It’s no surprise that the Raptors were amongst the favorites to win the 2025 NBA Summer League. Their team consists of players that have already logged considerable NBA playing time on last year’s roster. Key rotational players such as Jamison Battle, Jonathan Mogbo, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and A.J. Lawson — who is making a case for Summer League MVP — are proving that the extended minutes they saw last season are paying off.
And now, after their 101-97 win over the Denver Nuggets on July 15, the Raptors have improved to 3-0 and are clear favorites to win the Summer League at +300 odds (odds provided by Sports Interaction). Even though Toronto is one of seven undefeated teams, they lead all teams in point differential (+17) and ranked second in points per game (102) as per ESPN.
It was their second half performance with a mid game 19-0 run that propelled them past the winless Nuggets. With big contributions from Lawson and Walter, who had a game high 26 points, it’s clear that this squad has built continuity which has carried over from last season.
But what have been the keys to success so far this summer? Let's break down some of the things to watch for and areas they need to build on.
Aggressive defense
I mean, it’s been nothing short of stellar.
The Raptors have held opponents to 85 points per game through three games. They’ve been playing hounding perimeter defence and forcing plenty of turnovers. When you have players like Ja’Kobe Walter pulling out a whopping 7 steals against the Nuggets, it allows for easy transition buckets on the break, which is what led to their huge run on Tuesday night.
And let’s not forget, the Summer League record of 33 turnovers against the Chicago Bulls for their opening game. This is as tenacious as you’ll see any defense down in Vegas this summer.
Collin Murray-Boyles settling in
We’ve seen the Raptors’ No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray Boyles display his ability to have good hands both on defence and through play-making. He was able to deposit 3 assists Tuesday night, finding the open man breaking to the basket and making smart decisions on offense. It’s encouraging to see CMB put the ball on the floor and continue to facilitate his teammates.
Defensively, we know he’s got it. Murray-Boyles has shown a good sense of positioning on the defensive end with some highlight reel rejections. He continues to be a physical presence in the paint, which will lead to more rebounds in time.
That’s where we want to see him on the offensive side of things. He’s put up 4 threes so far and has knocked down one of them, which is fine in Summer League — this is where you want to test the waters a little. But as we look to the regular season, CMB needs to be taking more aggressive looks in the paint, crashing the boards and creating second-chance looks.
Steady offense from familiar faces
While the Raptors offense is still coming together, it’s encouraging to see consistent shot creation and scoring from players like Lawson and Walter.
With a combined 45 points off of 50% shooting, both Lawson and Walter have been able to provide the Raptors with steady shooting from the field and behind the arc. Following his excellent showing against the Magic, the continued play from A.J. Lawson on both ends of the floor is only helping his case.
As we know 3-point shooting is an area for concern with this squad, we want to see players like Jamal Shead knock down more from range at a consistent pace, as he went only 1-for-5 against the Nuggets. Chucky Hepburn also put up the same numbers from behind the arc within his 13 minutes on the court, which will need to be cleaned up heading down the Summer League stretch.