Official 2022-23 Toronto Raptors Yearbook

RAPTORS

TORONTO RAPTORS 2022/23 OFFICIAL YEARBOOK

President: Ritch Bremner

Vice President, Sales: Matthew Barron

Account Executive: Jeff Kerlow

Accounting/Production: Carson Bremner

Executive Editor: Joel Goodman

Design: Costa Leclerc Design Inc.

Photography: Toronto Raptors

Contributing Writers: Julia Kreuz

Prepress and Printing: Mi5

Founding Partner: Jim Reed

If you have any comments about the 2022/23 Official Yearbook, please write to Joel Goodman, Core Media Inc., 15 Toronto St., #304, Toronto, Canada, M5C 2E3. For

carson@coremedia.ca.

THE RAPTORS POINT FORWARD WITH AN ATHLETICALLY GIFTED FORMULA

BY JOEL GOODMAN

The Toronto Raptors may look a bit unorthodox by NBA standards, but the vision is clear: find an athlete who has what it takes to be part of a winning culture and help him thrive. Stars Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam came into the picture that way. And the confidence Canada has in Vice Chairman and President Masai Ujiri and GM Bobby Webster remains high. The Raptors have expressed a willingness to nurture their young talent until it's time to roar; that moment may morph quickly if the team makes a ninth playoff appearance in 10 years.

The Toronto Raptors know they can compete with a returning roster mainly intact, but they want to keep climbing to new heights in 2022-23. Last season’s defence took time to solidify. But when it did, Toronto went 34-17 with the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating from New Year’s Eve onward. The expectation is that familiarity within will elevate all the defensive systems and rotations with greater consistency.

On offence, the team knows improvements need to be made in the shooting department. Growth spurts were evident, when Toronto ranked in the NBA’s top-six in three-point percentage eight games into this season.

Getting the ball in the hands of Pascal Siakam is central to success. The forward’s 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the second game of the season suggested big production was ahead for a man chasing First-Team All-NBA aspirations.

The Douala, Cameroon, native’s motor has always stood out since Raptors president Masai Ujiri first laid eyes on him at the Basketball Without Borders Camp in Africa. Flying under the radar and then showing what that motor can do is in the forward’s basketball DNA. From prep school to New Mexico State to becoming a first-round steal in the 2016 draft (27th overall), Pascal has steadily propelled into a star.

Heading into this season, he sat fourth in scoring, third in rebounds and eighth in assists among his draft class peers. His win shares (thru six seasons) measured comparable to past and present NBAers like Gordon Hayward, Danny Manning and Alex English. That’s good company for a guy who started playing the game at 16.

As a pro, the forward started it all by breaking out in what is today the G League, winning a championship with Raptors 905 and earning the finals MVP.

Receiving the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2018-19, he has developed into a two-time All-NBA player, an All-Star and a champion.

That’s not to say Siakam’s success hasn’t come without adversity, far from it. Suggestions about his struggles in the NBA COVID bubble a few seasons ago were harsh. And his recovery from a shoulder injury spilled into the start of last season. Siakam has undoubtedly come a long way to become a leader within the franchise. And his time to shine the brightest appears to be happening now.

“I feel like Pascal’s been killing it,” Scottie Barnes said after the Raptors hammered Atlanta back in October. “I feel like he should be in that question of being MVP with the level he’s playing at.”

The 139-109 win over the Hawks was another early indicator that Siakam will attack the season with vigour: pumping out 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks to notch his fifth double-double within the first seven games.

And when it comes to star leadership, “Spicy P” certainly isn’t alone.

Steering everything from the backcourt, Fred VanVleet’s development parallels Siakam’s. Only VanVleet went undrafted in 2016 and gutted his way to a rookie free agent contract. He also made his mark in the G League, has an All-Star next to his name and a title ring of his own to polish.

If there was a protégé within the Kyle Lowry era in Toronto, it was VanVleet. When Lowry left, after his historic nine-year run, it was Fred’s time to take the keys to the backcourt. And he did as expected, averaging career-highs across the board last season. Now the only concern is finding the 28-year-old some rest.

For Fred to catch some wind, others must step up and handle the ball. Beyond VanVleet, veterans are hard to find in the Raptors’ backcourt. Gary Trent Jr. got off to a great scoring start in his fifth NBA season, but he’s more suited as a scorer off the ball, and still just 23 years old. Dalano and Malachi Flynn are certainly two young options to

manage the point. But perhaps a “point-forward” could prove to be the best solution of all.

