The Toronto Raptors took care of business on the road, disposing of the severely diminished Philadelphia 76ers squad in a blowout win that ended with a final score of 127-109.
Riding off the back of a dominant performance from their resident Canadian star, RJ Barrett, who recorded 31 points, five rebounds, and five assists, a tip of the cap is also warranted for the team's leading player in minutes on March 30. This player just so happens to be one of their bright rookies from the 2024 class: Ja'Kobe Walter.
Ja'Kobe Walter had a great performance against the Philadelphia 76ers
The 20-year-old Walter was tasked with playing just over 34 minutes against Philly, and he did not disappoint at all in his enhanced role. Walter posted a stat line of 17 points on 45.5% shooting from the field, going 3-for-5 on his three-pointers (60% efficiency), while also grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out four assists, and showcasing his defensive upside with three steals and one block.
Walter could have greatly benefitted from this late-season stretch, where he would undoubtedly be one of the team's primary options on most nights, especially given the Raptors' tanking push and their recent approach of resting stars. He missed seven straight games in March due to injury, severely hampering what could've proved to be valuable on-court reps for his rookie campaign.
However, if you look at Walter's last six games for Toronto—where he has played a key role in their lineups—you'll see he's making small improvements across the board, even if his efficiency leaves a bit to be desired.
Walter has averaged just over 27 minutes of playing time in those outings, posting decent numbers of 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals, despite a relatively shaky 35.8% field goal percentage, but a solid 39.4% from beyond the arc.
No rookie season is flawless, and as is often the case for incoming guards at the pro level, it may take some time and patience to see these players truly flourish in their roles.
Nevertheless, in the 48-game sample size we've seen from Walter so far, he has proven to be a great burst of energy in the Raptors' rotation, providing serviceable shooting and defense on his best nights. For these same reasons, I even referred to Walter in a previous piece for Raptors Rapture as "a steal of a pick in the 2024 NBA Draft."
I believe that, for the benefit of his game, Walter could unlock even more potential by adding a bit more weight to his frame. However, there's no rush on that front; I'm confident he will benefit from the offseason and put in the necessary work accordingly.
Walter is very good, but he could be working during this final stretch of the 2024-25 season to make his case in the rotation as undeniable, especially as the team navigates their roster in the offseason, with the draft and the impending arrival of Brandon Ingram.
But if his effort in the 76ers game suggests anything, it’s that Walter is ready to step up whenever the opportunity presents itself. The Raptors definitely have a promising young player on their hands.