Forgotten no more.
The Toronto Raptors are indulging themselves in a delightful treat, courtesy of some career-best basketball from their resident veteran forward, Chris Boucher, who is bringing his championship experience to the table.
In a sea of young, eager NBA faces, it's always a heartening story to witness the proverbial old guard firmly establishing their rightful place in an ever-evolving league that can sometimes overlook their talents.
Can you believe that a wily veteran like Chris Boucher played a pivotal role in securing a triumphant victory over the storied Golden State Warriors and their all-time great point guard, Steph Curry? That's exactly what happened on January 13.
With the resilience that only a game-ready player like Boucher can provide, he delivered a crucial boost for the Raptors in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 impactful points to propel Toronto to a 104-101 victory, effectively ending their five-game losing streak.
Boucher completed the game with 22 minutes of play, scoring 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. He also recorded seven rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Boucher's career renaissance has been nothing short of spectacular, particularly with rumors swirling that these may be his final days in Toronto; he is certainly making a memorable exit. His stellar performance garnered positive post-game comments from Steph Curry, with whom Boucher would be teammates during his one-season stint with the Golden State Warriors in their 2017-18 title run.
Chris Boucher's hard work is earning him praise from his peers
The 36-year-old shooting great shared the following about Boucher in a clip on X (formerly Twitter), originally obtained from Josh Lewenberg of TSN:
I asked Steph about Chris Boucher, who started his career with the Warriors org: “He was kinda quiet back in the day. Knew he could shoot. Knew he loved to play. Knew he was burning for an opportunity. He's obviously gotten extremely better…I just hate the way he played tonight” pic.twitter.com/ca5HBfTd2o
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 14, 2025
Scottie Barnes, Boucher's current teammate, commented on him during a post-game Raptors media scrum, saying:
"...We know what Chris brings to the game every time he steps on the floor, you know. Brings the energy. He's on the glass, making threes, he can shoot the ball really well. He was great, huge for us tonight... We needed that. He won us the game."Scottie Barnes, January 13, 2025
Interestingly, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic provided insight into the secret edge that may be unlocking Chris Boucher's untapped offensive firepower. He shared this revelation with Josh Lewenberg prior to the game on January 13:
Darko Rajakovic on what's gone into Chris Boucher's recent string of strong games: "I'm going to give you a secret over here; He started drinking espresso before the game, so I think that gives him some extra boost there."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 13, 2025
A tip of the hat is due to Chris Boucher, who is making the most of his situation, whether he remains in Toronto for a longer stint or finds a new home elsewhere. His strong performance is generating buzz around the league, and if Toronto decides to trade him, they will undoubtedly receive a solid return based on his tremendous value of late.