torjlopez

It’s the appetizer before the main course, the runway for tantalizing potential and unreasonable expectations. The Toronto Raptors opened their pre-season with a 123-107 drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers and largely teased all that has made them an intriguing bet to surpass all expectations -- as has been custom for the better part of the past decade.

In all the tangible ways, it felt just like pre-season. You had sloppy passes and missed assignments on defence, blown calls from the officiating crew, and a Raptors house that wasn’t filled to the brim. There were players on either side who would’ve likely played with greater stakes, but also plenty of opportunity for new faces to impress.

That’s where a lot of the energy came from for Toronto, so let’s get into the key takeaways of the night:

Nick Nurse has said it time and time again, Barnes is someone who can do a little bit of everything. The rookie finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks and a team-high plus-19 in 25 minutes to stamp home the point.

There were some typically raw, rookie mistakes with a bit of miscommunication on defence or some turnovers, but it was never for a lack of effort. Barnes’ energy is electric and helped spark a major turnaround for the Raptors after a slow start. His ability to apply pressure on the defence and pick a pass was his most appealing attribute on the night, something the league will marvel at when considering his size and strength.

Barnes himself continues to be impressed by the love and support he receives from Raptors fans.

“We had a lot of good moments today,” Barnes said. “The fans showed me a lot of love after the game. I would say that's probably one thing that will probably stick with me, fans showing me a lot of love after the game. We had a lot of fun today. There's a lot of moments that I could describe, but I'll go with that one.”

If one thing became clear about Banton on this night, it’s that it will be a matter of time before he makes his NBA debut. The kid from Rexdale can play. After receiving a nice ovation from crowd, Banton attacked the rim with purpose to finish when he had the opportunity and found teammates with ease as well. He went coast-to-coast for a George Gervin-esque finger roll finish and connected with Barnes on some sweet plays as well.

He may have been even more impressive defensively, staying in front of Philly’s guards and switching onto wing players without a problem, either. His physical strength will have to develop over time, but what he’s got now is plenty to impress Fred VanVleet.

“He can really pass, he knows the game, he knows where guys are at,” VanVleet said. “Playing at that speed it can get a little dangerous at times when you mess up, it's kinda all or nothing. But just that pace is going to take him a long way, you don't have to run many plays, he just gets it and goes full speed and collapses the defence, he's kicking out.

“He's been great for us so far, he had a great training camp, I thought he looked good tonight but just that size and that speed and having his head up and knowing where to find guys and develop as a shooter and as a scorer as time goes on, but Dalano's been great.”

The comments Nurse made about Banton with regard to thinking pass first can easily be applied to Watanabe last season. Even he’s admitted to trying to fit into his role last season a bit too much and deferring to the players with bigger reputations.

Watanabe promised during training camp that those days are over and that he’ll be ready to take his turn in the offence whenever it presents itself and this game was a promising sign. There was absolutely no hesitation whatsoever and several occasions where he took initiative to make something happen for the team either with his own dribble penetration or off-ball cuts to the basket.

Two players with perhaps wait-and-see expectations coming in were Justin Champagnie and Svi Mikhailiuk and both played with plenty of intent and were catalysts in the Raptors’ early comeback. Champagnie has a real understanding of gaps in the defence as well as rebounding position, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Mikhailiuk came in with a bit of a reputation as a three-point shooter, currently above 36 percent for his career, but impressed more with his dribble penetration. He’s got solid pop off the bounce and was very adept at finding the open man once he drew the attention to finish with five assists. He finished with a second-best plus-18 for the game.

Anunoby has been turning heads since Day 1 of his rookie season with his defence and at this point he is a known quantity as a perennial all-defensive team candidate. The question going into his fifth season is straightforward: How much can Anunoby score?

The answer boils down to a couple important keys that can unlock a new level, shooting off the dribble and getting to the foul line. Anunoby finished with 21 points in 25 minutes sporting a more feathery stroke than years past and showing a more improved handle as well.

2021-22 might just be the year we see OG, unlocked.

After 584 days, the Raptors were back at Scotiabank Arena. The last time was a 99-96 loss to the Charlotte Hornets that Anunoby remembered well, but Nurse couldn’t at all and probably for the better.

