY81qYpqop

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 14, 2025

Prediction

Say what you will about Milwaukee’s front court. It may be the best in the conference. But Toronto has Milwaukee beat in every other area. Quickley will be fine with whoever Milwaukee starts at point. RJ Barrett vs Gary Trent Jr will be fun, but ultimately the Canadian should outperform his former teammate. Ingram or Scottie Barnes will have their way with Kyle Kuzma. All things are coming up “Toronto” on Friday night as the Raptors beat the Bucks and cover the -1.5 spread.

October 26 @ Dallas Mavericks

Around this time last year, Masai Ujiri uttered the word “rebuild” and shifted the entire focus of the franchise towards one goal: Poop for Coop!

Cooper Flagg was already impressing NBA superstars before he played a single game for Duke. Flagg was part of the US Selects team that scrimmaged with the US Olympic team. He not only held his own but outplayed some of the best players in the world. There was no letdown in his freshman season with the Blue Devils. Flagg led his school to the ACC title, a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and won ACC Player of the Year.

Catch @Cooper_Flagg at the starting gate. We promise he won’t be there long. pic.twitter.com/2A3N1LG3Rr

— Gatorade (@Gatorade) October 21, 2025

As luck would have it (at least that’s what the NBA calls it), the Dallas Mavericks — fresh from inexplicably trading away Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis — were able to replenish its superstar cupboard by winning the draft lottery….despite having the fourth-lowest odds of 1.8%.

With Kyrie Irving out until 2026 with a torn ACL, Nico Harrison was able to replace some of that offense by signing D’Angelo Russell.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Dallas has a pair of Canadian guards on the roster headed in opposite directions. Ryan Nembhard, Andrew’s brother, went undrafted in June but signed on with the Mavs on a two-way contract. The younger Nembhard was a star last season with Gonzaga, leading the NCAA in assists per game.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dalano Banton. The Toronto native was not re-signed by Portland and was signed & waived by the Mavericks. Dallas holds his G-League rights (Texas Legends), so we’ll see if Banton can work his way back into the league.

Prediction

The toughest time to face Anthony Davis is the beginning of the season. You know, before he has his annual trips to the injury list. With the freshness of a new season, AD will be a tough cover for Jakob Poeltl on the perimeter and Barnes in the post. As much as I would love to see how Collin Murray-Boyles would perform guarding Davis, he’s already out for the season opener with a forearm strain and may not be 100% by Sunday. Dallas beats the visiting Raptors and covers the -6.5 spread.

Last season: 38-44

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...ors-games-october-20-26-hawks-bucks-mavericks

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Raptors play home opener against Bucks amid World Series excitement

It’s a huge day in Toronto sports history, but for the Raptors, it’s just game no. 2 of 82. The Toronto Raptors will welcome the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena for their home opener tonight, but the attention of everyone will be just two blocks down the street. With the Blue Jays playing game 1 of the World Series tonight, there has been a different energy in the city.

“I think the energy in the city is awesome,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic at practice Thursday. “Talking to [Raptors players] they were blown away by the energy the fans brought to game seven. They feel that same love coming our way as well.”

Rajakovic was more than happy to hear that the Raptors game would start earlier in the evening, so fans could watch the World Series afterward. The Raptors will now tip off at 6:30 pm, abnormally early for a weeknight (even if it’s a Friday), and Scotiabank Arena will play the World Series on the big screen afterward, encouraging fans to stay in their seats and watch the Jays after the final buzzer.

The Youth Movement in Toronto​

While Trey Yesavage pitches in his first World Series game — his 7th major league start ever — another young rookie may get his debut for the Raptors. Collin Murray-Boyles could not play on Wednesday with a forearm injury, but is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. He participated in practice yesterday, saying that he “feels good” and will play it by ear today when it comes to being active.

If he does play, it would be his “official” NBA debut, and he’s trying to treat it like any other day.

“I’m just looking at it as another game I want my team to win. I’m really focused on myself and trying to help the team win.” CMB said on Thursday.

In preseason games, Darko specifically assigned CMB to guard players like Jokic and Sabonis to help him adjust to defending those kind of players. The literal and figurative giants of the NBA. Murray-Boyles said he took the opportunity to just see what felt natural in the moment, but then went back and watched film to see what he can improve upon. He knows he is coming into the league as one of the best defenders in the rookie class, but he also wants his offence to catch up to that as well. He is working with the coaching staff in that regard and just trying to soak up all the advice he can.

Murray-Boyles happened to be at game seven of the Blue Jays’ series against Seattle, and said the atmosphere was amazing.

“We are trying to make it to the playoffs and hopefully win a championship, that’s always the main goal,” he said, “but seeing [the Jays] get there gives a little added bonus motivation to get to that spot.”

Playing the Bucks after Crushing Atlanta​

The Raptors scored 138 points the other night, beating Atlanta and scoring more points than they did on any night last season. They looked incredible as an offensive unit, something that was pleasantly surprising to onlookers, knowing this team is trying to build on a defence-first mindset.

Now, they face a different challenge. The Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo on their side, and the Greek Freak has the physicality to have a big night. Yet, the Raptors may be more prepped than most to slow Giannis down. Scottie Barnes has a good history of guarding Giannis, and CMB may be thrown in there for a bit. The Bucks also lost Dame Lillard last season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon, meaning they aren’t the powerhouse advertised last season.

