REBUILDING: The Raptors Are Coming Back Stronger

REBUILDING: The Raptors Are Coming Back Stronger

Messiah Jiri had declared the 2025 season a rebuild from the very start, setting the tone for the Raptors 30th anniversary season. But despite the chaos on the court, which included multiple injuries, lineup changes, and a tanking strategy, there’s a lot of positives to take away from the year. The first positive is that the defensive foundation for the Raptors is good. Once again, defense is one of those things that this team has always prided itself on, no matter their position in the standings, and they had to rely on it because the 2025 season did not bring the Rappers a ton of wins, but it did bring something just as important, a real identity on defense. Now, at first, the team struggled. Part of it was, of course, the tank and the expectations were low. But it also didn’t help that they were super young and that injuries began to pile up. But something changed as the season went on. Slowly but surely, the Raptors turned into one of the best defensive teams in the league, which didn’t help the tanking strategy because they were winning games that they should have been losing. But these results weren’t luck. It was because of effort, chemistry, and two anchors who made it all possible. And that’s Scotty Barnes and Yaka Purle. On the defensive end, Scotty Barnes looked like a star. Night after night, he took on the tough matchups and didn’t back down. It didn’t matter whether it was a guard, a wing, a big, Scotty can guard them all. One through five, no problem. What made him special wasn’t just his physical gifts. Yes, he’s tall with a massive reach and super athletic. But what makes him such a good defender is how smart he plays. He reads plays before they even happen. He jumps passing lanes. He blocks shots. He made it hard for anybody on the court to get comfortable. According to advanced stats, Scotty has one of the best defensive impacts in the NBA. Now, Raptors fans who watch games don’t need the numbers. They saw it with their own eyes. But to those that don’t follow the team, it’s good to statistically be able to show just how good Scotty Barnes is on that end of the court because his offense gets a lot of criticism, but defensively he really is incredible. Now, right behind him was Yaka Purle holding down the paint like a true rim protector, like an anchor. His game isn’t always flashy. He’s not the most aesthetic player, but his presence matters. He rotates at the right times. He contests shots without fouling. Maybe Carl Anthony Town should send him a text asking him for some advice cuz that brother does not know how to contest without fouling. Purdle also talks constantly helping the young players know where to be. His size and timing changes games. And when he’s on the floor, the Raptors defense is infinitely better. Together, Barnes and Purle give the team structure and confidence, and as a result, the rest of the roster follows their lead. Everyone buys in. The young players hustle. Rotations get sharper. No team gets easy buckets against the Toronto Raptors. Again, maybe the Knicks should take notes considering how many free baskets they gave to Seakkum in the playoffs. When you play Toronto, it’s like playing that guy at the YMCA that just goes at 110% every single play. They make you work for every point. And that effort showed up in the numbers by the end of the 2025 season. The Raptors have one of the best defenses in the league since January. And I don’t think this was just some honeymoon period or a lucky run of games. It was a real defensive foundation. And that’s what gives Raptors fans hope. Because when you build a strong defense, you build something that lasts. And in a league that is obsessed with scoring, with shooting the three ball, and flashy dunks, Toronto leans into its defense, and that is their identity. The same one that brought them the title in 2019. With Barnes, Purle, and a group of players that play hard and smart, the Raptors are laying the groundwork for something bigger. Now, the wins may not come in the next following years, but the foundation is there for a winning team. The next positive was that RJ Barrett took a leap. The 2024 2025 season really did feel like a moment that everything clicked for the Canadian. Maybe it was him being back home in his home country. Maybe it was moving away from Madison Square Garden. Whatever the reason, after years of showing flashes, R.J. finally put it all together. And in doing so, he became one of the most important players on the team. In just 58 games, RJ Barrett averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and a career best 5.4 assists per game. The numbers alone show you growth, but the way that he played also really stood out. He was more in control, more confident, and he was on a team that trusted him with the ball more