Over 8,000 fans were in attendance, and while that’s less than half the usual capacity, they made their presence felt and reminded the team it’s a long way from having “home fans” cheer against the team like they did in Tampa.

“I think our guys were excited to play, we were certainly excited to get out there,” Nurse said. “I think the buzz in the place was probably a little bit more than you’re expecting in the preseason. Sometimes in the preseason you’re not moving at that pace, all of us, and that includes the coaches, too. I think there was a good buzz and it helped us with a little pep in our step tonight.”

a-sneak-preview-of-things-to-come

A Sneak Preview Of Things To Come

The reverberations of the hate crime on June 6, 2021 will be felt by London’s Muslim community forever. Purple and green ribbons can be seen on people’s chests as a show of unity around the southwestern Ontario city, and the impact of this despicable act can’t be shaken.

Walking the streets as a Muslim can’t be done without a heightened sense of one’s surroundings. While following culturally traditional or religious customs publicly always came with the awareness that some form of misinformed judgment was possible, that it could be fatal -- here in Ontario, Canada -- is an altogether different proposition and daunting reality. Yet, the Muslim community still looks to represent in the fullest way possible, with both pride and love.

“As muslims, we don’t hate,” Naj Mankal, President of the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario (ICSWO) said. “We have love because, only through love, that’s how you’re going to eliminate hate.”

MLSE and the Toronto Raptors want to show the importance of reciprocating that love and support as a stand against hate and so will hold their annual open practice at London’s Budweiser Gardens on Saturday, Oct. 2 while Maple Leafs alumni will face each other in a game on Sunday.

When John Wiggins, Raptors’ vice-president of organizational culture and inclusion, first learned of the incident, he knew a public statement wasn’t enough. When he went out to visit London, he could feel a somberness in the air whether it be in conversations with people or just the general lack of energy in the city. He and his team have committed themselves to a mantra of showing intent with their actions and so anything other than tangible support wouldn’t have upheld the standard the organization hopes to maintain.

“If we’re going to position ourselves as champions for social justice, it had to be more than a statement,” Wiggins said about how the plan to visit came together. “It was, ‘What can we do?’ and I think we kind of paced ourselves with giving some space to the time and to the community, the people involved. When some time had passed, we went out to London wanting to talk and find out what we could do.”

Reaching out to Talha Ahmed, CEO of Penny Appeal Canada -- one of the largest Muslim NGO’s in Canada -- who Wiggins had already established a strong relationship with in the past was a big factor in getting the wheels in motion. Ahmed’s involvement became integral in establishing engagement with the London Muslim community which led to the ICSWO, London Muslim Mosque, as well as the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) becoming resources for both guidance and buy-in. Initial conversations regarding covering funeral costs and medical bills evolved into legitimately having a presence in London and maximizing the Raptors’ platform to send a united message against all forms of hate.

“I hope to see people of all ages and all backgrounds unite,” Ahmed said. “We all cheer for the same team, we all boo when the calls don’t go our way and sports is one thing, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity that unites us all. The fact that we can come together as a diverse community under one roof is gonna be something fun.”

Opportunities to feel a true sense of freedom and togetherness have been infrequent, largely due to the pandemic. Daily prayers at the mosque have been cut down to just Friday, when three separate gatherings are made possible. Aug. 15 provided a momentary exhale, as Muslimfest -- an event to gather the community in a show of peace, harmony, and unity -- brought performing artists, food vendors and even a Ferris wheel to thousands in attendance over the course of the day in London. Events like that and the one this weekend aren’t just nice, they’re necessary.

“A lot of people are suffering in silence,” Mankal said. “We don’t know what they’re going through. Just because it’s kind of out of sight, out of mind, doesn’t mean that people are not significantly having problems with what happened and how to cope. So, when you can provide them with a Muslimfest or this MLSE event, it puts a smile on their face and that’s priceless.”

Among those in attendance for the Raptors’ open practice will be Jenna Khorshed, a Muslim girl born and raised in London who still feels the shock of June’s tragedy. She has played basketball since the age of 7 and is now not only playing for her high school St. Andre Bessette Catholic Secondary School, but also in a competitive league for the London 86’ers. This will be her first live experience watching the Raptors and finds her favourite team coming through for her community heartwarming.

