TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors have been hit with early injury challenges this NBA season.
Canadian swingman RJ Barrett will miss the remainder of Toronto’s preseason after sustaining a sprained right shoulder during the team’s 125-98 exhibition win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed Barrett’s absence for the next four preseason games but assured that he’ll remain active in his recovery process.
“They’ll evaluate him on a week-by-week basis,” Rajakovic said at a press conference. “He can still focus on conditioning and improving his overall health, including his knees and strength.”
Barrett’s injury occurred in the second quarter of Sunday’s game when he collided with a screen set by former Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas. The team confirmed it’s a sprain to the right acromioclavicular joint.
Coincidentally, rookie forward Ja’Kobe Walter, drafted 19th overall by Toronto this summer, is also sidelined with the same injury.
“When injuries happen, you have to find the positives,” Rajakovic said. “Players can use this time to work on things like strength, conditioning, or developing other skills.”
Barrett, 24, from Mississauga, Ontario, averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 58 games last season, split between the Raptors and New York Knicks. After joining Toronto via trade, he posted 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over 32 starts.
He won’t be alone on the sidelines. Starting point guard Immanuel Quickley missed Sunday’s game due to a thumb injury, while veteran forward Bruce Brown is recovering from knee surgery.
Despite the wave of injuries, Rajakovic remains focused on the bigger picture. “In a perfect world, we’d have everyone healthy, but that’s not reality. We’ll keep improving, game by game.”
Injuries also affected the Raptors’ 2023-24 season when key players like Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl were sidelined with surgeries in March. Poeltl, alongside backup forward Kelly Olynyk, expressed frustration over the team’s inability to build chemistry early in the preseason.
“The more game reps you get, the better,” said Poeltl. “It might take a bit to get back into the groove, but we’ve put in a lot of work.”
Olynyk added, “It’s crucial for us to play together and build that connection. Hopefully, RJ’s injury isn’t too serious, and we get Quickley back soon so we can keep growing as a team.”
The Raptors will open their regular season on October 23 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on October 8, 2024.
