You might be looking at the Raptors' losing record this season and thinking to yourself, "You must be crazy to believe that the NBA's worst team has any silver linings."
As the saying goes, "There's more than meets the eye."
As the NBA enters its fourth week of the 2024-25 regular season, there is now a substantial amount of footage available to evaluate player performances. This information allows for a more accurate assessment of whether players are on an upward trajectory or are slowly declining. Furthermore, fans and analysts can evaluate which NBA talents—both prospects and established veterans—are meeting pre-season expectations.
However, the Toronto Raptors stand out as an anomaly in these discussions.
Social media discourse surrounding the Raptors' roster is polarized, leaving fans and basketball commentators frustrated as they attempt to identify any underperforming players. Few anticipated that this year's Toronto Raptors would achieve many wins. Despite their losses, nearly every player—both seasoned veterans and emerging talents—has captivated fans with their impressive performances.
It's hard to call out anyone disappointing on the Toronto Raptors
Making a video and struggling for the raptors pick for the reason you mentioned haha
— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) November 8, 2024
RJ Barrett has emerged as a primary offensive force for the team. His enhanced playmaking skills, combined with his scoring ability, have distinguished him as one to watch.
Ochai Agbaji, for example, faced an uncertain future in the NBA if he couldn’t find consistency in his offense, despite being regarded as a promising young 3-and-D wing. He has surprised everyone by becoming a crucial glue guy for the Raptors during the injury absences of players like Scottie Barnes. Agbaji has found a great rhythm with his three-point shot and is blossoming into a role similar to that of Josh Hart.
Veterans such as Jakob Poeltl and Chris Boucher are demonstrating that they can still compete with the younger players on the team, despite facing challenges last season. Rookies such as Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead have quickly established themselves on this year's Toronto Raptors by showcasing the defensive hustle that is synonymous with the team's culture. The list continues with Davion Mitchell, a player the Raptors acquired through a low-risk trade, where he's proven to be a highly valuable asset to the team.
If one were to highlight specific players, the names that stand out are Immanuel Quickley, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Scottie Barnes. But then you take the cavaets in mind, Quickley missed eight straight games before returning, so his sample size is way too small to judge. Walter is a 20-year-old prospect in his rookie season, and expectations were not high for him to make an immediate impact.
This leaves Scottie Barnes, who participated in the Raptors' first three games of the season before suffering an eye injury that has sidelined him since October 28th. He was arguably the key player for the Raptors that many fans and pundits expected to make another leap this season. While three games is insufficient for a fair assessment, his three-point shooting percentage of 18% indicates a noticeable decline in that area.
In simple terms, the Toronto Raptors have benefited from a lack of belief and high expectations. When few anticipated that any player on their roster would make a significant impact, there was little pressure on the team. Yet, remarkably, it appears that nearly every player has stepped up, leaving fans across the league astonished. While it's still early in the season and opinions can shift rapidly, the Toronto Raptors take pride in having one of the most impressive rosters, with likely the fewest disappointing players.