The Toronto Raptors continued their up-and-down season with a loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Critical errors down the stretch, including the Pascal Siakam double-dribble, proved the difference-maker. However, if there is one positive thing that Raptors fans can take away from the game it is that Kyle Lowry was seen coaching up rookie Malachi Flynn.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Lowry could be seen taking Flynn aside and giving him some pointers. That came after Flynn turned the ball over in the previous possession and trying to squeeze through defenders in the possession before that.
As an organization, seeing your veteran coaching up a rookie who plays the same position is encouraging. Flynn, being able to take on the advice and listening to Lowry, shows that the Raptors are in good hands.
During the post-game interview, Lowry was asked about the maturation process of Flynn. He responded by saying that he “talk to him a lot,” and that Flynn is showing that the “scoring will come, you have to make the plays first.” Lowry added that Flynn is “continuing to grow” and that he is learning on the fly as the games go on.
"I think he's understanding that the scoring will come," Kyle Lowry says about Malachi Flynn. Thinks he's focusing on making the right play now, and it's helping him.
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) April 12, 2021
Toronto Raptors: Malachi Flynn Is showing some promise under Kyle Lowry
Flynn is showing that he is willing to improve as a player and is accepting the role of a mentee. One thing the rookie needs to realize is that he has Lowry and Fred VanVleet to lean on for advice. The two experienced guards have championship belts on their resume and what better way than to take notes from those two.
Flynn is eager to prove his doubters wrong and at times is trying to speed up that process. He was called up from the G-League and wanted to show his worth. Flynn’s dad even showed frustration for his son not receiving minutes almost a month ago. All that aside, Flynn and the Raptors should be grateful that Lowry is willing to mentor the young rookie.
Former Raptors guard Alvin Williams shared some advice for Flynn in an interview with the Fan590. Williams says that the rookie needs to understand the importance of being mentored by a veteran in the league in Lowry. That is an aspect of the game that Williams says is “underrated.”
"If I’m Malachi, and I had the Kyle Lowry and I had Fred VanVleet, all I would be doing is working out with them, competing against them and going home and telling my friends how special of a time I had each day.-Alvin Williams on Malachi Flynn"
Flynn is averaging 13.0 points and 6.2 assists over the past five games with increased minutes due to injuries to Lowry and VanVleet. As long as he continues to show that he is willing to learn from his predecessors, the signs of good things to come are fast approaching.
Flynn could be on his way to becoming a quality two-way guard in this league.