“I think this means a lot to so many people, myself and my friends and family included,” Khorshed said. “It shows that we aren’t alone in this. There are people outside who have acknowledged what happened and they’re trying to prevent it from happening again and to show that we are all equal. We’re stronger together and the Raptors coming here to acknowledge that is a big part of being able to grow and evolve as a community and society.”

With improving health and safety protocols, over 2,500 people will be expected in the 2,650 capacity arena. There is a minimum donation of $20 for each day with proceeds benefiting MLSE Foundation’s Change the Game campaign. Over the last couple months, Penny Appeal Canada has provided and will continue to provide mental health resources to families and individuals in London. They also purchased 500 total tickets -- 250 per day -- for youth specifically identified through the ICSWO, London Muslim Mosque, and MAC.

Going beyond the weekend, MLSE and MLSE Foundation have worked with the City of London and local Muslim community stakeholders including Mankal and Ahmed to develop a legacy project in the city to be announced over the weekend. The project is an infrastructure investment designed to engage youth and unite the community through sport.

“We want to uplift that city and that community,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been to London a couple times and this is truly something that has rocked the city. We want to bring a positive energy back to that city by having our guys show up and just have some fun, remind -- especially the youth -- that they’re valued, that they’re important, that they need not be scared, and that they’re a part of something bigger, whether that’s Raptors nation or a Muslim community that loves and cares for them.”

change-the-game

Change The Game

You don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Pascal Siakam described riding the TTC for the first time, Fred VanVleet said he didn’t realize how much he enjoyed living in Toronto until he was away in Tampa, and Nick Nurse was already excited by the prospect of the electricity in the building for the first preseason game.

It was a bit surreal seeing live faces of members of the Toronto Raptors again. Whether it was executive, coach, or player, to think the last time they were within the friendly confines of Scotiabank Arena was 18 months ago -- a time when they were still the NBA’s defending champions -- was to realize just how much has changed.

There was no Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, or Norman Powell walking up to the podium. The keys to the franchise firmly in the hands of the next iteration of this franchise: the likes of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby ready to remind that Tampa was an anomaly, that this team is going to be very competitive and especially tough to beat in their own building -- power rankings and win total over/unders be damned.

GM Bobby Webster confirmed that the team is currently one-second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine away from being fully vaccinated, and fully expect to be there by opening night on Oct. 20 against the Washington Wizards. He also confirmed that unvaccinated players from opposing teams will be granted an exemption to travel to Toronto and play, though they will face stricter health and safety protocols.

There was much to take away beyond that, here are the biggest:

It’s been a challenging 18 months for Siakam, we all can admit. When the 2019-20 season paused in March, Siakam was leading a Raptors team that increasingly looked like it could defend its title. He was averaging over 23 points a game, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 35.9 percent beyond the arc and was a no-doubt All-NBAer. He struggled in the bubble, went through some growing pains as ‘The Guy’ in Tampa while also suffering from COVID-19 and later a shoulder injury.

When Siakam sat down at the Media Day podium, the only discomfort was in adjusting his chair. When answering questions, he was enthusiastic, confident, and care-free. As far as his interactions with the media, specifically, this was an eye-catching return to form.

“We’re gonna do it together,” Siakam said. “I think for me, again, I don’t like the word ‘the guy.’ I don’t like using it. I want to be the guy who wins. I want to win. That’s all I care about. If it’s playing more defence, if it’s scoring more points, if it’s being more of a vocal leader or someone who leads by example, that’s what I want to do. I just want to figure out what my role is. Whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

While still limited to one-on-none work in the gym, a happy Siakam whenever he returns to the court will go a long way towards the Raptors’ playoff hopes.

Scottie Barnes has made an early impression on EVERYONE

While Siakam made a bubbly appearance, Barnes’ personality was effervescent despite its physical absence. From Webster to Nurse to Siakam to Goran Dragic, everyone raved about the energy and approach that Barnes brings to the table. Siakam described an incident at OVO Athletic Centre where he just finished his physical and was walking over and Barnes tried to chest bump him like he just hit a game-winner.

“I think he's just an exciting kid, like he's exciting to be around and, and he just has a great presence and it’s really, really fun to see,” Siakam said. “I mean, I feel like he might beat me in terms of energy just because he's always happy, always excited. It's great to see.”