If the Raptors can have the same offensive punch they had in Atlanta, plus defend Giannis as well as they are capable of, they could be very successful against the Bucks.

Game Information and Details​

Game time: 6:30 pm EST (EARLIER THAN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED)

Watch On: TSN

Injury Report:

Toronto: Collin Murray-Boyles (Questionable — forearm), Ja’Kobe Walter (Questionable — Illness)

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Probable — back), Kevin Porter Jr. (out— ankle)

Projected Lineups

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr., Myles Turner, AJ Green, Ryan Rollins

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...ors-milwaukee-bucks-nba-giannis-barnes-ingram

 

[Toronto Raptors]

How do you solve a problem like Giannis?

The Toronto Raptors’ home opener, which many were considering the “opening act” to the Blue Jays’ World Series opening game, put this fresh Raps squad head-to-head with the Greek Freak. Giannis Antetokounmpo, former NBA MVP and one of the league’s best big men, is a hard match-up for literally anyone. After Toronto was able to win their season opener and score 138 points on Atlanta’s heads the other night, they hoped to bring that momentum back home for this game.

Giannis isn’t the same battle as the defence-averse Hawks, though. Immediately, Giannis’s size, power and agility made it hard for the Raptors to defend him in the post. He made many trips to the line in the first quarter alone.

The thing about Giannis, though, is that he isn’t a guy to play extended minutes. Especially this early in the season, and the Raptors needed to take advantage of those non-Giannis minutes. Non-Giannis minutes mean you have a clearer path to the bucket, that you aren’t risking it all on every defensive possession, and that you can breathe a little easier overall. Rebounding also becomes way easier with Giannis off the floor, and the Raptors capitalized.

The Raptors went on a 16-6 run to start the second quarter while Giannis took a break. The run ended with a huge BI three-pointer that caused Doc Rivers to call a timeout. It seemed like a great start to what would turn into a tough game.

Raptors won the 7.5 minutes that Giannis was on the bench by 8 points, outscoring the Bucks 20-12 over that span

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) October 24, 2025

The other “new” thing for the Raptors when they play Giannis this season is the fact that they have Brandon Ingram now. In many preseason previews, we’ve harped on and on about how Ingram’s presence alleviates pressure from everyone around him, and that hypothesis is proven right against the Bucks and Giannis. While Scottie Barnes might switch on and off Giannis in years past, he is now the primary defender on Giannis. Why? Well, Scottie doesn’t have to carry the biggest offensive load anymore — that is what Ingram is for.

That relief of pressure allows Barnes to put that much more effort into guarding Giannis, something he is definitely capable of (and confidently, judging by the stare down). Barnes could very well be in the mix for an All-Defensive nod this season, and being able to slow down these types of players will be key if he’s gonna get those votes.

Scottie sheds Giannis loose on ball, knocks him to the floor, hits a layup, walks over and flexes over top of him

Big play! VERY BOLD celebration!

— Samson Folk (the coach) (@samfolkk) October 24, 2025

At a certain point, though, it’s hard to keep Giannis contained. You need to outscore the Bucks and try to slow him down, at least. Another reason why having Ingram is great for the Raptors.

It was a super close game in the fourth quarter, with fans (and let’s be real, media too) switching nervously from the court to our screens to watch the Blue Jays. Ingram’s 26 points mid-way through were supported by Quickley and Barrett, each having 19 of their own, and Scottie had 16 points as the lead continued to flip-flop back and forth.

It was when the Bucks took a 5-point lead with two minutes to go in the fourth that things started to look dicey for the Raptors. Missed free throws from both Barrett and Quickley didn’t help close the gap either. A great steal from Barrett was a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t convert on the other end. Cole Anthony’s 23 points in support of Giannis’s 31, especially as Anthony was able to get a lot of those late-game buckets, was the kicker. The Raptors could not convert their own chances into points.

Unfortunately, it was an inability to close out the game strongly, plus the never-ending strength of Giannis, that cost the Raptors their home opener. The Milwaukee Bucks won 122 to 116 over the Raptors. A ton of positives to come out of this game, though, especially on the offensive end from the starters.

Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 29 points, 6 rebounds and three assists. He wasn’t the only Raptor in double figures, though, as Barrett had 20 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 9-12 from the field. Scottie Barnes has 17 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Quickley had 19 points of his own, but his three-point shooting was not to the level it could have been.

Immanuel Quickley took accountability for losing the game in post-game press, whether that’s true or not is up to interpretation. He felt like his missed free throws at the end really impacted the team’s ability to close out there in a clutch situation.

After the game, coach Darko Rajakovic said, “Giannis is a force of nature, he converted at the rim pretty well… some aspects of our defence were good. It’s hard to control him, but we did not do a good job controlling their bench and Cole Anthony.”

Darko also said that his team needs to take a look at spacing and do better at getting stops, steals, and defensive rebounding. Overall, though, he was happy with the effort his team showed, saying Giannis had to “earn a lot tonight.”

Another thing Darko emphasized was the time that will be needed to fully see how this starting lineup meshes together. He said it will take “30, 40, games” to see the full picture when it comes to their roster.

The Raptors will now head on the road for two games in Texas, before heading back home next Wednesday.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...s-recap-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-ingram-barnes