The Toronto Raptor’s record for the 2024-25 NBA season hasn’t been great. Toronto is currently 7-22 in the Eastern Conference. Despite the record, there are players from the Raptors playing well this season. Here are the three players who are playing well in no particular order.
Gradey Dick
It’s safe to say that last season was not a great start for Gradey Dick’s career. But this season, it’s a different story. He’s killing it so far this season. There’s been a significant improvement from where he was last year to this year.
Dick is currently averaging 18.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game. Compare that to his stats last season where he averaged 8.5 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game, it clearly shows his improvement.
He’s scoring 10 more points this year than last year. Dick had a bad start in his rookie year. But he slowly turned it around. Part of his growth is because Toronto decided to rebuild the team. He has more room to grow now that the Raptors traded Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Now Dick is the starting shooting guard for the Raptors.
Here’s an example of how well Dick is playing this season. He scored 32 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the loss, it was a good night for Dick because his 32 points in this game was a new career high for him.
RJ Barrett
Another player that’s having a career year is the hometown boy RJ Barrett. He’s currently averaging 23.2 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and six assists per game. He’s been good before he was a Raptor. But ever since he was traded to Toronto from the New York Knicks, he’s been on another level.
He’s more consistent as a Raptor than he was a Knick. During his time in New York, he averaged 18.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game. Now that he’s in Toronto, he’s averaging 22.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 4.9 assists per game.
Barrett’s total field goal percentage as a Knick was 42.2 percent while his current field goal percentage as a Raptor is 50.6 percent. His three-point field goal percentage is also up from his time with the Knicks.
On Nov. 18 The Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 130-119. The star of the night was Barrett. He finished the game with 39 points, 15 rebounds and two assists. This is so far his season high in points.
Jakob Poeltl
It’s a career year for Jakob Poeltl. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, and 2,7 assists per game. Poeltl’s points and rebound averages are a career-high for him.
If the Raptors decide to trade him before the trade deadline, they will get a good return on assets because of how well he’s playing this year. But let’s talk about the Poeltl trade talks at another time. Let’s go back to how well he’s playing.
In a regular season on Nov. 16 against the Boston Celtics, Poeltl finished the game with 35 points and 12 rebounds. The Raptors lost that game in overtime due to Jayson Tatum’s game-winner. Nevertheless, Poeltl’s effort was why Toronto led most of the game until Boston’s comeback.
These are the top three players on the Raptors’ roster. Hopefully, Barrett, Poeltl, and Dick can play the same they’ve been playing right now for the rest of the season. Toronto isn’t going to be a playoff contender this season but the future is bright for the Raptors with these three players and Scottie Barnes on this team.