than ever before. His usage rate hit a career-high, which basically means that whenever Toronto needed something to happen on offense, Barrett was usually the guy making it happen. This was a big shift for him because on the Knicks, he was not given that sort of responsibility. On the Raptors, he wasn’t just scoring, he was also creating. He improved greatly as a passer, finding teammates in rhythm and making better reads out of pressure. He drove to the basket more than 12 times a game, using his strength to get downhill and finish at the rim. And when he did get to the rim, he converted his chances at an impressive 60%. So his drives weren’t useless. He wasn’t just going to the basket for the sake of going to the basket. He was strong, decisive, and more importantly, efficient. Another big improvement in Barrett’s game came in the pick and roll. When working with Yaka Purtole, R.J. became the Raptor’s most effective ball handler in that action. He averaged over 1.09 points per possession, which is fantastic. It shows how smart and patient he’s become in reading defenses. I mean, essentially, when those guys are running a pick and roll, you’re guaranteed at least a point. Sometimes he’d score it himself, other times he’d dish it to Purle. But either way, you were getting a good look when those two guys were running a play together. It’s nice to have a player who you can give the ball to and always have confidence that he’s going to create something good out of it. On top of playmaking, Barrett also improved tremendously as a shooter. His overall three-point shooting was at 35%, but on catch and shoots, he was actually hitting 36.4% of them. Now, that’s a great sign to see because on this Raptors team, there are multiple ball handlers. R.J. doesn’t need the ball all the time. So, it’s good to see that he can space the floor and still make defenses pay cuz that’s the sign of a true elite player, someone who can cause damage both with and without the ball. Now, as I’m glazing him, let me just reiterate the season wasn’t perfect. There were still a lot of ups and downs. RJ Barrett improved a lot, but it’s not like he’s an all-star or an AllNBA talent just yet, but there were so many glimpses that showed that he has the potential to achieve all those accolades. And with Toronto bringing in Brandon Ingram, I’m very curious to see what Barrett’s future looks like because the two of those guys can cause a lot of damage. Now, how he plays, I’m not sure, cuz now they’re going to have to share the ball handling. But either way, one thing is very clear. RJ Barrett has taken a leap. He’s no longer just a solid player. He’s becoming a star level contributor. And if he keeps improving, the Raptors will have a serious decision to make. Not about whether he’s good enough to keep, but whether they can afford to let someone like him go. Cuz RJ Barrett at his best is a player that can create something out of nothing. Positive number three, the 2024 draft class was a win. This draft class wasn’t just good. It might go down as the start of something special cuz in a season focused on rebuilding, the Raptors only took a few big swings in the draft cuz again, they didn’t have lottery picks. But just a year later, those picks are starting to pay off. Here’s the story of five young players who give Raptors fans real hope for the future. The first one is Jacobe Walter. When the Raptors pick Walter with the 19th overall pick, they knew they had potential. But what they got was a player who could already win them games. In 52 games, he averaged 8.6 points, grabbed rebounds, made plays, and even hit big-time shots. There was actually one moment that really made fans believe and have faith in Jacobe Walter. And that was March 4th, 2025 when Walter drilled a game-winning three-pointer with just 0.5 seconds left on the clock. Walter puts it on and in. Jacobe Walker. Talk about being clutch. And he’s not just a shooter, he also plays defense. He plays hard and has already shown that he can handle pressure. Those are rare qualities to see from a rookie. Then you have Jamal Sheidi, Toronto God Sheed from Sacramento, and he’s quickly become a bit of a fan favorite. He played in 75 games and averaged over seven points and four assists per game. More importantly though, he controlled the pace making intelligent passes and again defending hard. That’s a common theme that you will see in this team. Everybody defends. Wonder what the Raptors would do to Luca if he came here. Now, even though Sheed is not the biggest guy on the floor, he still works so hard and as a result, he’s able to impact the game on both ends. He had an 11point. 10 assist game against Houston that showed just how valuable he can be as a facilitator. He’s steady, reliable, and only going to get better. For a second round pick, I’d say that’s a pretty big win. Then you have Jonathan Mogbo, pick 31st overall, he came into the league with a chip on his shoulder, and it shows. In just his first season, he averaged six points, five rebounds, and two assists. He even recorded a triple double. 