As far as his role is concerned, Nurse said he anticipated Barnes having a huge role this season and wants to give him as many minutes and reps as he can handle and possibly may even feature in some closing lineups depending on how quickly he progresses.

“I think his impact of defending, rebounding, running, spirit, enthusiasm, size -- all that stuff gets him in the mix, early and often,” Nurse said.

Fred VanVleet is the voice of the Raptors

The Raptors are two seasons removed from being NBA champions and VanVleet is aware. According to him, every year you don’t win should increase the chip on your shoulder. He’s not lowering his standards for anyone and paying no mind to what prognosticators may think. It’s that mindset and leadership that will leave you believing the locker room is in good hands.

There may not be a greater bonding experience than winning a championship together, but VanVleet found the past season in Tampa enlightening in terms of seeing who really is willing to stand with the team through thick and thin.

“When we had a season like we had last year, you can really look around the room and it’s, alright, I can count on one hand who is with us, who is not,” VanVleet said. “You can see for better or for worse, fan engagement, fan interaction. I think that’s another way to bond, as well, when things are not good because that’s a better test of who people are when things are not going well.”

Nick Nurse has his utility belt strapped and ready to go

There may not be a seven-footer on the roster but Nurse has plenty of strength, length, and flexibility to work with. He was extremely excited about the possibilities that could mean on the court, especially defensively.

At their best, the Raptors are constantly applying pressure on the ball while racing all over the floor to cut off passing angles or limit breathing space. Nurse anticipates a whole lot more of that this season.

“We want to try to be disruptive,” Nurse said about the team’s defensive plan. “As usual, I think that will be, you know, I think all the kind of same sized guys a lot of the times gives you a lot more switching to do and again that goes along with switching to disrupt, right, not just switching to slide along, but switching to get in there and jar the ball loose and change patterns and cut offences off and things like that. And I also think that all the length should enable us to play a lot more zone.”

Offensively, with the unique advantage of players in the 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-10 height range who can also handle the ball from Siakam to Anunoby to Barnes to Watanabe, Nurse believes the Raptors will be able to get out into the open court in more ways than before. While he doesn’t want them to be a run-and-gun team for the sake of it, he sees the opportunity for his potentially stifling defence to create better transition opportunities through its variety.

“I think that we should be moving pieces around a lot, just depending on what lineup is on the floor,” Nurse said. “So, I think that it should look different. Who's the first guy down the floor? Who's filling the corners? Who's pushing the ball should all be changing constantly if we get this the way we think we're going to, you know, get there eventually with this.”

Dragic is entering his 14th NBA season. He has a boatload of international experience and has enjoyed both individual and team success. He is going to help the Raptors in immeasurable ways off the court while still being an effective offensive talent on the court.

Sure, there were comments he made while in Slovenia with regards to playing for a team closer to championship contention, but they were blown out of proportion and he’s since apologized twice. Did we mention how much he loves Scottie, too?

As the most experienced member of the roster, Dragic is hoping to share his experiences and good habits that have helped him be successful at this level for so long. He remembers being a young campaigner with the Phoenix Suns and learning from none other than two-time MVP Steve Nash.

“How to be professional on the court, off the court,” Dragic said of what he learned from Nash and hopes to pass on. “At that time, I still didn't understand how to take care of yourself, your body and eat healthy and those things. And, of course, on the floor to be vocal and to talk to the guys. Even if it’s a bad play or something, to encourage the guys when it’s the hardest moment of the season or the game to step forward and to be vocal and to show them that it's just basketball and that everybody can do everything. But yeah, the most important thing is just to be an example for those young guys and to be a leader.”

takeaways-from-media-day-2021

Takeaways From Media Day 2021

 The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday their broadcast schedule for the 2021-22 NBA season. TSN and Sportsnet will each carry 41 games.

 TSN has the season opener Wednesday, Oct. 20 against the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena. Additional key contests on TSN include the first meeting versus DeMar DeRozan and the new-look Chicago Bulls on Oct. 25, the lone visit north of the border from the NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 2 and both meetings against Nikola Jokic, the NBA’s 2020-21 Most Valuable Player, and the Denver Nuggets (Feb. 12 vs. DEN and Mar. 12 at DEN). 

