Alijah Martin started his NBA career on a two-way contract. The 39th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft appeared in just 23 games, playing 146 NBA minutes and scoring 51 points along with 21 rebounds, 12 assists, 8 steals, and 4 blocks.
Martin played well in the G League, however, averaging 18.4 points on 47.9% shooting from the field and 37.8% shooting on 3-pointers, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals over 25 regular-season games. He was rewarded with All-NBA G League Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors, as well as a standard two-year NBA contract with the Toronto Raptors.
If Martin can bring the same defense and 3-point shooting to the Raptors, he could have a shot at carving out his first real NBA role next season.
Alijah Martin could have a chance to play his way into regular minutes
Martin may not have a shot at a huge role—unless one or two of Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, or RJ Barrett miss a lot of time with injury—but he has a chance to take a first step toward establishing himself as an NBA-level rotational player by earning meaningful minutes off the bench.
Defense is a must in Darko Rajakovic’s rotation. The Raptors feed off their defense, and that won’t change if Kawhi Leonard joins the team. So, if Martin can prove that he can defend NBA-level guards, that is the first step toward earning minutes.
If he can knock down 3-pointers on top of that, it could make him an interesting rotational piece for Rajakovic. If the trade for Leonard is completed, the top eight in the rotation project to be Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter. Behind them, Kyle Anderson, Jamison Battle, and Allen Graves should also factor into the rotation.
That group does not feature a ton of 3-point shooters. Leonard, Quickley, Walter, and Battle are proven floor spacers in the NBA. Barrett and Barnes can knock down shots, but haven’t done so consistently throughout their careers, while Graves is unproven at the NBA level.
So, ideally, Martin could provide a 3-and-D spark the Raptors don’t really have behind their top options.
However, Martin will face competition for minutes in the guard rotation. The Raptors also signed Jaden Bradley, their second-round pick in this year’s draft, and Chucky Hepburn to two-way contracts, and Malachi Smith and Andre Jackson Jr. are on training camp contracts.
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