Just last week, I sat down during the Raptors' coaches open house, where I got to listen to seminars from various key team staff. Assistant coach Pat Delany stressed how the team emphasizes having a "cobra mentality" and not a "woodpecker mentality" on defense, because a cobra waits for the right moment to strike, but it's a calculated, methodical process to get there, not just being lackadaisical and throwing caution to the wind.
Well, it's the start of a new NBA year, and with it, the Toronto Raptors organization has gotten creative and whimsical once more, adding another post-game honor to bestow upon a rightful player: enter the "Cobra Staff."
Adding along to their "Win the Day" chain (which went to RJ Barrett for his equally tremendous effort against the Hawks), the "Cobra Staff," as explained by Rajakovic, goes to the player who "... changed the game today, that brought energy on the defensive end and did a hell of a job." And who would be the first Raptors player to earn that honor? None other than Raptors wing Ochai Agbaji.
Ochai Agbaji is the first to receive Raptors' new Cobra Staff award
we so back 🥹🫶 pic.twitter.com/VpxxtIMCyW
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 23, 2025
Agbaji's box score stats in the Raptors' dominant season opener against Atlanta don't fully convey his impact: four points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in roughly twenty minutes of play. His numbers might appear modest and relatively minimal to his counterparts, but Agbaji's impacts went beyond the stat sheet, influencing the team's overall performance (finishing with a +15 plus/minus).
Agbaji was out there playing with a lot of spunk, using active hands and arms, staying focused on his role even when the shot wasn't quite falling (going 0-for-3 from distance). His feisty effort definitely flustered Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis, who were the two Hawks player's he stole the ball from and subsequently helped Toronto score two easy buckets in the process.
The "Cobra Staff" award makes sense for a reason. It’s meant for a player who might not have the most eye-catching stats but whose efforts are truly appreciated by those paying close attention, especially teammates and coaches. Their hard work can often go unnoticed, but this award recognizes their intangible contributions.
After listening to what assistant coach Pat Delany said and drawing off how Darko Rajakovic and his teammates feel about him, I could tell that Ochai Agbaji might be leaning into a new season of his career (both literally and figuratively). I just raised the point in a recent piece that his constant hustle and grit on the defensive end could become his calling card with this new squad. Having already proven he can be a sniper last year, Agbaji now has the opportunity to take the next leap as a defender and, gradually, put it all together to become the quintessential wing for the modern NBA.