The start of 2026 has been quite pleasant for the Toronto Raptors, as they've posted a 5-2 record so far. As we reach mid-January, my small sample size observations have pleasantly surprised me with how smoothly this new wave of Raptors talents has integrated into the rotation, despite injury troubles and lineup fluctuations.
They're not exactly new, per se, since some of them have been around in the Raptors' camp for quite some time now (aside from one). But I call them 'new' in the sense that it's a breath of fresh air for Raptors Nation to see head coach Darko Rajakovic experimenting with the lineup. The batch of young guns I am referring to is rookie Alijah Martin, steady sniper Jamison Battle, and soaring hometown favorite AJ Lawson.
An ambitious new wave of Raptors talent determined to earn their spot
Before we entered the new year, I emphasized the important call to action for Coach Darko: to hold himself accountable to the promise that minutes are not guaranteed on this Raptors squad. He's largely preached that the next man up needs to be ready to step up whenever called upon. While we've seen this approach implemented in spurts throughout the 2025-26 campaign, I’m not sure many have been entirely satisfied with certain regular rotation pieces continuing to get a role despite not doing much to warrant that security — pointing to guys like Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick.
I've had Martin, Battle, Lawson, and even a guy like Chucky Hepburn — before he underwent meniscus surgery — in my crosshairs as potential breakout players waiting to happen. Last week, I shared my impressions of Alijah Martin, who has continued to demonstrate in this recent stretch that he is cut from a winning cloth and does all the little things the Raptors organization values in a talent.
Regarding Jamison Battle, he has barely touched the floor in the 2025-26 campaign, receiving limited minutes after averaging nearly 18 minutes per game in his rookie year. However, when Battle does get on the court, his role as a steady shooter for the team becomes clear. For him, it's more about finding his shooting rhythm and catching that spark to be impactful. As a defender, he can also be quite serviceable in that regard.
Battle has been gradually working his way into the lineup, with his minutes increasing over time. He’s now averaging 12.3 minutes in his last five games, with a season-high of 19:31 minutes played against Indiana in Toronto's most recent outing (as a starter). Unfortunately in that game, Battle sustained an ankle sprain, which will definitely hamper his momentum a bit. However, I think it's a positive development that he's been gradually easing into the rotation, especially after many fans in Raptors Nation noticed he's been largely absent for most of the season.
While AJ Lawson, who is currently on a two-way contract, has also seen an increased role in these last five games, averaging 11.3 minutes during that stretch. The Brampton native made a notable impact against Philly on January 12, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep. Lawson, one of the Raptors 905's brightest offensive threats, could definitely provide the main roster with a shooting spark as a plug-in swingman who can get buckets. We saw glimpses of this last season when AJ Lawson had huge scoring nights, including a career-high 32 points against the Wizards.
For all three gentlemen, they cannot let their foot even remotely off the gas, even as the lineup returns to full strength. I believe that, even if they can't secure a consistent role on a nightly basis, I've already noticed — and I'm sure others in Raptors Nation can agree — that they have something to prove and can contribute to this team. The two-way contracts for Martin and Lawson might cause some issues in the spring, but if they leave no doubt, the Raptors could handle that by signing them to standard deals.
Still, I choose to hold out hope that these guys will only continue to let their insatiable hunger to make an impact grow.