As the final hours of 2025 wind down, as do the list of Raptors starters to cover for their year-end report card, and now I get to talk about lead guard Immanuel Quickley.
The formula for Immanuel Quickley to be great is certainly there. I think when he's fully engaged, it shows in how quickly he can catch fire offensively, and he is widely heralded for that explosive potential. However, with a streaky playing pattern and a high price tag, these factors have largely contributed to a negative perception of Quickley's current reputation with the Raptors.
I need to point this out because, as much as I am a fan of Quickley, there is a lot at stake with his performances and development for this Raptors team. Last year, of course, the talk was about IQ's frequent time on the injured reserve, as he only played in 33 games for the Raptors. This was the opposite of what Toronto expected after he signed a five-year, $175 million extension in July 2024.
But when he came back toward the end of the year, I had this lingering belief that if he had been around when it mattered most, Quickley's clutch shooting and three-point spark could have elevated the team's ceiling. Unfortunately, in the 2025-26 sample to date, he hasn't done much to justify the money tied up in him nor is he doing anything extraordinary as the team's starting point guard. I would say that Quickley is more or less just a solid player to have, being used in a role he probably shouldn't really be in — however, the team has little choice.
How has Immanuel Quickley's season shaped up to this year-end point?
In 33 appearances so far, Quickley is averaging 16.1 points on 43.6 percent shooting from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range, 81.4 percent from the free throw line, along with 6.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game.
Like I’ve said before and am saying again here, Quickley is just way too boom-or-bust. To give him some credit, I do not blame all of this on him. It’s not his fault that Toronto jumped the gun and offered him a reckless deal, especially as a restricted free agent — IQ could have played out the market first before coming to an agreement.
Still, I have often noticed in the 2025-26 sample so far that Quickley can hurt the offensive rhythm or tries to do more than he should. In reality, as the lead guard, he should be setting up the right plays and putting teammates in their spots. However, I believe Quickley's hand is forced into that role, and he would likely be better utilized coming off the bench, à la fellow Kentucky product Malik Monk.
Just look at what happened against Orlando on December 29. Quickley's noticeable shooting struggles throughout the game left the team with no choice but to bench him — opting to leave in the shining Jamal Shead to close things out instead.
I'll try to maintain an optimistic outlook for Quickley as we approach 2026, considering he managed to turn around a poor October into a much better November. However, he is now back to a level that is inconsistent and uncertain. Perhaps the coaching staff and front office can find a way to better position his career with the Raptors moving forward. Otherwise, he may be near the top, if not the leading candidate, to hit the trade block as February approaches.
Grade: C
*All stats courtesy of Basketball Reference and NBA.com, unless otherwise noted