Drafted 4th overall, last season Scottie Barnes came in and immediately proved he’s NBA-ready. Becoming the third Raptor in franchise history to earn the league’s Rookie of the Year honour, Barnes kept growing as the Raptors powered their way into the postseason with the fifth-best record in the East (48-34).

Barnes could become the most prominent blade on a squad full of jackknifes, highlighted by his unrelenting defence, great court vision and ball-handling. He showed last year that he owns all the tools in the toolbox to be great at the NBA level, with an undeniable work ethic to match. Barnes put some keen focus into his shooting over the summer, which showed early returns. But at 21, any shots he knocks down are all gravy to go with his ability to guard anyone on the floor.

In a league dominated by stars that can shoot from the outside, the Raptors have stocked up on big-winged forwards to swarm around and make life difficult for opposing teams to score.

Like Siakam and Barnes, Precious Achiuwa and

PRECIOUS ACHIUWA AND O.G.

ANUNOBY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS RESOURCES DEFENSIVELY. BOTH PLAYERS ARE STILL DEVELOPING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, FITTING WITH THE RAPTORS PLAN.

O.G. Anunoby have been tremendous resources defensively. Both players are still developing in their own right, fitting with the Raptors plan.

“I think we made a commitment to grow,” Masai Ujiri told the media heading into this season. “We’re a young team, a young growing team. Even our veterans are young veterans in the league, with Freddy [VanVleet], Pascal [Siakam], O.G. [Anunoby]; I think in this organization we’ve always wanted to preach patience. We want to win. We’re expecting to win, but we can’t react to what’s going on in the league. Yeah, we see other teams. We study all of that. But in terms of our plan, it’s to grow our young players and continue to develop and see where that takes us.”

O.G. has worked and seized his moment, becoming key contributor within the starting rotation. Everyone knows he was another Raptors’ steal on draft night (23rd overall in 2017). Hopefully, the deflection and steals artist receives better luck on the injury front, after appearing in just 48 games last season. The pure athleticism and growth of Anunoby is perhaps the template for Achiuwa’s future.

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It’s hard to discredit the physical capabilities within Achiuwa’s six-foot-eight frame. The 23-year-old helped the Raptors become stronger protecting their end of the floor in the second half of last season. And as he refines his game, the forward’s quick feet and explosiveness are tantalizing assets to consider for the future. While he flourishes defensively, the next step is getting to the rim and consistently finishing on offence.

Canadian Chris Boucher is a little older at 29, but like Achiuwa, consistency is vital. The Canadian’s game has undoubtedly grown to be trusted as a great inside/outside scramble defender. He even flashed more shooting range over the last few seasons. In his fifth season as a Raptor, Boucher is expected to offer his regular lift off the bench once again.

Up front, veteran forward Thaddeus Young and Montreal native Khem Birch are back to offer added experience. And the notable additions of Otto Porter Jr. and Juancho Hernangómez certainly keep with the team’s desire to improve perimeter shooting and overall depth.

Youngsters like Justin Champagnie, Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Ron Harper Jr. earned spots in the organization based on solid preseason performances. But the freshest face to make an impact early in 2022-23 has been rookie centre Christian Koloko.

The 33rd overall pick received some early starts and showed he will not be intimidated on the physical front. Koloko has the size and speed needed for the NBA. And he will continue to receive minutes with a willingness to muscle some of the league’s most imposing big men.

The Raptors aren’t an NBA cookie-cutter squad, that’s by design. This team just hands talent to Nick Nurse, one of the most creative coaches in the game, and lets him make a masterpiece. The formula features a glut of interchangeable players that aren’t skyscrapers by NBA standards, but supreme athletic talents that can shine through on any given night. Toronto’s youth, depth and championship experience are all solid ingredients everyone hopes can solidify for a nice postseason run in 2022-23.

