After a rocky start to the 2026-27 campaign sparked concerns over his effectiveness, Jamal Shead put on an all-around show in Toronto’s dominant 129-99 win over Orlando last night.
On a night where expected leaders like RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes stepped up huge to fill the void, getting that extra spark from Jamal Shead was vital. Though early offensive struggles plagued both Shead and the team as a whole, he and the squad came through when it mattered. Shead led the bench with just over 23 minutes of action, dropping 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting (including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line) alongside seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals.
This balanced attack from Shead is exactly what I love to see, especially right after I called him out as the team’s most notable “next man up” to grab the brass ring following the Kawhi news. A performance like this becomes all the more crucial, and sets the bar, with Leonard now updated to be sidelined for three to four weeks.
Toronto will need more of this from Jamal Shead
I’ve always expected Shead to bring it as a hard-nosed defender who draws his routine charges and sets up teammates with solid playmaking. But it was his scoring that urgently needed to come together. While his offensive consistency (especially the three-ball) can still be a concern, we’ve seen Shead produce in flashes with increased aggression before.
In his post-game media availability, Shead spoke about that uptick in offensive opportunities, noting it was the first time he felt free to actively hunt his own shot. When asked directly if he needs to look for his own offense more, the young Raptors guard didn't hesitate to address it and keep accountability:
“I’d say so. I think that offensively, I’m a liability if I don't look for my shot. I think that I do a great job of getting guys involved, but if they’re not going to help, I have to go score the ball.”
Like I said in my piece yesterday, the Raptors’ second unit instantly got reshuffled in the aftermath of the Kawhi news. Ja’Kobe Walter would usually be primed for that key spark role off the bench, but with him elevated to the starting lineup, that burden now falls heavily on Jamal Shead’s shoulders. It’s one thing to set up his teammates like Shead mentioned, but when their offense stalls, we’ve seen he has that assertiveness to take over.
Toronto needs gems in the interim to step up with bigger responsibilities, and Jamal Shead showed in this recent affair that he can be exactly that. Sustaining this level, though, will be the real key as the bench leans on him to lead the charge.
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