For a team that has built an ethos around hard work when no one else is watching and not giving opposing teams anything to hold onto with flamboyant quotes, Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors uncorked quite a few noisemaking quotes during their annual Media Day exercises.
While many of the big names gave fairly boilerplate responses when asked about the team and their ability to become champions in the next few years, there were some lines that took Raptors nation by surprise on Monday morning. Ujiri started the festivities by finally addressing the Kevin Durant trade rumors.
After that, coach Nick Nurse and all five of the Raptors’ projected starters managed to take their turns at the podium. Scottie Barnes pining for more point guard work, Fred VanVleet updating us on extension talks, and O.G. Anunoby’s trademark stonefaced responses comprised most of the afternoon.
Fans who weren’t able to catch most of the Media Day interviews should take a look back at these intriguing quotes from some of the biggest names on the team. Nurse’s dryness and Pascal Siakam’s confidence gave us some real gems this Media Day.
3 terrific Toronto Raptors quotes from Media Day.
3. Masai Ujiri hypes up the non-guarantees
Ujiri is currently hosting a parade of non-guaranteed contracts, a few of which will end up on the Raptors’ final roster. While many commentators and fans are assuming that whoever sneaks onto the team is just going to be a garden variety backup, Ujiri has much higher hopes for them.
Ujiri made special mention of VanVleet and his journey to stardom in the NBA. It started off as an undrafted free agent who worked his way from someone at the end of the bench to a player who has become indispensable. Will a player like Dalano Banton or Justin Champagnie follow suit?
Masai Ujiri is motivating the Toronto Raptors.
In addition to Banton, Champagnie, and rookie Gabe Brown, Toronto is playing host to a trio of experienced veterans in Josh Jackson, Juancho Hernangomez, and DJ Wilson. Toronto chose to part ways with some fan favorites in Yuta Watanabe and Jalen Harris to bring these guys in.
Ujiri wouldn’t do that unless he had an idea that one of these players has the facilities to become a long-term bench contributor. Being as good as VanVleet is a very tall task for this bunch to aspire towards, but there are some solid bench gunners in that group.
2. Nick Nurse is jealous of Juancho Hernangomez
Hernangomez went from a fairly average power forward to a household name on the back of his starring role in Adam Sandler’s Hustle. On the court, Hernangomez had one of his best individual moments as a member of the Spain national team alongside his younger brother.
Hernangomez scored 27 points as Spain won Eurobasket over France. This comes after seeing his name affixed atop the cast list for one of the summer’s hottest movies. Even Nick Nurse, who has a championship ring, was a bit jealous, saying that no one had a better summer than Juancho, per Esfandiar Baraheni of TheScore.
Toronto Raptors: Will Juancho Hernangomez settle in?
Hernangomez will likely make the final Raptors roster, meaning that he will probably start the season on the mop-up crew who comes in after games have been decided. That said, Nurse will likely give him plenty of opportunities to prove he is deserving of a more significant role.
His Spain performance showed that when he gets hot, he can be a legitimate weapon from 3-point range. Some might assume that his lackluster play from last season makes him more sizzle than steak, but Nurse has the goods needed to get the most out of his play.
1. Pascal Siakam challenges himself.
Raptors fans around the world know what a unique talent Pascal Siakam is, as very few teams possess a player with his combination of on-court excellence, leadership, and potential for growth in the short and long term. Siakam continues to be underrated by the powers that be in the NBA media.
Siakam himself is not lacking confidence in himself, as he believes that he is capable of becoming a top-five player in the league, per TSN’s Josh Lewnberg. Siakam has some notable names to pass in that pursuit, but he thinks he’s got the juice needed to pass them up.
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam could evolve into a true superstar.
While top five might be too lofty a goal for him to reach in the immediate future, it’s not crazy to suggest he could go into the top 15 in the next year or two. Replicating last year’s performance might be enough to get him a very shiny third All-NBA team hanging off his career totals,
Siakam has rarely lacked confidence in the NBA, and that bullheaded desire to just keep his head down and plow through whoever or whatever is in his way might lead to him joining this very select club. We may see Siakam add some more silverware to his trophy case.