BUT THE FRESHEST FACE TO MAKE AN IMPACT EARLY IN 2022-23 HAS BEEN ROOKIE CENTRE CHRISTIAN KOLOKO

SCOTTIE BARNES

REPRESENTS TORONTO’S DYNAMIC FUTURE

BY JOEL GOODMAN

In the summer of 2021 the Toronto Raptors were still smarting from a 12th-place finish in the Eastern Conference. With the imminent departure of franchise cornerstone Kyle Lowry, the team’s brass knew they had to get the fourth overall selection in the NBA Draft right. Sifting through a class loaded with talent, Toronto prevailed with Scottie Barnes, the 2021-22 Rookie of the Year. Barnes has the underpinnings of a pro built for a winning culture. He not only represents a new layer of excitement around the team today but faith in the future. If the Raptors are to meet the expectation of reaching a ninth playoff appearance in 10 years, current stars in their respective primes, like Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, will have to shoulder big loads. Both veterans carry the clout that comes with All-Stars and championship rings. Meanwhile, Barnes is just starting to accumulate his own Raptors equity. Names like Carter and Lowry helped plant potent basketball seeds within the nation. And the 21-year-old Barnes might be the right player to propel the game to a whole new level.

High draft picks can make or break a team’s decade in the NBA. And if the mock drafts played out as predicted, Scottie Barnes would be a member of the Magic, the team that selected No. 5 behind Toronto in the 2021 NBA Draft. It’s not like the Raptors went off the board with the highest pick they held since 2006 when they took Barnes at No. 4. They saw the makings of a Raptor they couldn’t pass up.

Now into his second season, Canada is happy. And Barnes has the chops to become an NBA star. He brings the athletic prowess, personality and poise to succeed. There’s just one problem, nobody knows what position he plays. He might be listed as a forward, but that’s a formality placed next to the reality.

“Honestly, can you tell what that guy is going to be? He’s one of those players of the future. I don’t know how to describe it,” says Raptors Vice Chairman and President Masai Ujiri. “Who knows what position he plays? He just plays basketball. He’s an incredible player and wants to win. He’s also an incredible teammate and person, who’s so dynamic on the court. Growing pains will come as usual, but you saw in him [last year] somebody committed to winning.”

The short answer to describe Barnes: he’s a position-less Swiss army knife. Even the president is hard-pressed to explain his talent.

Barnes was NBA-ready on defence from the start. By game two he went into Boston, busted out a 25-point, 13-rebound performance, and then scored in double figures through his first eight games. And in March, he made headlines with a season-high 31-point and 17-rebound effort against LeBron and the Lakers.

At 20-years-old he started all 74 games he appeared in, averaging 15.3 points and 35.4 minutes a night. And by the end his numbers aligned with Toronto’s former ROY recipients.

In 1998-99 Vince Carter averaged 18.3 points and 35.2 minutes to win the honour. And before that, Damon Stoudamire produced 19 points in 40.9 minutes in 1995-96. Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, another former fourth overall pick by Toronto, didn’t win the top rookie award in 2004. That went to King James. But CB4 averaged 11.5 points in 33.5 minutes and was the only one to match Scottie’s 7.5 rebounds a night as a rookie.

The 2021-22 season saw Barnes eventually pull away from his first-year peers. He left any noise of passing on Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs in the draft behind as well. Suggs is a good player, averaging 11.8 points a night last season. But he’s not a unique entity like Barnes.

Cleveland’s Evan Mobley is the closest thing to it. The third overall

... WHEN THEY TOOK BARNES AT NO. 4. THEY SAW THE MAKINGS OF A RAPTOR THEY COULDN’T PASS UP.

pick packaged together a solid campaign, averaging 15 points. He even out-rebounded Barnes with 8.3 a game. Mobley is a sevenfooter with athleticism that can lock things up on D. That’s why he went third. Still, he’s not Barnes.

Like Mobley, Barnes has a seven-four wingspan. He played the most minutes of any rookie last season, ranked third in rebounding and top-five in assists, steals, and blocks. He earned the Rookie of the Month honour twice down the stretch of the regular season. No one else in the East did that. And he rarely looked out of place when tasked with matching up against some of the game’s biggest stars.

“I didn’t have expectations going into my first season, I just tried to be myself, take things one game at a time and try to win,” says Barnes. Everything that came with winning was just me playing hard.”

Everyone kept wondering what he was on the floor as he handled the ball, dished it off or drove to the cup. On defence, he’d box out and pinned down opponents or stick to them like Velcro around the perimeter.

“I feel like I can do it all, I can play any position,” he says. “So I don’t really try to limit myself to one position. But I’d say I’ve always viewed myself as a point guard in a sense. That’s why I went to Florida State. They promised me I’d play the point guard spot with that team. But it really doesn’t matter what the position is.”

