Toronto Raptors may have drafted best rookie class in the NBA

Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamison Battle, and Jonathan Mogbo have shined this season, proof of the exciting future for the franchise

Largely touted as a weak draft class, this year’s rookies were under scrutiny from the get-go, with any evidence to support that theory bordering newsworthy. While some of the members of this class have struggled and others haven’t seen much playing time, neither of those are true for the guys that have suited up for the Raptors.

Despite an up and down season overall, the highlight has undoubtedly been the performance and contributions of their rookie squad who have shown remarkable abilities on both ends of the floor. A game-winner, a triple double, a couple of surprising rim-rocking dunks, and some excellent 3-point shooting are all part of the recipe that has made this group so fun.

Together, they are second in the league in points per game among rookies, second in steals, third in assists, and fifth in rebounds.

The future is bright for this squad, and from top to bottom the organization is excited about it. Their camaraderie, chemistry, and skill have made them fan-favourites, and now with a summer to build on what they’ve created this year, excitement will continue to grow.

So let’s break down what each of the Raptors’ rookies brought to the table this year, just to prove how we might just have some of the best rookies in the league:

—

Jamal Shead

Leading the team in games played this season with 75, Shead’s availability was a necessity as they dealt with injuries up and down the roster. In those contests, he averaged 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in under 20 minutes per game. While modest, his slow start to the season is partially to blame. If you consider only the last 15 games, those numbers jump to 10.9/2.4/6.4 respectively.

His improvement over the course of the season can largely be attributed to his minutes. While an unfortunate circumstance for those who missed games due to injury, it gave him and his fellow rookies the ability to play through mistakes and develop chemistry together.

Shead is not a score-first guard. While he found ways to get his own shot, his ability to find teammates in the most impossible places and drop the ball in for them was usually his priority. This mindset secured him the third-place spot for rookies in the league in assists per game. It also gave us a ton of fun highlights like this:

or this:

He managed to set a career-high of 12 assists about two weeks ago, against the Nets in one of the final games of the season. It wasn’t the first time he had double-digit assists though, a testament to his ability to get his teammates involved.

He also showed consistent improvement over the course of the season in his defensive hustle that goes beyond the stat-sheet. While he averaged around only 1 steal per game, he doubled that number in April. His toughness frequently appeared to frustrate and force errors in whoever he was guarding. While there was a bit of an adjustment to how his pesky defence was refereed, it also improved over the course of the season which Shead attributed to his conversations with officials.

“Ask questions.. They’ll help you” he said during his exit interview, noting that he would always find out what he was doing wrong to get better.

The energy he brings on the defensive end goes beyond just stopping his mark. He will dive and hustle for loose balls, rebounds, or errant passes that he thinks he can get to. In a preseason matchup he was already doing things like this:

He also managed to lead all rookies in charges drawn, having twice as many as the next player on that list. Yet another way he was able to get under his opponent’s skin.

Not only has Shead demonstrated his abilities on the court, he has also done so as a leader and voice off the court. Throughout the season and especially in his exit interview, he spoke highly of his teammates, the future of the team, and the coaching staff. His team-first mentality is a big part of that which was most evident when he spoke about his off-season work.

“It’s not about what I want to work on, it’s about what (Coach Darko) wants me to work on”. Shead wants to help contribute to the team and succeed where he’s needed. Regardless of their record this year, he knows he can be a part making the Raptors a winning team.

The way he has carried himself throughout the season with everyone in the Raptors’ organization has undoubtedly made him a fan-favourite, and it’s impossible to not be excited about what his development could mean for the team moving forward.

At a minimum, no one would mind seeing this again:

Jonathan Mogbo

Appearing in 63 games for the Raptors this season, Mogbo averaged 6.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. In the same fashion as Shead, those numbers jump to 9.1/7.8/4.7 in the final 15 games of the season.

He lacked some of the consistency in minutes as he came in and out of the lineup due to various injuries, but always showed the ability to get back in rhythm and find ways to contribute.

His role on the team now and in the future is not as cut-and-dry as it may seem. He possesses the athleticism and physical tools to be a lob threat and cutter, completing plays like this:

In fact, there could be a reel of Mogbo throwing it down throughout the season, every opportunity he got.