Sportsnet will open its coverage with the Raptors’ road debut Friday, Oct. 22 at Boston. Sportsnet’s slate also includes the seventh annual Giants of Africa Game, celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela, on Sunday, Dec. 5 vs. Washington, the return of six-time NBA All-Star Kyle Lowry when Miami visits Toronto on Feb. 3 and both matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers (Mar. 14 at LAL and Mar. 18 vs. LAL).

For the 17th straight season, all 82 Raptors telecasts will be produced by NBA TV Canada. Veteran play-by-play voice Matt Devlin will call all the action for a 14th season. Jack “The Coach” Armstrong will lend his expertise as the analyst on TSN telecasts with former Raptor Alvin Williams joining Sportsnet’s broadcast to handle colour commentary duties. Williams played 417 games in Toronto, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 assists and 28.1 minutes. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history in assists (1,791), sixth in steals (517) and ninth in games played.

Sportsnet 590 The FAN and TSN 1050 Toronto will again be the radio home for Raptors broadcasts. Eric Smith will handle the play-by-play role for games on Sportsnet 590 The FAN with Paul Jones serving as the analyst. For games on TSN 1050 Toronto, Jones will serve as the play-by-play voice with Sherman Hamilton sharing analyst duties.  

raptors-announce-2021-22-broadcast-schedule

Raptors Announce 2021-22 Broadcast Schedule

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed guard Dalano Banton (duh-LAH-no&nbsp;BAN-ten) to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Raptors selected Banton in the second round (46th&nbsp;overall) in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Banton, 6-foot-9, 204 pounds, averaged 9.6 points, team highs of 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists, and 27.3 minutes in 27 games as a sophomore at Nebraska last season. He was the first player since 1974 to lead the Huskers in both rebounding and assists. Banton recorded just the second triple-double in school history with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists Dec. 17 against Doane.

A native of Toronto, Banton became the first Canadian selected by the Raptors in the NBA Draft. He sat out the 2019-20 campaign after transferring from Western Kentucky (2018-19) where he averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 15.1 minutes in 31 appearances.&nbsp;

raptors-sign-banton

Raptors Sign Banton

Tucked away in the living room of a close friend’s house in Louisville, David Johnson watched the 2021 NBA Draft waiting for his name to be called. At 47th overall, he heard Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announce it would be the Toronto Raptors extending that privilege to him and what followed was a warm and extended embrace with his mother Sheritha Bousso that included tears of joy and cries of “You did it! You did it!”

All Johnson wanted was an opportunity, and with the Raptors having since committed to a two-way contract for the 20-year-old, he has every chance to make the most of a moment he’s wanted since middle school.

“It was a surreal feeling knowing that all the blood, sweat, and tears that I’ve put into this game, up until this point, finally paid off,” Johnson said. “It’s what I’ve been looking forward to all my life regardless of whether it was the first pick or the sixtieth pick.”

As a child, Johnson admitted he was quite spoiled. His two sisters -- Ashley and Rayona -- are 14 and 11 years older, respectively, and so he was always treated by mom as the baby of the family. The only time he did house work was when mom was running her nail salon and his sisters would take charge. Johnson would spend most of the day outside when he could, either playing sports or riding his bike. When he was inside, playing with American muscle car toys and learning the latest technology was what piqued his interest most. From a young age, he became the resident IT expert for family and friends. It was all part of who Bousso wanted him to be: independent, kind, and generous.

“Since the day I was born, she always pushed me to be the best person possible,” Johnson said. “Never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to, everything she did tell me to do she knew would be beneficial to me.”

Basketball and football were the two sports that appealed most to Johnson and he thrived in both. At around Grade 4, though, he started to grow upwards rather than outwards and so basketball became a natural choice, especially with AAU programs clamouring for his talent. The sport became everything to him, and just how much it meant to him was put to the test after a significant injury in middle school.

Playing a school basketball game in Grade 8, Johnson received the ball on the run and saw an open lane. As his eyes locked in on the rim for a dunk and he planted his left foot to leap, his left knee buckled and his growth plate broke. The invincibility teens feel was quickly gone.

Johnson was home a lot for the next four months, with his mother and sisters tending to him. While he did everything to stay positive during his recovery, he had no idea what to expect physically once his cast was removed after six months. To keep his mind engaged, he would still go to practices and games of his AAU and school teams.

