Takeaways from Toronto Raptors Media Day: Selfish is out, Rebuild is in

The Toronto Raptors are back for the 2024-25 season… but things looked a bit different this season then they did last media day.

As I sat in the freezing cold foyer of Scotiabank Arena for Toronto Raptors Media Day, I couldn’t help but think about how different it felt this year in comparison to last season. In 2023, it almost felt like we were hanging onto the threads of the ‘We The North’ era — Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby were being cryptic about their contracts. Masai Ujiri did his usual speech of winning again in Toronto, believing in this team.

This time around, the evidence of being deep into the Raptors’ latest transitionary phase was all around us. Media Day press availability was held in the arena, surrounded by construction signs, blocked off corridors, and the sounds of renovations going on. A physical representation of the very real rebuild the Toronto Raptors are in the midsts of.

Instead of the regular Raptors logos, the team’s 30th anniversary branding has replaced it. Glimpses of purple pop up around the city and the team. While they players wore the white and chevron jerseys in front of live cameras, there are hints to suggest that an announcement of classic purple jerseys is imminent.

Overall, the vibe has shifted to accept the state of change this team is in. Here are some of the main takeaways I walked away from Media Day with:

Could Masai finally be team tank?

If you’ve listened to a Masai Ujiri press conference since 2019, they all sound pretty similar — until today. Usually Masai gets up on the podium and talks at length about how he believes in his team, and how he knows the Raptors will win again while he is here. The message this time around was… less enthusiastic.

The first thing that was un-Masai was the fact that he didn’t start his time with a statement or any remarks, choosing to dive right into questions. He said the words “rebuild” and “development” more than he said “winning” or worse, last year’s buzzword of “selfish.”

He described being in the middle of a lengthy process, and while he did not explicitly say anything about tanking (because he wouldn’t), he didn’t explicitly say they had a chance to go far this season.

It was overall a different tone from Ujiri’s usual uplifting pressers. He usually has an unbridled faith in his players, but ultimately he doesn’t know that much about any of them to speak on it.

Ultimately, a lot of his initial presser (he had a second one after the news of Dikembe Mutombo’s passing was released) was focused on his relationships to the MLSE board. Now that the news of Bell selling it’s shares to Rogers is out, that took over some of the time with Masai. He was adamant on clearing up that he has a great relationship with Ed Rogers, as well as Larry Tannenbaum, and clarified that it’s business as usual for him despite the news.

Vibes are… good?

I’ll get into it a little more when I do a Vibe Check column this week, BUT I was surprised at the good energy among players. They all seem to have realistic expectations of what this team will be, while also giving off the aura that they all like each other a lot.

Of course that was the goal as the team held several international training camps during the off-season. The biggest one was in Spain, and the players had lots of good things to say about the benefit of getting some time to build chemistry.

Notably, both RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk were in attendance despite the camp being held right after they were eliminated from the Olympics on team Canada. The move to bring two hometown Canadian kids onto this team surely adds to team camaraderie and sense of pride to be playing on the team, even if they are a lottery team.

Gradey mentioned the team’s group chat, many of them have been texting throughout the offseason, hanging out, travelling. Scottie was in Toronto with Chris Boucher playing with Toronto Metropolitan University players, Darko encouraged the players to see the city in the summer “when it’s not cold.” Of course they still want to win, but there was a sense of understanding that they are in the middle of a process, together.

It seems… wholesome?

I know the main thing people are tuning in for will be the basketball, and spoiler alert, this isn’t going to be a winning team — BUT, it would be a lot worse if they were all being sour about it. They seem to be along for the ride, which is better.

Darko has the locker room

Just like I noticed during exit interviews, this team LOVES Darko. I can see why, he’s a good guy. He cares about his players as people first, players second. Every single one of them seems to have a personal relationship with him outside of their coach/player relationship with them.

This wouldn’t mean much on a winning team, but it seems to mean more in the Raptors’ case. I feel like it would be harder to coach a losing team than a contending one, not that I have any experience. The fact that this team is gonna lose most of the time, but these guys seem to be down to run through a wall for Darko says a lot about his style.

Ultimately, this is a developing team. Darko’s role isn’t to coach them to be winners NOW, it’s to coach them to be good team members for when they are on winning teams in the future. To teach them how to be professionals, how to show up and treat this like work. How to be a good teammate and person. He’s good at it, clearly.

While from a fan perspective that sucks a little, because losing isn’t fun, these players are going to look back at their time on this team with fondness. That’s worth something… right?

---

Overall, it wasn’t doom and gloom at Media Day. Spirits were pretty good, people were rested and excited to get back to work. That will change of course as the season progresses, of course.

Ultimately, the biggest shift from 2023 to 2024 is that this team knows its identity now. We all know what this team is, there is no confusion about direction. Everyone is fully, ten toes in, accepting the change and the rebuild.

Also, bring a sweater to games, it’s cold in there.