Okay, it might be a bit bold to say for a 19-year-old, still a very raw prospect, that they need to approach their sophomore NBA season with a sense of urgency, but allow me to provide some context for my call to action.
Ulrich Chomche poised for a strong Raptors developmental year
Ulrich Chomche was not quite able to get the ground running in his rookie campaign with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in only seven games with the main roster and 19 games with the Raptors 905 G League team. Chomche's stats with the Raptors' core group show next to nothing, but his sample size in the G League offers a bit more insight into what the Cameroon native can bring to the table: 8.0 points on 55.8% field goal shooting, 47.4% from the free-throw line, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 3.1 blocks.
Now, that free throw percentage is a little shaky, and a three-point shot is basically non-existent for Chomche as it currently stands, but those are by no means anything to lose sleep over, especially right now for such a young player still finding his footing in basketball. But that defensive potential in Chomche, you simply cannot deny it.
Unfortunately for Chomche, his rookie year was cut short by an untimely MCL tear in his right knee back in February. That sidelined him during a critical second half of the Raptors' season, when many fans had hoped the youngster could earn a few minutes with the main roster and showcase glimpses of his potential.
And just this past July at Summer League, where Chomche finally suited up again for the Raptors, he provided fans with an intriguing sneak peek of his potential. That one play of Chomche blocking a shot, sprinting past half-court with the ball, and then finding Collin Murray-Boyles with a wraparound pass — which he finished with an emphatic dunk — was like a smorgasbord, a tasting platter of what Chomche can do even this early in his career.
Now, to be fair, we can't just romanticize Chomche based on this highlight alone, but come on, how can you not?
Last year, the Raptors had to find any depth they could at the center position outside of Jakob Poeltl, leading Toronto to explore minutes for Orlando Robinson and Colin Castleton. Both players had their moments to shine, but it’s likely Toronto would have preferred Chomche to fill that gap instead of relying on filler players to patch it up.
In a sense, Chomche was somewhat robbed of his rightful place among the talented 2024 Raptors rookies by making his presence felt. He’s still on a two-way contract, and I’d bet the Raptors would prefer to give him more opportunities in the G League. However, even with the Sandro Mamukelishvili signing (which I absolutely loved), I’d reckon the Raptors would still prioritize Chomche’s development over anything else if they had the chance to see him with the main roster.