“It wasn’t the same, I was watching other guys develop and get better,” Johnson said. “I was thinking to myself, the easy thing to do would be to just not play anymore because it’s gonna be hard to catch up since you’re kinda behind.”

But deep down, Johnson knew he wanted to be remembered for something. Louisville didn’t have a professional sports team, so he consumed Louisville and Kentucky college sports and his main source of inspiration was seeing those kids fulfill their dreams. His mother wasn’t the type to force the issue and so the decision was always his to make. This was the moment Johnson knew he loved basketball more than anything, he was ready to fight for it.

Bousso saw the determination in her son and he was always on top of his rehab appointments, constantly finding ways to progressively push his body to the limit so he could accelerate the process.

“That period of overcoming, David was just so determined because he spent so much time being alone,” Bousso said of observing her son during that period. “Not being able to do anything, that desire to be in the game, that’s how he realized, ‘That’s where I want to be.’”

At Trinity High School, Johnson made first team All-State as both a junior and senior and was considered a four-star recruit. Staying close to home, he chose Louisville for his college career and after missing the start of his freshman season due to a shoulder injury, came on strong primarily in a bench role. Johnson takes pride in filling the stat sheet and his game logs consistently showed healthy returns across the board.

“I think everyone loves to be in the game and on the court,” Johnson said. “Learning how to do everything, defending is one thing that I’ve emphasized over the last few years, especially at the next level, that’s gonna keep you on the court. Being able to score, pass, rebound, all those things will keep you on the court. It’s hard for a coach to turn that down.”

Under the tutelage of Louisville head coach Chris Mack, Johnson learned the secret to real confidence. His first interactions left Johnson thinking this wasn’t a relationship that he wanted, but time showed it was certainly one he needed. When told as an 18 and 19-year-old that it wasn’t the coach’s job to instil confidence, Johnson wasn’t quite sure what that meant. But, over time, in understanding how Mack operated, he realized that the lesson being taught was that confidence wasn’t going to come as a result of the words being said, but rather the work that was being put in day-in, day-out.

“Your confidence starts to come from the hours that you put in the gym,” Johnson said. “The more you work on something, that’s where you become confident. I started to realize that as I got older. Over the last six months, I realized the things that I do are the things I work on, so, worked on new things and became an even better player.”

Along with the desire to have a well-rounded guard game, his physical attributes made him that much more appealing to the Raptors. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Johnson ranked second in standing reach (8-foot-8) among guards at the draft combine, second among guards in wingspan (6-foot-10.5), as well as fifth among guards in the three-quarter sprint.

Johnson is quickly getting acclimated to the team. He got his first taste of action against the Knicks and has quickly built a rapport with the players on the summer league roster. Among the core group he’s had a chance to meet, OG Anunoby has welcomed him with open arms while he’s quickly been impressed by head coach Nick Nurse.

“I see why he’s the highly touted coach that he is,” Johnson said. “There’s a reason behind everything that he’s telling you. He’s not gonna tell you anything without telling you what the outcome of it might be. When he’s saying stuff, he’s saying what’s gonna happen if you do it, what the reasoning behind it is and that really helps me as a player to understand.”

That’s the next step, understanding the pro game, understanding the grind, understanding exactly what it takes. Johnson believes he has not just the skills but the mindset to play at the highest level, and is excited by the prospect of an organization with one of the best developmental reputations in the league to tap into all of it.

“I’m really confident in my style of basketball, the way that I play,” Johnson said. “I feel like with me being a team-oriented guy first, my personal development is only going to get better. I’m focused on the team winning, individual things come from that.”

david-johnson-ready-for-the-opportunity

David Johnson: Ready For The Opportunity

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed free agent forwards Ishmail Wainright to a multi-year contract and Justin Champagnie (Sham-Penny) to a two-way contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wainwright, 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, played two seasons in Germany (2018-20) before joining Strasbourg (France) last season where he averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 27.9 minutes in 50 games. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Wainwright played four collegiate seasons at Baylor (2013-17) earning Big-12 All-Defensive Team honours as a senior.

