3 Toronto Raptors who have exceeded expectations in solid start

2. O.G. Anunoby

Raptors fans have been preaching the gospel of Anunoby for years now, as his durability issues and lack of hype outside of Canada have made it difficult for the larger NBA media landscape to give him his proper level of credit. That’s all starting to change in the middle of this dominant two-way season.

Anunoby has averaged 21.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the seven contests he’s played without Siakam. Anunoby has an outside shot at becoming the first player in over 30 years to average more than three steals per game. This is elite production in every sense of the word.

O.G. Anunoby is getting better for the Toronto Raptors.

Anunoby may have gotten off to a rough start on the offensive side of the ball, but he has quickly remedied whatever issues he had. At a time when Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. have been struggling with efficiency, this boost from Toronto’s two-way star was very much needed.

While an All-Defensive team nomination is a virtual lock, should he manage to stay healthy, Anunoby is now firmly in the All-Star race. If he keeps scoring like this and locking down the best opposing player, irrespective of size and pedigree, the voters will have no choice but to accept his greatness.