The Toronto Raptors have a very unique player development system that has helped make them one of the most consistent winners of the last decade. Raptors 905 has been the starting point for several players that eventually become long-term contributors and stars in the NBA.
While some contenders almost completely abandon using the G League as a path to developing their prized young players develop, Toronto is using Raptors 905 as a prime place for their best and brightest to work out the kinks in their game and eventually join the big club.
The team has seen players come from absolutely nothing and turn themselves into something. In addition, highly touted prospects with one or two fatal flaws have used their game experience with some time down in the G League. The value this league has provided Toronto has been incredible.
These 3 players stand out as a testament to Toronto’s ability to identify raw talent, take steps to pick out what the most significant issue in their game is, and correct it in the G League. After these three players turned into stars, Toronto has proven the excellence of their philosophy.
Toronto Raptors: 3 biggest Raptors 905 success stories.
3. Chris Boucher
Boucher had just one game of professional experience with Golden State when he arrived in Toronto, so he was guaranteed next to nothing. Not only did Boucher prove he was too good for the G League by the end of the year, but he also became a valued member of the post-championship teams.
Boucher averaged 27.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and an insane 4.1 blocks per game during the 2018-19 season. Boucher became the first player in G League history to win league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Not bad for a stringy JUCO transfer.
Toronto Raptors: Chris Boucher dominated at Raptors 905.
Boucher has parlayed his skills into two seasons as one of Toronto’s first men off the bench and a three-year contract that keeps him locked in as one of the team’s key reserves. Considering all of the hoops he has had to jump through in his career, that long-term security is incredible to see.
There are hundreds of players in the NBA right now, but few of them can claim to have as long and winding a path to success as Boucher. A high school and college afterthought, Boucher used his 905 success as a springboard from which to launch a successful career.
2. Fred VanVleet
Despite an extremely productive college career, VanVleet still went undrafted due to his small stature and concerns about his long-term potential. The Raptors saw something in him that prompted them to bring him in as an undrafted free agent and eventually make him one of the best undrafted players ever.
A dominant 3-point shooter that nailed over 40% of his attempts, VanVleet’s ability to generate offense for himself and others forced the Raptors to carve out a role for him on the big-league squad. As a result of that play, VanVleet worked his way onto the postseason roster.
Toronto Raptors: The development of Fred VanVleet is amazing.
VanVleet has since graduated from the role of super-sub sparkplug and emerged as an All-Star point guard capable of leading a team no one thought would be anything to 48 wins and a playoff spot. If Toronto bungled his development, there’s no telling what may have happened to his career.
VanVleet was not the most efficient scorer in college, but Raptors 905’s attention to detail helped him quickly rise from the ranks of the undrafted to the rotation. While success stories of VanVleet’s level are few and far between, it shows how excellent this front office is at identifying and nurturing talent.
1. Pascal Siakam
New Mexico State isn’t exactly considered a basketball factory that robotically pumps out future NBA players. The fact that Siakam has stuck around for as long as he has, nevermind becoming one of the best players at his position in the league, is a remarkable turn of events.
Siakam needed some work offensively, and a 39-11 team that won the NBDL (at the time) championship certainly helped the Cameroonian big man improve in this area. Toronto gradually eased him into the lineup, and this strategy paid off big time in their championship run.
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam went from raw to a superstar.
Siakam is fresh off making All-NBA for the second time in his career. Most of the time, the No. 27 overall pick is happy to even receive a second contract with the team who drafted him. Even the biggest Siakam fans pre-draft could not have expected anything like this.
Siakam was allowed to run wild in Mississauga while he was given limited minutes with Toronto early in his career. Raw players like Christian Koloko may be issued a similar gameplan considering the success that Siakam has had in his career.