TORONTO – If you wish to rapidly discover Ochai Agbaji throughout a Toronto Raptors sport, simply search for the opposite crew’s greatest participant. He’s probably guarding them.
Agbaji has been tasked with masking a few of the NBA’s greatest names this season with the Raptors lacking key gamers like all-star ahead Scottie Barnes and level guard Immanuel Quickley. At six-foot-five, Agbaji is a pure guard however he’s been assigned a few of the hardest forwards within the league this yr together with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I believe it’s nearly actually, actually trusting the scouting report, trusting the crew, and trusting what our sport plan is for these guys,” stated Agbaji on Friday. “Simply attempt to shut them down, and having extremely consciousness for these folks once they’re on the courtroom.”
The 24-year-old sometimes got here off the bench in his first two NBA seasons — break up between the Utah Jazz and Toronto — however as part of the Raptors’ beginning lineup he’s hit profession highs in most main stat classes together with minutes performed (31.8), factors (13.2), rebounds (4.8) assists (1.8), and steals (1.4). His blocks are down from 0.6 to 0.5 season over season, a negligible distinction.
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He stated he’s been capable of be versatile on either side of the ball for Toronto as a result of he’s all the time grinding.
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“The work hasn’t stopped although the season has began,” Agbaji stated after apply on Thursday. “Main as much as the season, earlier than coaching camp I used to be working at nights, coming in for some contact up, getting some photographs up, that basically hasn’t stopped.
“I’ve continued to do this whereas permitting my physique to take care of, keep recent.”
He had 9 factors, three rebounds, and an help in Friday’s 99-95 loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons.
After having to protect considerably bigger gamers like James, Antetokounmpo, and serving to Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Agbaji spent many of the night time defending Pistons guards Jaden Ivey, Malik Beasley and Cade Cunningham, who’re all inside an inch of him.
All three had uncharacterically poor taking pictures nights, with Cunningham — who sometimes is Detroit’s high scorer — going 6 for 21 on field-goal makes an attempt.
“Guarding guys that wish to put up up extra, it’s clearly a unique scout,” Agbaji stated on attending to play in opposition to guards. “Taking over the problem (of one other crew’s greatest gamers) each night time, I imply, it’s clearly powerful, however one thing I love to do.”
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic stated he’s pleased with the way in which Agbaji has taken on the NBA’s greatest, particularly with Toronto’s roster tormented by accidents.
“(He) just about matched the minutes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and he did a a lot better job within the post-ups,” stated Rajakovic earlier than Friday’s sport. “That was the expansion from the earlier sport (when) he was guarding LeBron James in those self same conditions.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 15, 2024.
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