TORONTO – After one other stable scoring efficiency Toronto Raptors rookie Ja’Kobe Walter nonetheless wished to place the crew first.
Walter had 22 factors to steer Toronto’s offence in a 117-105 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Requested about his improved play after coming back from a strained proper quad on March 23, Walter tried to defer to speaking concerning the Raptors as a complete.
“For myself? Or for the crew?” Walter requested again.
“I believe I’m fairly happy with simply how assured I’m getting on defence,” mentioned Walter. “I believe defensively, I form of ramped it up and altered my complete mindset, realizing that defence will carry into my offence.
“I’m not likely centered on offence as a lot. I simply need to deliver the power defensively.”
Walter has averaged 13.9 factors, 4.1 rebounds and three.3 assists during the last seven video games since he was sidelined. The 20-year-old, who was Toronto’s first-round draft choose this previous summer time, was philosophical about how accidents have damaged up his rookie season.
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“I’m actually simply having fun with the journey,” he mentioned. “If it wasn’t alleged to be that approach from me, then it wouldn’t have been that approach.
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“I’ve form of simply been going with the circulation, nonetheless staying to myself, maintain working. I do know the place I need to be, so I’m simply making an attempt to remain constant day by day.”
Head coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned that Walter has labored exhausting to placed on muscle mass and get stronger over the course of the season and that it’s made a distinction to how the younger guard performs the sport.
“It actually helps him with contact offensively and defensively,” mentioned Rajakovic. “He’s simply fearless on each ends, he’s not shying away of choosing up full-court the first guys on the opposing groups.
“He can play with a whole lot of power just about each single evening.”
Walter mentioned that including the eight or 9 kilos of muscle is useful in Toronto’s bruising model of defence.
“We compete, and everyone is aware of that we compete,” mentioned Walter. “We’re bodily, and that’s one thing that we’ve been making an attempt to do all 12 months, make our id that approach.
“I’m simply completely happy the place we’re proper now, and I do know that we’re all going to proceed to develop.”
SHEAD SECOND
Rookie guard Jamal Shead — who got here off Toronto’s bench Friday — had 9 assists to succeed in 290 on the season and surpass Jose Calderon (288) for second-most helpers by a Raptors rookie. Damon Stoudamire’s 653 assists within the 1995-96 season are probably the most by a rookie in crew historical past.
“I believe it’s fairly cool but additionally a testomony to my teammates,” mentioned Shead in Toronto’s locker room. “I’ve acquired to go them the ball, however they’ve additionally acquired to make the pictures.
“Only a testomony to the work and the chemistry that we have now. I’m actually excited to be part of this group.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 4, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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