Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
Toronto Raptors
Considerably progress has been made by Toronto sophomores, while first-rounder had his moments.
Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inboxSign Up
Published Jul 16, 2025 • 5 minute read
Memphis Grizzlies centre Zach Edey handles the ball against Toronto Raptors' Ulrich Chomche during a game last year.
Memphis Grizzlies centre Zach Edey handles the ball against Toronto Raptors' Ulrich Chomche during a game last year. AP Photo
Article content
The Toronto Raptors are undefeated in Las Vegas, with the latest win coming 101-97 over Denver on Tuesday night.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
That’s two straight close victories now after the opening night annihilation of Chicago.
Article content
Article content
The play of second-year guard Ja’Kobe Walter really stood out against the Nuggets, but his fellow 2024 draft classmate Ulrich Chomche — the youngest player amongst that crop — continues to impress with how far he has come compared to last summer.
Here are some takeaways through three games
This corner has repeated often the belief that Walter has a chance to be a really good NBA player and he has shown little in Vegas to disprove us of the notion.
He has averaged 18 points in 24 minutes a game (he averaged 11.6 in 24 minutes last summer), had seven steals against Denver and has also been active on the glass. Walter has been strong defensively, like most of his teammates, and looks the part of a strong two-way player.
Advertisement 3
Article content
About the only thing you could quibble with is that Walter hasn’t shown much growth as a creator for others. He has only two assists and eight turnovers in the three games.
But on a team with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl all able to blend play-making and scoring, in addition to the guards who can do that, we’re not sure Walter will really need to do much table-setting.
They will need pull-up three-point shooters (Immanuel Quickley and Ingram will be keys, but they need more beyond that) and Walter was hot on those types of shots on Tuesday. He looked comfortable pulling up against Denver and that needs to continue.
“Ja’Kobe, he’s a pup. And what I mean by that is, physically, he’s going to continue to grow mature, but all the natural talent ability is there,” Baylor coach Scott Drew had told us last July.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 4
Article content
Walter has put on some muscle and it shows in how he’s absorbing contact and getting in for rebounds.
Advertisement 5
Article content
Prized rookie Collin Murray-Boyles looked more settled in his second game, which makes sense. A couple days earlier, he was playing for the first time in weeks after getting hurt during the pre-draft process, so the rust he showed was typical of a break like that.
After picking up eight fouls and five turnovers in his debut, MB only committed two fouls and had one turnover. MB also had three assists, including a nice one setting up a Walter three-pointer, another leading to a Walter layup off a nice cut and the other a casual flick to Walter for a three-pointer.
You also notice how the big man really gets after defensive rebounds. MB only had a couple in the game, but he clears out tons of space to grab them with his frame and saw him push both teammate and opponent out of the way. His swishing of a three-point attempt was notable too, given that’s seen as his main weakness.
Advertisement 6
Article content
Chomche still is a teenager until Dec. 30, but he doesn’t really look like it anymore on the court. That’s a huge change from last July and from throughout his first season with Raptors 905 when he often looked, fittingly, like a deer in the headlights many nights as he tried to start to understand a sport he only has been playing since age 11.
The Cameroonian looks far more natural, especially on defence — his bread and butter and the reason Raptors staffers were so intrigued by him as a prospect.
But Chomche’s timing also is improving on offence. He made an impressive play in the first quarter that led to a bucket.
Chomche was being boxed out behind Toronto’s free-throw line when a Raptor attempted a three-point shot. It’s not often one gets an offensive rebound starting from that position, but Chomche moved 240-pound E.J. Liddell out of the way to grab it, then patiently pumped-fake the defender to the air, was fouled (without a call) and softly hit a soft jumper.
Advertisement 7
Article content
Later, Chomche tried to get the ball in the paint, but was looked off despite being pretty open. He made sure to back out to not get called for three in the key and beat three Nuggets for an offensive rebound, put the ball in and this time got a foul call.
Finally, Chomche had his bench going absolutely berserk after blocking a shot, running the other way and getting the ball just over halfcourt, dribbling calmly into the paint before wrapping a pass around to MB for a dunk.
Advertisement 8
Article content
Sandro Mamukelashvili has played centre 62% of the time over his 191 NBA games, but also plenty of power forward. Maybe with he and the improved Chomche in the fold, Poeltl will get a bit more rest from the career-high 29.6 minutes he averaged last season.
They provide very different elements to Toronto’s bench with outside shooting and passing from Mamukelashvili, and defence, rebounding and rim scoring from Chomche.
Jamal Shead deserves some recognition for his play and tone-setting over the three games, most notably against Denver. The young veteran is way too good for summer league, the way Fred VanVleet used to be.
A.J. Lawson remains a certified bucket-getter.
Read More
[Collin Murray-Boyles walks the red carpet upon arriving for the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York.
Raptors rookie Collin Murray-Boyles impresses despite rust in debut](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-rookie-collin-murray-boyles-impresses-despite-rust-in-debut)
2. [Raptors forward Jonathan Mogbo dunks the ball on the Bulls during their April 1 game in Chicago.
Raptors Summer League takeaways: The kids are all right](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-summer-league-takeaways-the-kids-are-alright)
Advertisement 9
Article content
Will Nuggets be golden?
Oklahoma City will be a heavy favourite to repeat as NBA champion, but don’t sleep on the Nuggets. Sophomore centre DaRon Holmes really impressed against Toronto on Tuesday. He missed his entire rookie year after tearing his Achilles in Vegas, but should give the bench a boost.
Backup power forward and centre has long been an issue with Denver, but now the league’s best player Nikola Jokic (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved to win MVP, but Jokic remains the premier player and one of the best ever) will have veteran Jonas Valanciunas (assuming his situation gets resolved and he doesn’t head to Europe) and Holmes behind him.
Plus, Denver added shooters Cam Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr., brought back Bruce Brown and youngsters like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther keep getting better.
Add in a healthy Jamal Murray and this group stacks up with anyone.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments