The Toronto Raptors are in the midst of one of the most frustrating seasons in recent memory. At every turn, Toronto has struggled to assemble all of its key pieces in one place, thus inevitably resulting in the team never quite realizing its potential.
The Play-In Tournament remains a possibility for Toronto despite its 24-46 record, but a priority must be established of finding playing time for rookie guard Jamal Shead.
Toronto has many of its key players back in the rotation, including Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, but Gradey Dick is battling a knee injury and RJ Barrett has missed the past three games due to an illness. The silver lining is that the door has been opened for some of the unsung heroes to step up.
Shead has been one of the standout players in that regard, turning the final few weeks of his first NBA season into an audition for more consistent playing time.
Shead has appeared in 64 of the Raptors' 70 games, looking the part of a promising point guard with all-around value. Selected at No. 45 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, he's well on his way to exceeding what teams can typically expect of a mid-second-round pick.
In order for the Raptors to make the most of the remainder of the 2024-25 season, however, they must ensure that Shead is on the court more consistently.
Raptors rookie Jamal Shead proving he deserves more playing time
Shead, 22, is currently averaging 6.3 points, 3.8 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.9 three-point field goals made in 18.4 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 12.4 points, 7.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
That's an accurate display of how Shead has provided value in almost every phase of the game during the limited playing time he's received.
Shead has begun to capitalize on an uptick in playing time during the closing months of the regular season. Nine of his 15 games with at least 10 points were recorded on or after Jan. 29, as were 12 of his 26 games with at least five assists.
It's been a compelling step forward from one of the most promising young players on the Raptors' youth-driven roster.
It's also worth noting that Shead has found ways to contribute when working off the ball. He's shooting 36.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25, which seemingly supports his ability to both relieve and play alongside Quickley.
The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year hasn't yet translated that quality to the NBA, but considering he's a rookie, that's easy enough to temporarily overlook.
The Raptors have little to play for, even if the Play-In Tournament is a somewhat realistic goal. The bigger priority must be figuring out where key pieces fit moving forward, and Shead has the unselfish approach to the game that should benefit a Raptors squad that's overloaded with perimeter players who need the ball to be effective.
Whether or not it leads to immediate success, prioritizing Shead's development in 2024-25 could pay dividends in future seasons.