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against Charlotte. Everybody seems to have a career year against Charlotte. The Hornets are basically the opposite of the Raptors. Nobody on that team defend. Anyways, that kind of all-around performance from a rookie is very rare, especially from a rookie big cuz historically we have seen that it does take bigs some time to adjust to the speed of the NBA. Now, Mou still needs to work on his scoring. But again, he’s a typical Rappers player. He plays with energy, he grabs offensive boards, and he plays strong defense. So, while his offensive game does need work, his impact already is pretty good. Then you have Jame Battle, a player who slipped through the cracks. He went undrafted, but the Raptors gave him a shot, and he’s made the most of it. In 59 games, he averaged seven points and hit over 40% of his three-pointer. On November 27th, he lit it up with 24 points, going six for eight from deep. He’s not a flashy player, but he knows his role. Knock down shots to space the floor and defend. And in today’s NBA, every team needs a good 3 and D guy. And then the next guy is Shamshay. Those that have seen him play consistently describe him as a tough lock down defender. He’s still a work in progress. He’s still developing, but the Raptors believe that he could become a real differencemaker on defense once he’s ready. Together, these five rookies are the heart of a new Raptors era. They’re young, hungry, and already proving that they belong. For a team in the middle of a rebuild, finding this kind of talent allin-one draft class is rare, and it’s exactly why Raptors fans should believe in what’s coming next. Positive number four, hopefully Brandon Ingram can unlock Scotty Barnes. Now, the 2025 season put a lot of pressure on Scotty Barnes’s shoulders. With the Rappers rebuilding and reshuffling, he was asked to be the main guy on offense. Now, while Scotty does a little bit of everything, defending, rebounding, making plays, he struggled to carry the scoring load all by himself. His efficiency dropped, his shooting took a hit, and at times it just looked like a guy who was asked to do too much. But that’s exactly where Brandon Ingram comes in. Now, Ingram had a strong season on his own. He averaged over 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting nearly 37% from three. This guy is a natural scorer. They don’t call him baby KD for no reason. He’s actually somebody that can create his own shot. He can run the offense and force defenses to actually focus on him. And for a player like Scotty Barnes, that changes everything. Because with Ingram on the floor, Barnes does not have to be the number one option every single night. Instead, he can go back to doing what he does best, cutting to the basket, moving without the ball, making quick passes, and taking advantage of mismatches. Cuz when Barnes doesn’t have to do it all, he becomes way more dangerous. But when he’s playing off of somebody else who’s very comfortable on the ball and very impactful, Barnes becomes so much more efficient, so much more confident. Now he doesn’t have to force shots or rush decisions. And the Raptors attack becomes more unpredictable cuz before everybody knew the ball was going to Scotty. But now with a player like Ingram on the floor, the opposition has to decide who they’re going to guard. And it’s not just about spacing or shot opportunities. Ingram brings experience. Yes, he does look like he permanently spends time with Snoop Dogg, but he’s been through playoff runs. He’s played with Star and he knows what it takes to be a top option. That kind of knowledge can be huge for Barnes, who’s still growing into his role. Ingram can help guide him, not just on where the local cannabis stores are, but about how to find your spot, slow the game down, and make smart plays. Together, Ingram and Barnes could really become a good one-two punch. One of them can score from anywhere, while the other can do a little bit of everything. One draws the defense, the other finds the gaps. With them sharing the floor, the Rappers offense can become more balanced and harder to stop. So, while the 2025 season was very tough for Barnes, help has arrived. And with Ingram in the picture, who knows how much this team can achieve. Yes, maybe some games it will look ugly with both of them not being able to hit their threes, but when it works, it’s going to be lethal as well. Positive number five, great wing depth. Now, as I said, the 2025 season was not a perfect year for the Toronto Raptors, but it gave fans a reason to believe, especially when it came to their wings, cuz through all the ups and downs, three young players stood