No matter how you spin it, Jakob Poeltl having only played 22 games so far in the 2025-26 season is far from the return on investment that not only the Raptors' front office expected but also the Raptors' fanbase.
I get that injuries are just part of the game and that you can't fully prepare for these unforeseen circumstances. Still, there's not much substance in using that as an excuse to justify what has mostly been a blunder for the Raptors lately. Jakob Poeltl definitely earned an extension with his career year last season, but it still raised a lot of eyebrows among Raptors fans and in broader basketball discussions. Those concerns have been confirmed by how much the Raptors have had to be cautious about Jakob Poeltl's health and availability.
Thankfully, Jakob Poeltl returned to suit up for Toronto, even if it was with a minutes restriction against the Pistons on February 11. He scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes of play — marking his first game in nearly two months. While the Raptors eventually lost that game and Poeltl looked a bit rusty and slow, it was reassuring to at least see him back in the lineup.
This is definitely a positive sign for the team as they head into the remaining 27 games of their 2025-26 schedule. I just wrote about some other Raptors players who have a chip on their shoulder as they return from the All-Star break, but if we're being honest, I think Jakob Poeltl has all those guys beat. He’ll surely be under close watch, not only from Raptors fans but also from his coaching staff and teammates.
Jakob Poeltl's performance will be under the microscope after the All-Star break
Jakob Poeltl is the guy many in the Raptors’ ranks have been talking about as the key piece they need to get back on track. Missing him in the lineup for so long, even though rumors focused on different trade targets, All-Star Scottie Barnes and head coach Darko Rajakovic have both said that having Poeltl back is extremely important. He was even a major factor that held the Raptors back from some of those trade talks, as his injury concerns and unappealing contract made rival front offices hesitant.
Case in point, it doesn’t get more important than Jakob Poeltl.
We still don’t know exactly how fully recovered he is from his back problems, and there’s a real chance it could become a concern again at any moment. Even with just 27 games left in the season, I’m not sure Raptors fans should assume Poeltl can play through all of them. Going back to his injury troubles, having him in there against physical competition in the paint might be the final nail in the coffin, potentially keeping him out of action as they head into the playoffs — where Toronto will definitely need him most.
But then again, I think that’s just a necessary evil, a bridge they’ll have to cross. It’s either keep sitting him out or take the risk of pushing him too hard too soon. I was just chatting with my fellow Raptors Rapture colleague, Daniel O'Connor, about whether Toronto should have sat Poeltl out in their final game before the All-Star break.
While I can see why it might have been smart to do so, I think that particular Pistons matchup made sense to see how Poeltl could readjust to game speed, especially since Detroit came into the game without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart — two guys who definitely would have made Poeltl’s night more challenging. I get that Poeltl didn’t do much to help Toronto shut down a blitzing Paul Reed, but at least he had the reassurance of the All-Star break ahead, to know where he stands upon his full-strength return.
The sad thing is, Jakob Poeltl is already facing a lot of scrutiny from Raptors fans and basketball discussion platforms alike. But at the same time, giving him excessive grace and leniency is far from justified because too much has been invested in Poeltl as a key part of this Raptors core. It’s either he steps up and gets back to game speed or he remains a shell of himself moving forward. I hope we don’t reach that point, despite the grim picture Poeltl has largely painted so far this season.