A strong starting lineup is just the tip of the iceberg for an NBA team. Equally important is having a solid group of bench players and reserves who are ready to step up when it’s time for the stars to take a break.
The Toronto Raptors have a strong tradition of featuring impressive bench players. Their well-known "Bench Mob" once became a key part of the team's identity, capturing the hearts of fans during its heyday.
What showcased a skilled group of young players like Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam, and Jakob Poeltl—each of whom would play vital roles in the future—raises an intriguing question: Could the Raptors be on the brink of another wave of success with their current batch of young talent?
Bench Mob 2.0 brewing for Raptors with standout young talents
That original bench group holds a special place in the hearts of Raptors fans, and mine as well. Be that as it may, I can definitely see the similarities emerging with the newer players like Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Ochai Agbaji, and Jamison Battle.
The Raptors face a challenge in attracting established players compared to their American counterparts. This is why they place significant trust in their draft picks and undrafted talent to turn the team's fortunes around. Masai Ujiri is often praised for his ability to scout hidden gems, and his impressive track record backs up that reputation.
With the amount of new talent that has joined Toronto's fold in the last two years—since they fully committed to this new generation of Raptors basketball—it took some time for me to become accustomed to each of these players' skill sets and potential as long-term pieces moving forward. However, I'm finally beginning to see the vision that Toronto has in place for these youngsters to shine.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic stated it himself as the Raptors embarked on this final stretch of the 2024-25 season: the priority was to see what the younger players could contribute to the team and to get a glimpse of their production in elevated roles. It's for this exact reason that Raptors veteran Chris Boucher, has fallen out of the rotation, despite being retained past the trade deadline.
Take Jamal Shead, for example. The ex-Houston product has been elevating his game to another level, surprising me and many others in Raptors Nation with flashy dunks, strong defense, and stellar playmaking. Shead has arguably been the team's most important rookie over the past month, reaffirming the Raptors' decision to choose him over Davion Mitchell as the right one. Anytime you have a locked-in, dog-mentality guard coming off the bench, it’s always a plus for any NBA squad.
Then, you have other prospects who could become major players in this Bench Mob revival, and they've been showing out over the last couple of months. Ja'Kobe Walter has been tasked with starting lately, but he will likely come off the bench next season, where his energy, defense, and shooting package can be a great help to the Raptors' needs.
Jamison Battle is a sharpshooting ace who significantly improves a weakened aspect of the Raptors' offense, and another example of Toronto finding worth on the undrafted open market. Jonathan Mogbo may not be the most polished offensive player, but he brings a tremendous amount of heart and determination every time he steps onto the court.
There's a scenario where Ochai Agbaji could start for Toronto; however, if he does come off the bench, we've seen the strides he has made in his game to become a stout 3-and-D wing, and players of that caliber are hard to find. I haven't even mentioned the possibility of Gradey Dick being part of these discussions, and that's because we haven't seen the 21-year-old former Kansas product in quite some time.
While a lot of attention has been on the starting lineup, particularly with Brandon Ingram joining a packed wing group that includes Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, it could be the bench that provides that crucial spark to unify the Raptors' overall vision.
And who knows what talent Toronto might pick up in the 2025 NBA Draft? That player could be the ideal fit for an already promising bench squad.