Florida State is a program that has reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen three of the past five years. Leonard Hamilton is a pull-no-punches coach. He’s helped 20 players hear their names called on NBA draft night. There were plenty of other colleges courting Barnes: Kentucky, Duke, Kansas and Ohio State, to name a few. But the West Palm Beach, Florida native stayed in state. He chose the tough love from Hamilton, even if it meant coming off the Seminoles’ bench.

Barnes answered the bell, averaging 10.3 points and 4.1 assists on the way to earning Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year honours. And on the defensive end, he was a force, collecting 35 steals and 11 blocks in 24 games.

After one season on campus, Barnes was ready; He made his mark on the school’s record books and won the ACC’s Sixth Man of Year with a Third-Team All-ACC to go with it. So he Joined Dave Cowens and Patrick Williams to become one of three Seminoles selected No. 4 overall to the NBA, the highest pick in school history. Barnes may have been the fourth one-and-done player from the program to reach the NBA. But that doesn’t mean he left the value of scholastics behind. He just applied himself to education in a new manner.

... BARNES HAS A SEVEN-FOUR WINGSPAN. HE PLAYED THE MOST MINUTES OF ANY ROOKIE LAST SEASON ...

He quickly teamed up with the Skilled Trades College of Canada to launch a new Scottie Barnes Scholarship. The award’s framework offers Black and Indigenous students a chance to begin a career in the skilled trades. It’s something that struck a chord with Barnes. He respects the hard-working mentality of the industry and wants others to have the opportunity to develop their own work ethic.

“I felt it was important to give back to the community here in some way,” he said upon the scholarship’s introduction. “I feel it’s important to do other things in life (beyond basketball). We need people that can build houses and put things together. When I went to the organization that importance really caught my attention.”

Scottie’s positive attitude and friendly demeanour are soft skills that make those around him feel at ease. But he seems to be able to flip himself into a competitive pile driver out on the court when it’s show time.

“I don’ t back down for anybody. It ’s about how tough you are, what you ’ re willing to do. I ’ m willing to do all the hard things out there,” Barnes said when he was drafted. “I ’ m pretty tough on the floor; I have grit and don’ t get bullied.”

Listed at six-foot-eight, Barnes possesses the physique of a Raptor but brings a court vision few can match. His instincts without the ball also make him a dangerous threat wherever he is on the floor.

Defensively, he contains and protects the perimeter, locks down the weak side and sticks like glue on pretty much anyone. From there, he’ll move down into the paint and muscle around. His shot was questioned coming in. But the Raptors are likely to benefit anyway, if Scottie gets to the rim more often than relying on mid-range jumpers.

A sponge for learning every corner of the game, this season he’s already engaged in more pick-and-roll scenarios. And he’s going to get his hands on the ball even more moving more. With a third-year contract option already picked up, it’s all about to hit like a wave rolling in from Lake Ontario.

“I’m not really going to overthink things,” said Barnes heading into his second season. “I know how I can impact the game at both ends of the floor, and I know I can play defence at a really high level. I want to take the next step there (defensively) and just try to add things to my game offensively.”

After last season’s unveiling, fans remain stunned. Many out there still remember what Carter meant to the team in the early

A SPONGE FOR LEARNING EVERY CORNER OF THE GAME

2000s. And the team’s brass continues to absorb the immediate impact a player like Barnes can have on the franchise.

In 2009 DeMar DeRozan came in and averaged 8.6 points a night. That was 12 years ago, and DeRozan’s big first jump actually came in year two. DeMar eventually developed into a five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBAer who has since registered over 20,000 points. Barnes has more tools in the toolbox early on.

Last year the rookie forward became a central component within Toronto’s second half push. The team eventually finished fifth in the East (48-34) before colliding with Philly in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Barnes was on his way to a triple-double when Joel Embiid crushed his ankle in Game 1 of the playoffs. He returned by Game 4, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds to limp through the final three games of the series.

It won’t come easy if opposing NBA teams think they can break down and expose this player’s youth. In the offseason Barnes spent considerable time working on new pull-up techniques, got lots of shots up, worked on catch-and-shoot situations, and kept sculpting his body. He’s got more in store for the league, and his eyes on ultimate success: championships, defensive accolades and All-Star teams are all on his radar.

