It’s fair to say that several Raptors players exceeded expectations this year, even if their collective efforts weren’t enough to secure a playoff berth. Of course, that’s the hope for next season.
One of the players who left a strong impression this year was forward Ochai Agbaji. He emerged from relative obscurity, showcasing an impressive improvement in his shooting ability and proving himself to be a capable defender as well.
As we headed into the 2024-25 regular season, if anyone were to make a list of Raptors players who seemed at risk of getting their time cut short, Agbaji would've likely been a name at the top. But the 24-year-old wing showed that it's not always wise to write off a young player too quickly, even if their first impression was less than stellar.
Raptors wing Ochai Agbaji's growth has surprised many
In his in-depth NBA offseason 2025 guide, ESPN NBA insider Bobby Marks highlights Toronto's emerging 3-and-D asset in Agbaji, noting:
"Ochai Agbaji quietly has become one of the league's better defenders. Agbaji ranks in the top 10 in effective field goal percentage allowed vs. 2025 All-Stars, per Second Spectrum tracking. He also ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender among those who faced at least 600 shots this season. Offensively, he had career highs in points (10.3), rebounds (3.8), field goal percentage (50.1%) and 3-point percentage (40.4%)."Bobby Marks
While Marks' remarks are striking, I feel that many Raptors fans were already on to Agbaji's rise as a standout player for Toronto.
He largely proved to be the team's "iron man", staying healthy during a challenging stretch when injuries plagued the roster. Even more impressive, it was hard to ignore his league-record 3-point surge, an achievement that hadn't been seen in nearly 30 years.
It's not every day we see a player who struggled with efficiency last season, like Agbaji, who shot sub-40% from the field and a disappointing 21.7% from three, transform into a lights-out shooter, elevating his production to a level that places him a cut above the rest in the league.
For the Raptors, this growth from Agbaji requires their full, undivided attention. They may have stumbled upon a special weapon that is still relatively unknown to the casual NBA fan.
What’s even more impressive is that Agbaji maintained this level of production and consistency throughout the whole year. We’re not just looking at a Cinderella run or some fleeting hot streak; his entire 2024-25 campaign was a powerhouse highlight.
The Raptors and Masai Ujiri may have stumbled upon yet another hidden gem in Agbaji, but now the real challenge is figuring out how to make the most of his strengths as the team aims to re-establish its contending trajectory.
On top of that, the 24-year-old is eligible for an extension through October 20. Ujiri did mention in his exit interview that they'll be looking into contract renewals for Agbaji, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett. However, he added, "Longer-term, I think we address that at the end of the season."
Toronto needs to evaluate Agbaji's upcoming season to see if he can keep delivering on his promise as a secret weapon. If he stays consistent and productive, it will be hard to justify not keeping him on the roster.
I doubt Agbaji would demand a crazy amount; a fair extension might fall in the range of $12-15 million a year, especially if he shows some additional growth. Ultimately, it all comes down to Toronto's salary situation and whether they're willing to venture into luxury tax territory.
As Ujiri said, I guess we'll just have to wait until next year to see where Agbaji's future takes him.