Upbeat rookie draws inspiration from this beloved Raptors legend's playing style

I don’t think there are many Raptors fans who are disappointed with what Ja'Kobe Walter, the 19th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, produced in his rookie season.

In 52 games played for the Raptors in his first year, Walter really started to find his rhythm later in the season. His performance led to a solid rookie campaign for a wing prospect who was viewed as a raw talent and faced some hurdles before becoming productive.

Walter's final rookie season statistics are as follows: he averaged 8.6 points with a field goal shooting percentage of 40.5%, approximately 35% from three-point range, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and nearly one steal (0.8) in just over 21 minutes of playing time per game.

Walter was among the Raptors players who talked to the media on April 14 during the team's end-of-season media scrum. In this exit interview session, Walter was asked about which player he tries to model his playing style after, revealing an intriguing name that certainly resonates with die-hard Raptors fans.

Ja'Kobe Walter identifies Kawhi Leonard as his NBA role model

As Walter put it:

"It was always for me, a person like Kawhi [Leonard]. I always liked Kawhi's game just because he was a 2-way player. This year, he's really shown how nice he really is, for sure. Y'all know it well (laughs). Y'all know it well. But this year for me, seeing him live, in different ways, it was just different. I say, that's definitely someone who's a role model for me to look at. "

Ja'Kobe Walter on Kawhi Leonard

Walter also mentioned that a reliable veteran in the league, known for his shooting skills, personally reached out to him to express support for his game. That player was Tim Hardaway Jr., a wing for the Detroit Pistons.

Walter stated, as noted by Raptors sideline reporter Savanna Hamilton on X:

As Raptors fans, it's natural for us to hope for the most desirable outcome, which would likely mean wishing for Walter to be more of a Kawhi-lite than a THJ-lite. However, to be quite honest, I’m fully on board with the idea of Walter having a career akin to that of Tim Hardaway Jr.—someone who's been a staple in the league for over a decade. Hardaway Jr. excels as a complementary 3-and-D wing, which is a valuable role.

At the end of the day, there's a reason why role players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock were drawn as pro player comparisons for Walter during the draft process. I'm sure every young NBA player has that one superstar they look up to as their dream role model.

For Ja'Kobe Walter, it's Kawhi Leonard. This is a great choice, particularly for Raptors fans who remember the spectacular impact Leonard had on the city, even if it was brief.

I could already feel the energy and determination in Walter's game during his rookie season, making a strong case for himself as one of the biggest steals from the 2024 NBA Draft.

Now, he just needs to build on that positive foundation and create the best possible career for himself. Whether he develops into a talent like THJ or surprises everyone with a Kawhi-like leap, I'm sure Raptors fans are excited to see Ja'Kobe Walter become an important part of the young core moving forward.