I’m not entirely certain if Ochai Agbaji's job in Toronto is definitely secure, but the lack of any rumors about him being available or competing offers suggests he's likely staying put. And so, I would safely assume that Agbaji will don the Raptors' threads when they hit the court on opening night in October, which I have no problem with at all.
Agbaji isn't a superstar and may not catch the casual NBA fan's eye, but quickly filling into the role of a prototypical 3-and-D player, he embodies many qualities I admire in an underrated talent. The unexpected rise of Agbaji last season was one of my favorite storylines in the 2024-25 Raptors campaign, as he appeared to turn over a new leaf in his career. What had once been a horrid three-point percentage with the Raps last year saw an incredible surge, quickly making headlines as one of the most significant NBA statistical jumps in quite some time.
Ochai Agbaji found his NBA footing with the Toronto Raptors
Whenever I tuned into Raptors basketball amid all the injury setbacks and adversity, Ochai Agbaji was largely the everlasting presence, suiting up night after night and ready to contribute what he could. It wasn’t a perfect season by any means, and there were definitely nights when Agbaji was rightfully called out for being ineffective; coach Darko Rajakovic did not shy away from keeping things blunt either.
But when there's a tradeoff like what Agbaji provided for the Raptors — in a season where few, if any, had him on their radar beforehand — he proved to be a reliable wing defender, and his three-point shooting spark was undeniable.
And now, as we move into the 2025-26 campaign, there's arguably even more pressure on the Raptors to exceed expectations. Last year certainly benefited Agbaji, giving him the freedom to explore his role within the team. However, with Raptors Nation now familiar with what he offers, there's a strong case to be made that Ochai Agbaji is the wild card of the Raptors’ pecking order next season.
I couldn't tell you where Agbaji can exactly find his footing with this slightly tweaked and improved lineup, which will largely tell the tale of Brandon Ingram joining the fray, along with a fresh face in Collin Murray-Boyles. One note to make is that Agbaji probably won't match his 45 starts from last season — unless, of course, the Raptors are hit by another severe case of the injury bug. This would largely mean that Agbaji would play a pivotal role off the bench, and the good thing for Toronto here is, he was still very effective in that capacity.
The big question I raise here is whether Ochai Agbaji's resurgent season was just fool's gold, or if he can sustain this rise and establish himself as one of the NBA’s premier role-playing wing defenders with a reliable three-point shot. For Toronto, it might be worth evaluating if Agbaji still fits their evolving timeline and consider a team-friendly extension.
But I've also accepted that Agbaji might just be collateral damage at some point and he doesn't stick around long-term. Either way, I’d say Ochai Agbaji has a call to arms — to step up once again and prove he can be a key difference-maker when the Raptors' goal is to win as many games as possible.