That said, classifying him as a screener or cutter would be a massive underrepresentation of what he can do. 7th among rookies in assists, Mogbo is an underrated passer. Yes, he can make great plays at the rim, but he’s also demonstrated the ability to defer to someone else if their shot is better. This decision making led him to becoming the only rookie this season with a triple double. And he almost had two.

He can help facilitate too, which seems to be a perfect fit for the offensive system they are developing that prioritizes ball movement and finding the best scoring opportunity.

His length helped him on the defensive end, where he tallied 55 steals (5th among rookies), 34 blocks (12th among rookies) and 150 deflections (1st among rookies). There were moments that he struggled too, a little bit slow on a switch or missing a back-cut, but seemed to just pick back up on the next play.

He will need to continue to work on consistency at both ends of the court, but he showed flashes all season of his potential, and with a summer to develop, he will come back even better.

Jamison Battle

Starting 10 of the 59 games he played with the Raptors this season, Battle came to the team as a 3-point shooting threat to help space the floor. Averaging 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 17 minutes per game, Battle had an up and down season that garnered excitement and curiosity about his ability to contribute.

Despite early struggles, his work ethic and development were put on display. Playing 9 minutes in January and failing to score opened the door to criticism, but Battle continued to work and came back to average 10 points per game in March, capping the season with a 25 point, 9 rebound performance against San Antonio. His teammates spoke to his ability to work and improve, and he showed evidence of that as the season came to a close.

The most significant part of his game has been long-range shooting. Finishing the season at a mark of 40.5% from beyond the arc, he finished with 105 total 3s, tied for 6th amongst rookies, and second-most made by a Raptors’ rookie. His skill from that distance was evident, and did exactly what it was supposed to: create space for everyone else. When asked about Battle, Garrett Temple said that “he has an elite NBA skill in shooting the basketball”.

Just like Gradey though, it didn’t take long for Battle to start to expand his game. Pump fakes, footwork, and cuts were all sprinkled in as the season went on, showing potential for more from him.

The biggest thing for him to work on will be defence, as he often found himself in foul trouble as his minutes increased, fouling out on two occasions and getting dangerously close several more times. With his size and shooting ability, being able to keep him on the court and in games will be imperative as an option.

Ja’Kobe Walter

Amongst the rookies, Ja’Kobe played the fewest games, struggling with a variety of injuries to his finger, hip, and shoulder, limiting his appearances. His most significant injury was to his shoulder, keeping him out to start the season. He made his debut November 1, only to re-injure his shoulder a couple games later and sit out three more weeks. Despite that, he was able to build momentum as the season went on, already setting milestones including a career high 27 points against Houston, going a perfect 5-5 from long range against Chicago, and recording his first double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against New Orleans.

Overall, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 21 minutes per game. His abilities as a shooter coming into the draft were one of the attributes the Raptors were seeking, and they haven’t been disappointed. His free-throw and 3-point shooting were both excellent, especially in the later stages of the season, but what is perhaps one of the most intriguing parts of Ja’Kobe’s game is his ability to shoot in the midrange. He can stop on a dime and connect from almost anywhere in that range.

He oozes confidence, taking challenging shots and making an effort to create for himself, regardless of the score, who he shared the floor with, or how impossible the situation may seem. His game winner against Orlando is the perfect example of this:

On the defensive end, Ja’Kobe showed great effort throughout the season, but noted that part of his learning curve this year was adjusting his own defence. When asked about a welcome-to-the-NBA type moment or experience, he brought up a game against the Pacers where he was “getting hit by screens all game” trying to guard Haliburton. He mentioned watching film and learning how to adjust, and while only one example, his development on that end of the floor speaks to his willingness to learn and adjust to get better.

Continuing to make adjustments on the defensive end is one of his goals over the summer, along with continuing to “get stronger” so he is able to physically compete in the league.

—

Although this season was tough in a lot of ways, the Raptors’ rookies made late-season “meaningless” games fun. Their opportunity to build chemistry together shouldn’t be traded for anything, and has created a foundation for them as they continue to grow and develop as players individually, and as a team.

In the words of Jamal Shead, “the sky is the limit” for these guys.