The Toronto Raptors received encouraging news regarding starting shooting guard RJ Barrett after he left Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets with a knee injury. The Canadian star underwent medical evaluation that revealed no major damage, providing relief for the organization and fans alike.
Injury Update and Team Response
Barrett exited the contest during the third quarter after completing a dunk, immediately showing discomfort and heading to the locker room. The team subsequently diagnosed the issue as a knee sprain. Head coach Darko Rajakovic addressed the media before Monday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with positive news about Barrett's condition.
"RJ is doing well. We did some imaging last night, some further examination this morning. Looks very promising, very good. At this point it's going to be day-to-day," Rajakovic confirmed. This transparency marks a departure from the approach often taken by other Toronto sports franchises, particularly the Maple Leafs, who frequently provide vague injury updates.
Raptors' Injury Luck and Depth Options
The Raptors have enjoyed remarkably good health this season, losing only 17 man games to injuries - the third-lowest total in the entire NBA. This stands in stark contrast to the previous two campaigns where multiple starters seemed constantly unavailable.
Toronto's starting lineup of Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl has logged 166 minutes together this season, more than any other five-man combination in the league. While Barrett's absence temporarily disrupts this continuity, the Raptors possess considerable depth at the shooting guard position.
Rajakovic emphasized that he doesn't expect any single player to replicate Barrett's unique contributions, but rather sees this as an opportunity to explore different lineup configurations. "We have multiple players that can bring a different dimension to our starters. Is that more defensive minded? Is that more spacing offensively? I think those couple of days that RJ is going to be out is going to be a good opportunity for us to see what that looks like," the coach explained.
Walter Steps Into Expanded Role
Against Cleveland, Rajakovic turned to rookie Ja'Kobe Walter rather than alternatives Gradey Dick or Ochai Agbaji. The organization holds Walter in high regard, having been pleasantly surprised when he remained available with the 19th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The 21-year-old had been playing limited minutes earlier in the season but had seen increased opportunity in recent games. Rajakovic had praised Walter's development before the injury situation arose, noting his defensive intensity and growing confidence.
"He's a very, very talented basketball player. He's very young," Rajakovic said of Walter last week. "There is so much for him to learn, and he just needs to understand that it's a process." The coach specifically highlighted Walter's defensive tenacity, mentioning how the rookie had aggressively sought defensive assignments in recent appearances.
With Barrett expected to miss only a handful of games, Walter now receives an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities in an expanded role while the Raptors await their starting guard's return to full health.