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IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT POSITION SCOTTIE BARNES PLAYS; HE’S JUST A DYNAMIC RAPTOR.

THE WORK WITHIN CONTINUES FOR

Ten seasons into their partnership, Teresa Resch and the Toronto Raptors have clearly evolved with the times. But neither the club nor its vice president of basketball operations believes that they’re near some kind of finish line.

BY JULIA KREUZ

AND THE TERESA RESCH

As the NBA becomes more diverse and the Raptors quickly consolidate a new era of talent and championship contention, Resch can also reflect on how much her role within the club has expanded since she joined Masai Ujiri’s front office back in 2013.

And while it can serve as an incentive to look at how things are compared to how they were a decade ago, the real fuel is in knowing that the work is nowhere near done.

“When I first started, I was one of the very few women working in a senior leadership position on the team on the technical side,” Resch said. “And now you see it more commonly across all the different technical departments. … I think that’s really important. It’s definitely impacted the culture of our team, and I’m sure others as well.

“But I’m sure that, as it is evident in society in general, there’s still a large gap [of opportunities between men and women]. And that’s something that we have to continue to be mindful of and continue to work at. By no means does anybody think that we’ve arrived.”

That mentality has proven useful, both in winning an NBA championship and throughout Resch’s career.

Before joining the Raptors, she spent four-anda-half years in the NBA’s head office in New York, working on Basketball Without Borders and its several clinics in different countries over Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. A couple of years after that, Resch, who grew up in Minnesota, moved to Toronto to join Ujiri in his championship vision.

It may seem like a daunting move, but Resch is no stranger to expanding her horizons.

“I like that feeling of the unknown, almost,” she said. “Like, we’re going to work towards these goals and plan for these things. But ultimately you know that you have to adjust and pivot and be ready for anything.”

That ability to embrace change, paired with

unparalleled attention to detail and pragmatism, proved pivotal in Resch’s ascension through the NBA ranks.

“It was never a goal of mine to work in professional sports, and never a goal to work in the NBA,” she said. “But I put myself in the position, through graduate school, volunteer opportunities and internships, to be exposed to more things. Ultimately, it exposed me to the people that were running basketball operations at the NBA.”

Over and over through the years, when opportunity knocked, she answered.

“I’d never visited New York City until the day I moved there,” said Resch. “So it was, an adjustment. But I think the challenge of it was something that I relished.”

That’s why the prospect of working for a team dead set on winning it all fit in nicely with Resch’s goals and core values.

“My role has changed immensely since 10 seasons ago, when I started,” Resch said. “First, it was focused on how do we build a winning team, organization and culture, identifying the things that we needed.”

The requirements for that sort of endeavour, it turns out, are extremely broad — from building a state-of-the-art practice facility to re-thinking injury

rehab programs, scouting players and developing a pipeline of talent.

In one way or another, Resch has had a hand in all of it.

“[I’ve been] sort of the daily resource for players and personnel,” she said. “Taking a more strategic view.”

“That’s the biggest thing. You get an opportunity, you want to make sure that you perform. And I think that’s something all the women that work with the Raptors, for sure, and across the industry are very cognizant of. And ultimately, we want to be rewarded for the great job we’re doing. And not [simply] that we’re women in these roles.”

Resch was one of 14 women in the Raptors’ operation at the time of the championship, something she acknowledges as progress, but no reason for a pat on the back.

It’s undeniable, however, that the NBA has led the way as professional sports leagues became more aware of diversity and inclusion.

“We’ve come to a point now where the players expect to see a wide variety of people that they’re working with on a day-to-day basis,” said Resch. “And in some ways we’re only catching up to what their expectations already are.”

ALONG CAME THE HARDWARE.

Resch received a championship ring as part of the Raptors’ front office when head coach Nick Nurse and his team took down the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals. It almost seems like each of the diamonds encrusted in the piece could represent a different aspect of the executive’s work. And that’s still true today.

“To have success in an industry like sports, you really have to give your whole self to it,” Resch said. “And sometimes that’s really, really hard. Because you’re also trying to find a balance. It’s not for everyone, but for those who relish in that and those who find joy in those things, it’s a very rewarding space.”

HOW HAS RESCH BEEN ABLE TO FORGE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL PATH AMID SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL HURDLES?

“Just doing my job really well,” she said, earnestly.

It may be easy to tokenize a concept such as diversity and inclusion, but there are clear benefits in widening one’s search when it comes to identifying talent and intellect.