 Champagnie, 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, posted averages of 18.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 34.4 minutes in 20 games as a sophomore at Pittsburgh last season. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in rebounding and was the first Pitt player to average at least 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds since Billy Knight in 1973-74. A Brooklyn native, Champagnie was named to the All-ACC First Team and was an AP All-American Honourable Mention.

raptors-sign-wainright-champagnie

Raptors Sign Wainright & Champagnie

Perhaps it’s in the way a basketball player is willing to sacrifice their body for the good of the team and stand above the charge circle to draw an offensive foul on their opponent. Or maybe it’s the way they can be the smallest player on the court yet find a way to grab the most pivotal rebound of the game using pure smarts. Or how about inspiring a franchise record 30-point comeback with just over a quarter of the game remaining?

If these are some of the ways in which you’ve come to understand what it means to leave it all out there on the basketball court, it’s because for nine years filled with blood, sweat, and tears as a Raptor, Kyle Lowry showed Toronto and Canada how to appreciate the little things: everything that happens in between the margins and beyond the box score.

Fans of Raptors basketball paid attention to the little details of every nook and cranny of who he was and how he played the game because it’s been a journey lived in unison. From the blocked Game 7 buzzer beater in 2014 to the glass ceiling shattering conference finals appearance in 2016. From the soul snatching LeBronto sweep of 2018 to the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship a year later. Over nine years, Lowry became the greatest Raptor of all time because he became synonymous with every peak and valley of the franchise’s greatest era.

In those nine years, Lowry changed his reputation from a stubborn, cantankerous, possible journeyman in 2012 to the ultimate competitor, a leader, mentor, all-star, and champion. He built a family with his highschool sweetheart and wife Ayahna Cornish-Lowry, becoming a father to two boys, Karter and Kameron. He took tremendous pride in that role and the kids could regularly be seen in the locker room after games playing or just hanging out with dad as he got ready to take them home.

When the Raptors were swept out of the postseason by the Washington Wizards in 2015, he underwent a physical transformation and arrived for the start of next season in the best shape of his life. When he struggled to open the 2016 playoffs due to an elbow injury, he stayed in the gym and worked on his jumper until the wee hours of the morning, the end result being a watershed East semis that culminated in a spectacular 35-point, nine assist performance in Game 7 that Toronto won by 27 points.

Criticism raged about Lowry after a first round Game 1 zero-point performance against the Orlando Magic in 2019, but he bounced back in the most heroic way possible when it mattered most, scoring the first 11 points for the Raptors and finishing with 26 points and 10 assists in the championship clincher that cemented his legacy.

When the 2019-20 NBA season resumed after being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lowry played a key role as a member of the competition committee crew with the player’s association to help make a return possible. He advocated for the NBA to make a bold statement with its messaging and actions in the fight against social injustice upon its return, and when the Raptors played their first game back against the Los Angeles Lakers, it was Lowry’s idea that the teams kneel not just for the American anthem, but the Canadian anthem as well.

As he gained strength in who he was and his place in the league, Lowry showed his softer side, too. His bromance with DeMar DeRozan will stand the test of time and he helped usher in the next era of Raptors basketball by taking all of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby under his wing. He made time to be a guiding light for Malachi Flynn in Tampa, too. From struggling to trust higher authority initially in the NBA, Lowry steadily built strong relationships with team president Masai Ujiri, general manager Bobby Webster, former head coach Dwane Casey, as well as current head coach Nick Nurse.

Lowry finishes his tenure in Toronto as the franchise leader in assists, steals, three-pointers made, triple-doubles, and charges drawn. He’s second in games played as well as points scored and, to further illustrate his tenacious and unrelenting playing style, he also departs with the third-most rebounds and free-throws made.

As a team, the Raptors won at least 48 regular season games for seven straight seasons between 2013-2020 and 374 in total, a mark only bettered by the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors made the playoffs in each of those years with nine series wins and the Larry O’Brien trophy to show for it, the franchise had one series win in 18 years prior.

Together with his wife Ayahna, Lowry created the Lowry-Love foundation that gave back to communities in both his hometown of Philadelphia and his second home Toronto. Specifically in Toronto, the Holiday Assist program around Christmas and the Thanksgiving Assist program gave back to families in need. That, along with team organized events such as the annual visit to SickKids Hospital built a bond with the city that is unbreakable.

The chants of “Lowry! Lowry!” will be heard again and will likely be ringing in his ears for a lifetime, but for now all we can say is thank you and good luck. Kyle Lowry will always be a Raptor, and just like his heart, he wears it proudly on his sleeve.