Raptors news: Raptors 905 season ends, ex-Raps big man shares cancer diagnosis

The Toronto Raptors have placed a ton of energy in making their G League team the pride of the NBA’s minor leagues. Names like Ron Harper Jr. and David Johnson have been grinding in Mississauga for most of the season with Raptors 905, with additional NBA players like Christian Koloko and Dalano Banton have also popped down.

New coach Eric Khoury was unable to get this team back to the top of the G League, unfortunately. Raptors 905’s season ended with a win against the Greensboro Swarm 137-126, officially bringing an end to the longest active playoff streak in the G League. That is quite a bummer.

At least the squad went out with a respectable effort. Sterling Brown and former second-round pick David Johnson combined for a robust 57 points in the outing, while Exhibit 10 player Gabe Brown managed to put forth a wholly respectable 21 points.

While 905 not being included in the upper echelon of the G League is surprising, the fact that they have produced another player that is performing at a reasonably high level in the NBA in Jeff Dowtin only goes to show that Toronto is still able to develop fringe talent at a near-elite clip.

More Raptors news:

• Former Raptors center Eric Montross, who was picked No. 9 overall in the 1994 NBA draft after a stellar college career at North Carolina, has started treatments for cancer. Montross played 61 games for the Raptors during his final two NBA seasons. All of Raptors fandom is behind you in your fight, Eric!
• Pascal Siakam took the time out to praise former Toronto head coach Dwane Casey, who is in the middle of a very challenging season with the Pistons. Pascal said that Casey will always “be held in high regard” by the organization, also mentioning that Casey was very influential in his development as a young player.

NBA news:

• Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons’ debut season with the team has went from bad to worse, as he was ruled out indefinitely due to a nerve issue in his back. At this point, it is fair to wonder if the former All-Star and standout defender will ever get back to his old form.
• According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who signed a $104 million contract with the Knicks, said he would have accepted a four-year, $55 million extension from the Dallas Mavericks if it was offered in 2021-22. The Mavericks (and Raptors) are paying dearly for it.