Toronto Raptors Media Day Thread: Quotes, updates, and more

Execs, players, and coaches speak to the media ahead of the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors season.

We’re back!

The Toronto Raptors officially kick off the 2024-25 season with Media Day at Scotiabank Arena. This promises to be a year of transition as the team moves from the post-championship era into the Scottie era. Follow along with us all day long as we bring the interviews and quotes from Media Day! Here’s a look at this morning’s schedule:

9:30 am — Masai Ujiri

10:00 am — Darko Rajakovic

10:30 am — Scottie Barnes

11:00 am — Immanuel Quickley

11:30 am — RJ Barrett

12:00 pm — Jakob Poeltl

12:15 pm — Kelly Olynyk

12:45 pm – Gradey Dick

Masai Ujiri

The word of the day, of the season, is rebuilding. When asked to describe the season, Masai laid it out clearly that this is a rebuilding season. He acknowledged the roster is young and looking to grow. “We are going to play to win, but it’s a young team. Everyone can see that.”

On ownership change, “I knew this question was coming. Business continues as usual. We have a great relationship (with Rogers)…..same as it’s been for 10 years. Everything is the same… You have tough negotiations, that’s life… That’s my job.” Masai went on to add about Ed Rogers, “We have a great relationship. He has never treated me any different. He’s always been a mentor….treated me with respect.”

On Darko Rajakovic. “His development process is incredible. Attention to detail, player by player. You can ask every single player that has come here.”

On Immanuel Quickley, “Talent, personality, IQ, shooting, competitive, his work ethic… to me it’s his mindset. What mindset do you bring. His work ethic is incredible. I saw him in South Africa wake up every morning to work out….everyday with Basketball Without Borders.”

On Bruce Brown, “Bruce was cleared in the summer and as he began to ramp things up, then it flared up.”

On measuring success, “Growth and progress of all our players. The progress of our players is going to is going to really tell and you’ll be able to see young teams find it difficult to win in this league.”

On team’s defense, “It’s not something we’re proud of last year. It comes down to effort.I think Darko has used this as a point of emphasis this year and this summer.”

On Teresa Resch moving on from VP of Basketball Operations to President of Toronto’s WNBA team, “I am so excited for my girl Teresa, she will do great. It’s a blessing for us to have [the WNBA team] in Toronto.” Ujiri went on to informally introduce Tyla Flexman as the new VP.

Darko Rajakovic

Darko began his presser by first acknowledging the 30th anniversary before diving into the word of the day: Rebuilding. “You’re starting year one of our rebuild. We have a very young core, we have guys that we believe in, and we have work to do.”

On defensive identity, “This year, I think we have a clean slate, and we’re going to start to build our foundation starting now.” He then went on to introduce a fun acronym, M.I.G. = Most Important Guy (defender guarding the ballhandler).

On minicamps, ““We wanted this summer to have checkpoints with our players. Also wanted to have team bonding opportunities.”

On what he learned from last season, “How to manage time. How to manage a lot of people. It comes down to more or less 50 people that you need to manage every single day. Most important thing was creating processes. Last year was about getting to know each other. This year, I really want to have my coaching staff to own more things.”

On 30th anniversary, “We understand what we do and what we represent and who we represent every single day. To educate my players, embrace the community. I wanted them (players) to see Toronto during the summer as well. This is an amazing city, (with) amazing people, amazing fan base, and that just brings extra motivation for us.”

On building a foundation during a rebuilding season, “The most important thing is going to be not skipping any steps.”

On expectations of the rookies, “There will be times when they will be on the roster. Times when those guys will be in the rotation, maybe starting. There’s going to also be times when those guys will need to go to the 905. So, there has to be a good balance there.”

On RJ Barrett, “I’m very proud of him. He was the player that played with a lot of passion and love, and then you could see the way he owned and played for the Canadian National Team. I know how much pride he takes representing the Toronto Raptors. All the work that he put in this summer, I think it’s going to set him up for even more success and hopefully less discussions about his efficiency.”

Scottie Barnes

Scottie on what he worked on this summer, “Working on my communication skills. Growing into that leader.”

On mindset during a rebuilding season, “Take your time. Don’t get frustrated throughout the season, throughout the ups and downs. Of course, we want to win….it just takes time.”

On what he worked on (on the court), “Working on shot creation, getting off the dribble, working on different sets, getting to the basket, efficiency, getting the ball to my teammates”

On how he’s communicated with the team throughout the summer, “It’s just about trying to bring these guys together. We didn’t have a full season under our belt. We got a lot of new faces, a lot of new people. So, it all started this summer, just building this chemistry with our team and just trying to grown from there.”

On his personal goals this season, “It’s great to be an All-Star, All-NBA……(but) we win first, all those things will come into play.”

Scottie reference Garrett Temple when asked about who he models himself after as he develops his leadership skills.

On whether or not things feel more settled this season, with the rebuilding direction chosen and his contract situation settled, “I felt like everything was settled last year. We’re tight…..really connected.”

Immanuel Quickley

IQ stepped to the podium with more energy and excitement than anyone else (so far) this morning. When asked about whether or not this day matches the vibes of the first day of school, Quickley is — ahem — quick to point out that his mother was a teacher.

On his contract, “It’s definitely a big deal in the fact that (the franchise and I) are on the same page, and they believe in me. As far as who I am, I don’t think it changed me at all.”

