The Toronto Raptors are going into the upcoming season with a chance to be one of the Eastern Conference's best teams, but the entire roster has to buy into Darko Rajakovic 's system.
The majority of the roster is sticking together, which means there is a great opportunity for growth. Players can pick up where they left off last season in hopes of getting further in the playoffs . This statement may be the most true for backup shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter.
Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Walter's scoring average took a slight dip from his rookie year to his second season, but his efficiency greatly improved. Instead of shooting 40 per cent from the field, he bumped that up to 44.6 per cent, and his three-point percentage increased from 34.9 per cent to 40.9 per cent. That's a great sign for him to come as he enters his age-22 season.
Walter still has a lot of room for growth on both ends of the floor, and his jump from year one to year two is incredibly promising. His role could continue to increase as the Raptors build more trust with him in the rotation.
The Raptors need Walter to be the top wing in the second unit for the upcoming season and beyond. Toronto hopes Walter can be a sure-fire shooter on the perimeter to pair with players like Scottie Barnes . Having Walter's shooting abilities force opposing defences to respect the spacing, which opens up driving lanes for players like Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead .
Walter needs to be able to prove that he can play at the level he was at last year over a longer period of time. One year is a good start, but he needs to prove that he can continue to elevate his game. If he can accomplish that, the Raptors will be in great shape for the future.
Walter is going into the third year of his deal, and he has a team option for the 2027-28 season, which will almost certainly be picked up by Oct. 31 of this year. Once that is exercised, he will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2028. Walter will be shooting for the long-term deal, so he has incentive to continue being the X-factor the Raptors need in order to go from good to elite.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/raptors/onsi as The Raptors' Biggest X-Factor Heading Into 2026-27 NBA Season .
