The Toronto Raptors have been heavily scrutinized for their controversial approach to building the current rotation. Many have accused them of building a relatively redundant team, with players sharing similar strengths and weaknesses, and thus being unlikely to complement one another.
As Toronto continues to exceed expectations early in 2025-26, however, star wing RJ Barrett explained what makes the team so dangerous: There's no player to ease up on.
The Raptors have loaded their roster with shot creators and high-quality finishers and shooters. There are admittedly repetitive skills and flaws, but the constant is that Toronto consistently has multiple players on the court who can punish an ill-advised rotation or even just a generally weaker defender.
According to [Eric Koreen of _The Athletic_](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799997/2025/11/12/rj-barrett-toronto-raptors-brandon-ingram/), Barrett believes the sheer volume of high-level scoring threats gives Toronto an advantage that teams can't consistently overcome.
“There’s one guy that’s not gonna be as good of a defender, and he’ll probably have to be on me or (Immanuel Quickley) or Scottie (Barnes) or whoever. When there’s attention to another person who is a high-calibre player, an All-Star-calibre player who is scoring over 21, 22 points a night, when there’s someone over there with that shotmaking ability, there’s someone over there the defence has to focus on. And the defence can’t focus on five people at once. You have to give up something.”
Perhaps difficult roster decisions will need to be made down the line, but Barrett has perfectly summarized the edge that the Raptors have over most opponents.
Opposing teams can't hide defenders against Raptors' rotation of scorers
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Toronto currently has two players averaging at least 20.1 points per game in Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Barrett isn't far behind at 19.1, which would actually be his lowest scoring average since 2020-21—his second season in the NBA.
Immanuel Quickley, meanwhile, is averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 assists per game, while starting center Jakob Poeltl is offering up 9.8 points and 2.9 offensive rebounds in just 24.5 minutes.
Sandro Mamukelashvili isn't far behind at 9.4 points in just 17.7 minutes per contest. Toronto has also received 20-point games from Jamison Battle and Gradey Dick this season, while Collin Muray-Boyles has scored as many as 19 points early in his rookie campaign.
It's still early, but the Raptors have 10 players averaging at least 13.0 points per 36 minutes—and Ochai Agbaji and Ja'Kobe Walter should ascend from 6.9 and 9.9 once their uncharacteristic shooting woes are resolved.
With a mountain of depth in the scoring department, the Raptors have made it almost impossible for teams to comfortably play a poor defender. Anyone on the court can attack the basket or space the floor, thus holding the opposition accountable in a rather unique way.
That remarkable scoring depth and balance has enabled Toronto to rank No. 7 in the NBA in offensive rating and No. 8 in eFG%.
With selflessness permeating the locker room, the Raptors have proven that an unorthodox approach isn't necessarily destined to fail. Instead, players who are willing to compete for one another are capable of putting their egos aside and allowing others' success to be as important as their own.
Toronto caught quite a bit of flack for investing in players who didn't fit on paper, but Barrett has perfectly summarized how this team has found a way to work.