Quickley must have been listening to Darko’s presser because he echoed the coach’s thoughts on the team’s process this season, “I don’t skip steps. I take my work seriously in the off-season. I don’t take it for granted”

On what the transition has been like since being traded to Toronto, “[The trade] is probably one of the best things to ever happen to me, I’m excited to take advantage of that.”

On what he’s learned about taking over the point position, “Just being able to go back and actually watch it, and being able to learn from trial and error…seeing where those guys like the ball, how I can help them, even taking time with Jak after practice, like pick-and-roll….making the effort to perfect it in a way.”

Masai Ujiri (part 2)

With the tragic news of Dikembe Mutombo losing his battle with brain cancer and passing away, Ujiri was invited back to the podium to share his thoughts.

Ujiri was visibly saddened as he returned to the microphone, “He made us who we are. That guy is a giant. Who are we without Dikembe Mutombo? To Mutombo’s family….the biggest giant that you could ever find. Biggest heart. I know he’ll rest well. His family will be fine. He did so much for the continent of Africa.

He took me (under his) wings in Denver, and made me grow as a person.

I’m proud that I knew Dikembe Mutombo. I’m proud that I worked with him. I’m proud that he mentored me. I’m proud that I did a lot of work with him, traveled around the continent of Africa.”

“You can’t imagine going to Dikembe Mutombo’s village with him, and the hero that he is in (his city), the hero he is in Africa.”

“We talk about Dikembe Mutombo with great pride and (there’s) nobody — nobody — like that guy. Nobody. Trust me.”

RJ Barrett

On the announcement that Vince Carter will have his jersey retired this season, “I mean, (we) had to have seen that coming at some point. He’s a legend for what he’s done for the game…for multiple generations. His impact is huge.” He went on to reference several Canadians who have felt VC’s impact, from Kelly Olynyk to Tristan Thompson, even calling out Benedict Mathuring and Shaedon Sharpe.

On what he learned with the Canadian national team, “Nothing different. I didn’t really do anything different.”

On riding the momentum from playing at the Olympics, “I’m always in rhythm. So, I played a lot this summer.”

On the importance of joining the team in Spain right after the Olympics, “It’s the Raptors, man. It’s my team…my home. I wanted to be there with my teammates. We have a lot of new faces coming in. Just continuing to try to build relationships with people here, and continue to learn the system.

On a funny interaction with Darko, “Do you like him? (Looking at Quickley, pointing to Barrett) Do you like him? (Looking at Barrett, pointing to Quickley) Then pass each other the ball!”

Jakob Poeltl

On defensive identity, “Try to be as disruptive as possible. We just don’t want whoever is handling the ball to be comfortable. Just making them go to their second or third option is going to be the goal.”

On building chemistry with Quickley, “We had a couple of times after practice, we would just get together, the two of us, with a couple of coaches, and just go through some reps. We had a little bit of time in Miami. We’re actually working out with the same trainers….just (needing) a little bit more experience.”

On playing for a rebuilding team at this point in his career, “For a team to be fun and desirable, doesn’t have to be a championship contender every single year. It’s more about the mindset and focus that we have as a team.”

“I think we can have really positive experiences just based on how we develop, how we improve over the year. We don’t need to win every single game for us to have a positive outlook at the end of the season. I think we put ourselves in a position where we can surprise a bunch of people, where we can exceed expectations.”

Kelly Olynyk

On training camp in Spain and why he joined the team directly after the Olympics, “I need to get with these guys and start to build some chemistry, some continuity, some connectivity, and really start to gel.”

On Darko, “He knows basketball. He comes from a European background, which is a different style of basketball, where everybody kind of moves and touches the ball, and you play through big guys and to facilitate a little more. As we build here another year in his system, guys will start to get more comfortable.”

On Vince Carter’s effect, “He broke some barriers. You’re seeing a lot of kids who — I mean me — were in their backyards trying to emulate what he did on the court. That effect is huge.”

On the 30th anniversary, “When you grow up and dream of playing in the NBA….you want to play professionally but your real dream is playing for the Raptors…..childhood dream becoming a reality and coming to fruition is playing for the Raptors in their 30th year, a monumental year.”

On the growth of Canadian basketball, “You’re not only seeing the impact of Toronto, but you’re seeing it coast to coast. People wanting to play basketball growing up playing basketball, gravitating towards basketball in a place that used to be predominantly hockey.”

Gradey Dick

On first offseason after rookie year, “A lot less stress, no anxiety. It’s a different feeling. I still have a Garrett Temple pushing me throughout the season and just allowing me to learn with him….it’s been amazing.”

On his improved shooting in the second half, specifically on more difficult shots, Gradey quickly referenced advice he received from Garrett Temple, “In a season of 82 games, preparation is key.”

On the possibility of playing with the starters, “I’m going to try my best to be in the position that the team needs. It’s not me pushing my agenda. It’s really the role that I need to fill. The main goal this whole season is just to win. Winning solves a lot.”

On what he’s learned so far and hoping to grow this season, “Obviously there’s going to be bumps in the road. I feel like I’ve gotten better. Coach Darko gave me advice of ‘just go out there and play your game. You’re here for a reason.’ And once I fully dove into that, I just kind of understood that when I’m having fun, I’m playing better.”