Raptors rookie Allen Graves is ready for whatever challenge head coach Darko Rajakovic throws at him in year one.
asserted
Rajakovic → throw → year
He’s already relishing the chance to guard star forwards Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard in practice and embracing being the first player on the team bus, while acknowledging he might have to spend some time in Mississauga with the Raptors’ G League affiliate team to get developmental reps.
“Obviously, I want to be out there on the court with those guys.
uncertain
I → relish → guys
I want to be playing with Scottie ... but if they see the best fit is 905 or whatever it may be and come bring me in later, then that’s what it is,” Graves said to reporters on Monday before huddling with Rajakovic to end practice at OVO Athletic Centre.
uncertain
Graves → want → Centre
It’s unknown what Graves’ — the Raptors’ 19th pick in the 2026 NBA draft — exact role will be as Toronto looks to be a contender in a loaded Eastern Conference.
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Toronto → ’ → Conference
There wasn’t a major off-season overhaul of the roster so a team with a continuity gets ready to
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team → be → continuity
The 20-year-old redshirted at Santa Clara for the 2024-25 college season before averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 steals in 22.6 minutes last year and jumping onto the radar of NBA scouts.
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old → redshirte → scouts
He primarily came off the bench at Santa Clara — only starting in four games — but his six-foot-nine, 225-pound frame was enough for the Raptors to be all-in on the Ponchatoula, La., native.
asserted
Raptors → come → native
Earlier this month, Rajakovic said he wasn’t sure if Graves would spend time with the Raptors 905 early on in the season.
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Graves → say → season
He said Graves has a lot of intangible skills that can help the team right away.
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that → say → team
“I think that he’s absolutely competing for a spot in (the) rotation right away,” Rajakovic said.
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Rajakovic → think → rotation
“You know me, I’m not shying away from throwing rookies out there on the court … you cannot learn how to swim until you jump into the water.
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you → know → water
You got to throw those guys in the water and slowly teach them how to swim.
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You → got → them
He had only five points (1-for-7 from the field, 1-for-6 from three), three rebounds, one steal and four fouls in his first taste against the New York Knicks.
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He → have → Knicks
On Friday, he poured in nine points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes against the Detroit Pistons on 4-for-13 from the field and 0-for-5 from three.
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he → pour → three
“My shot’s not falling right now, but (I’m) just trying do all the little things: get offensive rebounds, impact the game in any way I can,” Graves said, who is still trying to figure out his role on this Raptors team.
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who → fall → team
Rajakovic wants everyone — players, media, fans — to understand it’s going to be a process for Graves.
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it → want → Graves
He won’t have all the answers right away; he’s not going to hit every shot or make the correct basketball decision every time.
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he → have → decision
But what Rajakovic has been preaching most to him is to focus on the process rather than the outcome.
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preaching → preach → process
The best shooters in the world, they still miss more than 50 per cent of all shots,” Rajakovic said.
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Rajakovic → miss → shots
Graves was touted as an “analytic darling” in last year’s NBA draft.
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Graves → tout → draft
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said he envisioned Graves wreaking havoc off the bench with sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles when the team drafted him.
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team → say → him
Leonard believes Graves can be good in the league due to his eagerness to defend.
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Graves → believe → eagerness
The star forward remembers when he arrived in the NBA in 2011, as his dream was quickly short-lived with the understanding that the work had just begun.
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work → remember → understanding
“It’s just a matter of time until he keeps getting better,” Leonard said.
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Leonard → ’ → time
“… It’ll be fun for him, but tough times as well ... a lot of games coming from 30 to 82, but it seems like he loves the game.”
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he → come → game
The rookie is already leaning on his teammates who have been in his ear to keep shooting despite early struggles.
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who → lean → struggles
He’s been teamed up with Raptors third-year guard Ja’Kobe Walter (who skyrocketed to 40.9 per cent from three last season) in shooting drills at the end of practices, and hopes to learn some of his trade secrets.
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who → team → secrets
Barnes has also taken time to give him pointers on the defensive end.
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Barnes → take → end
“There’s definitely levels to it,” Graves said.
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Graves → ’ → it
“From Summer League you’re playing against a higher level of competition than even college, and then you go to scrimmaging against (Barnes), and all those guys and you’re like, ‘Man, this is different too.’ ’’
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this → play → Barnes
“The only way I get better is by going against better competition, going against Scottie and Kawhi and trying to figure it out.”
asserted
I → get → it
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