“It’s a space that anyone can be part of,” said Resch. “Even if you don’t see someone who looks like you, or you feel like there’s not a space for you, I think if you have that passion, and you have that commitment, and you have ability to kind of think outside the box and think differently, be a contributor and add value on a daily basis, somebody will recognize that and you’ll have a place.”

Resch seems to have found her place in Toronto.

Now a Canadian citizen, she met Ujiri during her years in New York, contributing to a program that has been near to the Raptors’ president’s heart for years.

Working on Basketball Without Borders allowed Resch to see things from new vantage points. More than identifying generational talents, the program also encouraged kids to develop life skills and learn more about different cultures or ways of living. The initiative brought NBA coaches and players to

serve as clinicians and assist young athletes in those goals, all while players from different locations interacted on and off the court.

“Being able to be engaged in those different cultures was really great,” said Resch. “[It’s] a place in the world that, without basketball, I probably would have never had the opportunity to travel to.”

MORE THAN A NEW EXPERIENCE, IT WAS A RESPONSIBILITY.

The Raptors’ strong ties to Basketball Without Borders may start with Ujiri and Resch, but they certainly don’t end there, as superstar Pascal Siakam and rookie Christian Koloko are both alumni from the program in Africa, alongside Philadelphia 76ers forward Joel Embiid.

It all comes back to the advantages of broadening horizons on the search for talent.

“Continuing to identify ways that we can gain some sort of competitive advantage in the development of our team, development of our players, is really important,” said Resch. “[We’re] investing in our team, and the players and the people that

surround them, so that they can really feel supported and in the right environment.”

That has been the philosophy since she joined in 2013, during which time the Raptors have only missed the playoffs once, going from a team that had never made the Eastern Conference Finals to the juggernaut that it is today. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a top-to-bottom winning mentality.

“[Our staff is] the best,” said Resch. “There’s a reason why we’ve been successful. It’s all about the people. It’s been a great experience in a wonderful city. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”

It’s precisely because the game of basketball is ever-changing — and predicting its tendencies can be both thrilling and frustrating — that Resch has found a long-term home with the Raptors.

Conversely, as the game evolves and doors are kicked open, the ultimate goal remains the same.

“Masai says it over and over again: we’re here to win,” said Resch. “We may have won one championship, but I think that’s ultimately why we play the game.”

MANAGEMENT & COACHING STAFF

Masai Ujiri, Vice-Chairman, Team President, Alternate NBA Governor

Nick Nurse, Head Coach

Adrian Griffin, Assistant Coach

Trevor Gleeson, Assistant Coach

Earl Watson, Assistant Coach

Jim Sann, Assistant Coach

Nathaniel Mitchell, Assistant Coach

Jon Goodwillie, Assistant Coach

Bobby Webster, General Manager

Dan Tolzman, Assistant General Manager / Vice-President, Player Personnel Teresa Resch, Vice-President, Basketball Operations & Player Development

Nate Bjorkgren, Assistant Coach

Rico Hines, Assistant Coach

John Corbacio, Head Video Coordinator/ Assistant Coach

Michael Prenger, Shooting Coach

Jamaal Magloire, Basketball Development Consultant & Community Ambassador

Fabulous Flournoy, Assistant Video Coordinator/Player Development

Jordan Walker, Assistant Video Coordinator

2022 -2023 TORONTO RAPTORS

PRECIOUS ACHIUWA 5

FORWARD

HT: 6' 8"

WT: 233 LB

Born: September 19, 1999

Birthplace: Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Precious Achiuwa was originally drafted by the Miami Heat 20th overall in the 2020 NBA draft. After one season of playing for the Heat Achiuwa was traded to the Raptors on August 6, 2021. He was included with Goran Dragic in the trade that sent Raptors legend Kyle Lowry to the Heat.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

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ANUNOBY

FORWARD

HT: 6' 7"

WT: 240 LB

Born: July 17, 1997

Birthplace: London, England

O.G. Anunoby is now entering his sixth season with the Toronto Raptors since being drafted 23rd overall by the team in 2017. Last season saw many career highs for Anunoby, including minutes per game (36.0), points per game (17.1), and assists per game (2.6).