out. Grady Dick, Jacobe Walter, and Akbaji. Grady Dick in just his second year showed that he belonged. He averaged 14.4 points per game and shot 35% from three, proving that he could score in more ways than just spot-ups. His shooting off the dribble became better, and he became far more confident in attacking the rim. Dick was now attacking. Get your mind out of the gutter, guys. That growth earned him a spot in the NBA’s Rising Star games, which is no small feat, by the way. Don’t laugh at that. And for a team that needs shooting, Dick was one of the most reliable options, cuz when the offense stalled, he gave them a muchneeded spark. And as we have seen from the playoffs, shooting is so important. You need to be able to stretch the floor and more importantly, everybody needs to be able to do it. And then we have Jacobe Walter. When the Raptors drafted Jacobe 19th overall, they knew they were getting a solid player, someone that can play both ways. But I don’t think anybody was expecting him to make such an impact right away. He chipped in with scoring and provided real energy on both ends of the floor. He hit nearly 35% of his threes and held his own on defense against some of the league’s best. Whether he was coming off the bench or starting, Walter looks like a piece that the Raptors can really grow with. And then of course we have Abaji. Now he might not be as flashy as the others, but he’s just as important. After coming over from the Utah Jazz, he finally found some rhythm with the Raptors. He shot nearly 40% from three, played great defense, and filled whatever role the team needed. In 64 games, he averaged just over 10 points and quietly became one of the most reliable 3 and D wings on the roster. He’s one of those players that I think will get better and better as the Raptors get better and better players. Put all three of these guys together and you get a trio that gives the Raptors real depth and flexibility on the wing. They can all shoot, they can all defend, and they’re still young. As the Raptors build towards the future, these three could be a big reason that the team gets back to winning. Cuz once the Raptors bring in a star, these guys won’t just be role players. They’re going to be the building blocks for a championship roster. Then the last positive I want to talk about is Darko. As I stated, the 2025 season was a really challenging one for the Toronto Raptors. Rebuild phases are always tough, but Darko really made a focus on developing the young talent. Even when they were losing and struggling, he managed to foster a strong sense of unity and commitment among his players. Now, he took over as a head coach in 2023, and since then, he’s emphasized player development and really team unity, and his approach has really resonated with the players. They appreciate his dedication and personal investment in their growth. Let me give you an example off the court. He attended Emanuel Quickley’s uncle’s funeral and provided support for R.J. Barrett after the passing of his younger brother. These gestures demonstrate his genuine care for the players beyond just the basketball court. On the court, Darkhor implemented a system that’s prioritized ball movement and playing as a team. The Rappers ranked sixth in the league for passes per game and relied heavily on cuts and handoffs, which is a good base to start with. Look at how well the Pacers played, and they use a very similar strategy. Defensively, he made the team show significant improvement after the All-Star break. At one point, the Raptors have the second best defense in the league, and this was a team that was supposed to be tanking. It’s a great sign to see, especially given how young the team is and how many new players he was integrating in. And the Raptors have recognized Darko’s positive impact. That’s why they picked up the 2026 2027 option on his contract. It showed that they are confident in his leadership and his vision for the team’s future. While some might have seen this year as a tanking year, in many ways, it was also a step towards building a deep competitive team. Cuz now all these great 3 and D guys are going to be supported by a healthy Ingram. Scotty Barnes is only going to get better. I think we’ve only seen flashes of what IQ and RJ Barrett are capable of. And with the East being more open than ever, the Raptors can easily be back into playoff contention soon. Their rebuild has direction and the future, at least on paper, looks pretty bright. Now, speaking of Brandon Ingram, to see why this guy is actually so much better than what people give him credit for, you got to check out this video right here.

The Toronto Raptors are rebuilding. After a tough season, they’ve locked in young stars, added key veterans, and revamped the front office. Here’s why this may be the start of their resurgence.

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