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Toronto is exceeding expectations, a change from recent tough seasons, with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram leading the way
Published Dec 03, 2025 • 5 minute read
Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his game-winning shot with Scottie Barnes and Ja'Kobe Walter against the Indiana Pacers.
Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his game-winning shot with Scottie Barnes and Ja'Kobe Walter against the Indiana Pacers. Getty Images
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The Toronto Raptors have now played more than a quarter of the regular season — 26.8% to be specific — following Tuesday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
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At 15-7, the team is off to a fantastic start, one few anticipated on the heels of two rough rebuilding seasons.
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Now’s a good time to hand out some grades for a standout first quarter.
HEAD OF THE CLASS
Scottie Barnes: A+
Barnes has been one of the best two-way players in the league. He has been about as good as it gets defensively, but has also levelled up offensively (with career highs in field goal, three-point and free throw percentage, all way ahead of where he was previously). He has been a rare franchise player that doesn’t lead his team in scoring and isn’t even the first or second option on offence. Barring injury, Barnes is on the way to an all-NBA selection and his second all-star game.
Brandon Ingram: A-
The former No. 2 overall selection has opened up an offence that was long one of the NBA’s least effective. Ingram has done everything well offensively except hit three-pointers (he’s shooting his worst mark from there since his rookie season), including close to career highs for two-point shooting percentage, rebounding percentage, block percentage and is getting to the free-throw line at a high rate. It hasn’t been perfect, he didn’t get a hand up defensively leading to a recent loss and has been committing too many turnovers, but Ingram has fit like a glove so far and can still improve once his three-pointers start dropping.
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GOLD STARS SO FAR
Jakob Poeltl: B
Just call him Mr. Consistency. Toronto’s simply much better when Poeltl is on the court. He’s the only seven-footer, the best screen-setter, rebounder and interior defender and a skilled finisher on short shots. A sore back occasionally has sapped Poeltl of his usual effectiveness and has caused him to miss some games, but the team is smartly trying to decrease his minutes from last year’s nearly 30 per game and it should pay off. Poeltl’s shooting an absurd 72.7% from the field, just shy of Rudy Gobert’s NBA-leading 73.8%.
RJ Barrett: B
It’s unfortunate that Barrett got hurt because he was having one of his best seasons yet. The team’s scoring leader the past two years had adapted to now being behind Ingram and was a key cog in the offence (you can tell he’s missed with the way the attack has fallen off a cliff since he has been out). Barrett was shooting over 50% from the field, had raised his free-throw accuracy about 10% and was putting in a good effort defensively. Barrett answered a lot of questions and the Raptors need him back.
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EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Jamal Shead: B-
A revelation to start the season, the sophomore point guard looked like one of the NBA’s best reserves through about mid-November.
He has been lost offensively over his past four games (shooting 3-for-24, including 1-for-12 on three-pointers), but is still running the offence well and hounding other lead guards (nine steals over his past two games).
We’re keying on the overall body of work instead of this recent slump when it comes to Shead, who also brings unrivalled intangibles to the team as a leader and tone setter.
Sandro Mamukelashvili: B-
It’s a low bar, but Mamukelashvili already looks like one of the five best free-agent signings in Raptors history. He made a great first impression, playing tremendously even when Toronto was stumbling a bit early on, and has kept it up. Mamukelashvili has been excellent on offence, spacing the floor with this three-point shooting while also being able to attack the rim. He also has been one of Toronto’s best rebounders, which is important since it’s not a team strength and perfect from a chemistry perspective.
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Immanuel Quickley: B-
Things were not looking good for the point guard after six October games where he arguably was the worst-performing Raptor. But since then, Quickley’s shot nearly 50% from the floor, nearly 41% from three, has kept his turnover low and has been passable, at worst, defensively. Quickley’s contract has been knocked by many after last year’s down, injury-plagued season and especially after this October, but he’s delivering as a key part of the team and has been an above-average starting point guard.
Collin Murray-Boyles: B-
This year’s ninth overall pick doesn’t look like your average rookie. As opponents have noticed, he’s strong as an ox and, as a player pegged as one of the best defenders in his class, has stepped right in as a solid NBA defender (also rare for a rookie). Murray-Boyles got off to a shockingly great start from three-point range, but is barely attempting any recently — but that’s OK, he’s already ahead of schedule there.
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Murray-Boyles has shot 62.1% of his shots in the paint, above league average, has rebounded well and been good defensively. He has done it all pretty quietly in his typical understated fashion, but Murray-Boyles clearly is going to be a valuable contributor moving forward.
Ja’Kobe Walter: C
The Raptors remain high on 2024’s 19th pick, who only turned 21 in September. Coach Darko Rajakovic is a big Walter backer and has been using him as a starter with Barrett out. There’s something here and we agree the future is bright. Walter most notably gets after it defensively, hounding other wings or even smaller players and also shot 43.9% on three-pointers in 15 games in November. At worst, Walter projects as a solid “three-and-D” two-way rotation piece, but he’s talented and works hard enough to be a lot more than that in a few years.
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IMPROVEMENT NEEDED
Gradey Dick: C-
It’s odd that Dick’s advanced stats have mostly been stellar (he leads the team on on/off-court net rating, most notably), but his regular ones and the eye test haven’t been as favourable. It looks like he’s being targeted defensively, yet Toronto is faring way better at that end when Dick is playing. He’s shooting only 31.3% from three (down from 36.5% as a rookie and 35% last season), but opponents still aggressively run out at him believing he’s a shooting threat (and Dick is shooting a career-best 55% on two-pointers, is turning the ball over a lot less and is generating a lot of steals). Dick’s season has been a weird one to evaluate so far, but there have been nice flashes and he was excellent in Tuesday’s win. Still, the shots have to start dropping from three at some point, don’t they?
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Read More
[Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes has teamed up with Scotties Facial Tissues for its 'Get the Name Right' campaign.
Raptors star Scottie Barnes on not changing his name, endorsements and winning](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-star-scottie-barnes-on-not-changing-his-name-endorsements-and-winning)
2. [Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks defends.
Raptors need to rein in the Luka Doncic experience with Lakers in town](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-need-contain-luka-doncic-experience-lakers-in-town)
Ochai Agbaji: D+
Perhaps last season’s biggest overachiever, things just haven’t gone well for Agbaji, who has often been out of the rotation entirely. He didn’t hit a single three-pointer in November (0-for-8) and shockingly is 1-for-19 for the season after leading the team last year. It feels like Agbaji a former Final Four Most Outstanding Player and lottery pick, might not be long for Toronto with some tinkering needed to get the team under the luxury tax.
INCOMPLETE
Jamison Battle, Garrett Temple, Jonathan Mogbo, Chucky Hepburn.
@WolstatSun
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