G League roundup: Ranking the week’s best Raptors 905 performances

In any given game, Raptors 905, G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, can put together one of the deepest lineups in the developmental league. With two-way players like Jeff Dowtin and Ron Harper Jr. both impressing in their minor league stints, Toronto has some offensive firepower to work with.

With rookie stud Christian Koloko joining a squad that also features proven NBA players in shooting guard Sterling Brown and power forward Reggie Perry, 905 should be much better than the 6-5 record would indicate. With the Showcase Cup winding down, Eric Khoury is trying his best to get this team to the top of the standings.

The Raptors split two games against the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans. A 115-95 loss followed a 110-89 domination in Mississauga. It turns out young players can be very inconsistent. Who knew?

In those two games, Toronto saw some of their more experienced players stand out, all while the developmental prospects they are investing a lot of time and energy in put together some strong performances. A few of those individual games stood out above the rest.

Raptors 905: Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko starred.

Brown recorded 28 points in just 20 minutes in the victory over Birmingham, making six of his seven 3-pointers. Brown, who spent time with Milwaukee and Houston in the past, has already shown that he should be in the NBA. Perhaps a team could pilfer him as the Suns did with Saben Lee.

Koloko has shown that he is already far too talented for this level of competition. The former Arizona star recorded 12 points, 14 rebounds (nine of which were offensive) and four blocks in the win over the Squadron. Being 7-1 with surprising mobility for a big man.

Koloko followed that up with a 16-point, 14-rebound, three-steal, five-block showing in the loss just a few days later. While Toronto put him in the G League so he could get more minutes and offensive reps, his play has been so impressive that they have already called him back up to the NBA club and given him some brief minutes against the Suns.

If Koloko and Brown keep playing like this, the NBA will take notice. While this squad may not have the resources that other G League champions may have had, Khoury has enough to work with when it comes to getting this team back into the postseason picture.