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

RAPTORS 2022-23 OFFICIAL YEARBOOK

BANTON

GUARD

HT: 6' 7"

WT: 200 LB

Born: November 7, 1999

Birthplace: Toronto, ON

Dalano Banton was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors 46th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Banton became the first ever Canadian drafted by the Raptors. And he’s one of three current Raptors raised in Canada (along with Khem Birch and Chris Boucher).

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

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SCOTTIE BARNES 4

GUARD - FORWARD

HT: 6' 8"

WT: 232 LB

Born: August 1, 2001

Birthplace: West Palm Beach, FL

Scottie Barnes had an outstanding rookie season for the Raptors last year.

Amongst all rookies in the NBA Barnes was first in minutes played per game (35.4), third in points per game (15.3), and third in rebounds per game (7.5). Barnes was named Rookie of the Year and became the third ever Raptor to win the award. The other Raptors to win Rookie of the Year are Vince Carter in 1999 and Damon Stoudamire in 1996.

BARNES 4

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

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CHRIS BOUCHER 25

FORWARD

HT: 6' 9"

WT: 200 LB

Born: January 11, 1993

Birthplace: Castries, Saint Lucia

Chris Boucher was originally undrafted and signed with the Golden State Warriors on July 14, 2017. He played one game for the Warriors before being waived on June 22, 2018. The Raptors signed him as a free agent on July 20, 2018. Boucher is now entering his fifth season with the Raptors and on July 7th, 2022 he signed a three-year extension.

BOUCHER 25

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

JEFF DOWTIN JR.

GUARD

HT: 6' 3"

WT: 176 LB

Born: May 10, 1997

Birthplace: Upper Marlboro, MD

Jeff Dowtin Jr. was originally undrafted and has worked in the NBA G League over the past two seasons. In his first season in the NBA G League (2020-21) he played for the Lakeland Magic, where he won the G League championship. After more G League action and stints with three different NBA teams last year, he joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2022 NBA Summer League. Shortly after he signed a two-way contract with the Raptors on July 19, 2022.

20 DOWTIN JR.

FLYNN

GUARD

HT: 6' 1"

WT: 176 LB

Born: May 9, 1998

Birthplace: Tacoma, WA

Malachi Flynn was drafted 29th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He appeared with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League and the Raptors during the 2020-21 season. The guard was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April of 2021. And last year he appeared in 44 games with the Raptors.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

MALACHI FLYNN

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HARPER JR.

GUARD - FORWARD

HT: 6' 5"

WT: 242 LB

Born: April 12, 2000

Birthplace: Franklin Lakes, NJ

Ron Harper Jr. went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft and was signed by the Toronto Raptors last July. He spent the previous four years playing in the NCAA for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Harper is the son of former NBAer Ron Harper who played 15 seasons and won five NBA championships.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

RON HARPER JR.

JUANCHO HERNANGÓMEZ 41

FORWARD

HT: 6' 9"

WT: 216 LB

Born: September 28, 1995

Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Juancho Hernangómez had a busy season last year playing for three different NBA teams. He played 18 games for the Boston Celtics, five games for the San Antonio Spurs, and 17 games for the Utah Jazz. On July 28, 2022

Hernangómez signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors. On top of his work in the NBA the forward made his acting debut last year for a film called Hustle, where he starred alongside Adam Sandler and Queen Latifah.

HERNANGÓMEZ 41

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

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KOLOKO

CENTRE

HT: 7' 0"

WT: 217 LB

Born: June 20, 2000

Birthplace: Douala, Cameroon

In the 2022 NBA Draft the Toronto Raptors selected Christian Koloko 33rd overall. The 7' 0" centre is coming off a big year with the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA. As a junior, Koloko was the winner of the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Pac-12 Most Improved Player and was named to the All Pac-12 First Team.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

CHRISTIAN KOLOKO

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PORTER JR.

FORWARD

HT: 6' 8"

WT: 224 LB

Born: June 3, 1993

Birthplace: Saint Louis, MO

Last season Otto Porter Jr. won his first NBA championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors. The forward played 19 games for the Warriors during their playoff run. He then signed a two-year deal with the Raptors on July 6, 2022. This marks the Georgetown product’s 10th NBA season. He was originally selected third overall by Washington in the 2013 NBA Draft.

