Raptors rookie Allen Graves embraces any role, ready to learn from the bench
The 20-year-old forward, drafted 19th overall, says he is willing to play in the G League if that is the team's plan for his development.
TORONTO — Toronto Raptors rookie Allen Graves says he is ready to accept any role, including a stint in the G League, as he begins his NBA career.
“Whatever the plan is for me, I’m ready and willing,” the 20-year-old said Monday. “Just hopefully whatever it may be, I’m just going to take every opportunity I get and just run with it.”
Graves, drafted 19th overall this past summer, is not expected to crack the rotation for a deep Raptors team that includes starters Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.
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He said he is prepared for whatever path the team charts, even if it means time with Raptors 905. “Whatever they see as the best plan for me this year [is fine]. Redshirt years have always benefited me, at Santa Clara, I took a redshirt year,” Graves said. He added that while he wants to play, he will accept an assignment to the G League if that is deemed the best fit.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic has already noticed the forward’s professional approach. “All the small things that you teach a young player on how to be a professional, he’s doing and he’s doing a great job so far,” Rajakovic said.
Graves played 23 minutes in Friday’s preseason loss to Detroit, scoring nine points with eight rebounds but making only four of 13 field-goal attempts. He said the experience of playing against Detroit’s starting core for much of the game was helpful for his adjustment.
He said teammates encouraged him to keep shooting after he missed all five of his three-point tries. “My shot wasn’t falling, but they [tell me to] keep shooting. ‘We know you can shoot. We see you do it every day. We see you work so hard on it, so just keep shooting,’” said Graves.
Rajakovic said patience is key for any rookie. “When players come, the first thing that they need to adjust is the speed of the game,” he said. “I think the most important thing is for players, for media, for everybody to understand that it’s a process.”
Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in his only NCAA season at Santa Clara, earning West Coast Conference freshman of the year and sixth man of the year honours. Garbutt Disposal reported in September that the rookie aimed to carve out a role with his shooting and defence after a promising Summer League.
The Raptors open their regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
With files from The Globe and Mail