Jamal Shead has turned in an impressive sophomore campaign, and now he has entered the Toronto Raptors' record books.
Jamal Shead sets franchise record for assists off the bench
During Friday’s matchup against the Grizzlies, Shead passed Chris Childs’ mark of 324 assists to set the franchise record for most assists off the bench in a season.
After Sunday’s game against the Celtics, Shead now sits at 335 assists off the bench this year (that number excludes the 11 games he started). With four games remaining, he still has time to extend that mark.
The full top five are as follows:
Jamal Shead – 335
Chris Childs – 324
José Calderón – 290
Muggsy Bogues – 275
Milt Palacio – 256
Shead’s presence on this list is no surprise. He has been in the lineup every night, consistently operating as one of Toronto’s most reliable playmakers, always looking to create for others.
His playmaking has been especially valuable in slower, halfcourt settings. Toronto has struggled to score this year against set defenses, but Shead has found ways to orchestrate the offense in those situations throughout the year. At just 23 years old, the Raptors appear to have found a long-term playmaker off the bench.
Shead should learn from another player on the leaderboard
José Calderón was a beloved member of this team for many years. Like Shead, he earned his way onto this leaderboard in his second season in the league. He also began his career in a bench role, largely due to limitations as a scorer.
Over his first two seasons, Calderón averaged 7.2 points while shooting just 27.1% from three. Shead’s early numbers are similar, averaging 6.9 points and shooting 32.1% from deep.
Calderón quickly developed into a much more well-rounded offensive player. Over the next four seasons in Toronto, he increased his scoring to 11.1 points per game while becoming a 40.1% three-point shooter.
Shead has already established himself as a reliable playmaker, and his teammates and coaches describe him as a gym rat. His obvious next step is to become a more consistent scorer. If he can do that, the Raptors may have more than just a steady bench guard on their hands.