OTTO PORTER JR.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

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CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

SIAKAM

FORWARD

HT: 6' 8"

WT: 238 LB

Born: April 2, 1994

Birthplace: Douala, Cameroon

Last season started later than usual for Pascal Siakam, coming off surgery on his left shoulder. He made his season debut on November 7, 2021. Siakam had not played an NBA game since May 8, 2021. Despite the long break, Siakam was named to the All-NBA Third Team for his work during the 2021-22 season. This was the second All-NBA selection of his career. In 2018-19 the forward became the only Raptor to ever win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

TRENT JR.

GUARD

HT: 6' 5"

WT: 203 LB

Born: January 18, 1999

Birthplace: Columbus, OH

Gary Trent Jr. was originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings 37th overall in the 2018 NBA draft, and later traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. After three seasons in Portland he was traded to the Raptors on March 25, 2021. Trent is the son of former NBA player Gary Trent who spent 9 seasons in the NBA, including 13 games with Toronto in 1997-98.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

GARY TRENT JR.

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VANVLEET 23

GUARD

HT: 6' 0"

WT: 193 LB

Born: February 25, 1994

Birthplace: Rockford, IL

Fred VanVleet had a career year in 2021-22. He was named an NBA All-Star for the first time, becoming the fourth undrafted player in the modern era to make an NBA All-Star team, joining John Starks, Brad Miller, and Ben Wallace. He finished the season with career highs in points, assists, three-pointers and rebounds per game.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

FRED VANVLEET 23

YOUNG

FORWARD

HT: 6' 8"

WT: 226 LB

Born: June 21, 1988

Birthplace: New Orleans, LA

Thaddeus Young is a long time NBA veteran. He is now entering his 16th season having played for seven different NBA teams. Young was acquired by the Raptors from the San Antonio Spurs on February 10, 2022. He played 26 games for the Raptors last year and signed a two-year extension with the team on July 1, 2022.

CAREER STATS PRIOR TO 2022-23 SEASON

THADDEUS YOUNG

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TRIVIA QUESTIONS

In 2022 Fred VanVleet appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game. What city was the game played in?

A. Sacramento

B. Cleveland

C. Chicago

D. Los Angeles

What team originally drafted Gary Trent Jr. in 2018?

A. Utah Jazz

B. Detroit Pistons

C. Sacramento Kings

D. Portland Trail Blazers

Who is the Raptors all-time leader in steals?

A. DeMar DeRozan

B. Alvin Williams

C. Morris Peterson

D. Kyle Lowry

What college basketball team did Raptors head coach Nick Nurse play for?

A. Iowa State

B. Pepperdine

C. Northern Iowa

D. Indiana State

What is the Raptors’ franchise record for wins in a season?

A. 59

B. 58

5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

C. 56

D. 53

TRIVIA

A. Dalano Banton

B. Scottie Barnes

C. David Johnson

D. Malachi Flynn

In 2021-22 Scottie Barnes earned the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award. How many players in franchise history have received the award?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

Who was the only other player to wear No. 43 for the Raptors before Pascal Siakam?

A. John Salmons

B. Kris Humphries

C. Walt Williams

D. Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Who was the first head coach in Raptors history to guide the team to the postseason?

A. Butch Carter

B. Sam Mitchell

C. Lenny Wilkens

D. Dwane Casey

10. 9. 8. 7. 6. At the 2022 NBA Draft the Raptors selected Christian Koloko 33rd overall. Who was the last player before that drafted by the Raptors in 2021?

Among the following names to play for the Raptors, which one holds the record for most free throws made in North Carolina Tar Heels history?

A. Danny Green

B. Ed Davis

C. Eric Montross

D. Tyler Hansbrough

10. D. Tyler oughHansbr holds the record for the most free throws in North Carolina Tar Heels history (982)

9. A. Butch Carter guided the Raptors to a first-ever postseason appearance in 1999-00

8. B. Kris Humphries is the only thero Raptor to wear No. 43, from 2006-2009

2021-22)

1998-99 and Scottie Barnes

1995-96, Vince Carter

7. C. Three aptorsR have won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award (Damon Stoudamire

6. C. David Johnson was afteddr by the Raptors 47th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft

5. A. The torsRap won a franchise-high 59 wins in 2017-18

4. C. Nick Nurse edplay his college basketball with the Northern Iowa Panthers

3. D. Kyle wryLo with 873 steals

2. C. Gary entTr Jr. was immediately traded from Sacramento to Portland on draft night, 2018

1. B. Cleveland

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