Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Mon 12/23/24 7:15 PM

Walter will come off the bench in Monday's game against the Knicks.
EDGE Analysis
With veteran RJ Barrett slotting back into the starting five, Walter will retreat to the bench following two consecutive starts. The rookie was stellar in Sunday's loss to the Rockets, during which he posted a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three assists and two rebounds across 28 minutes. Over his last five outings (two starts), Walter has averaged 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Mon 12/23/24 10:17 AM

Walter fouled out of Sunday's 114-110 loss to the Rockets after recording a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds and three assists over 28 minutes.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie might have pushed for 30 if he hadn't left the court for good with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter. Walter had never even reached 20 before Sunday, and the six made threes doubled his prior career high, so it would be easy to dismiss the performance as a fluke. The 19th overall pick in the 2024 Draft has been finding a groove with his shot, however. Over the last five games (two starts), Walter is shooting 44.4 percent (12-for-27) from the beyond the arc while averaging 13.6 points, 2.4 boards, 2.4 threes, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals in 24.8 minutes a contest.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Thu 12/19/24 7:09 PM

Walter will start in Thursday's matchup against the Nets, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie will replace Jakob Poeltl (groin) in the starting five on Thursday, marking his fifth start through 14 regular-season appearances this year. Walter provided a spark for the Raptors while coming off the bench in his last five outings, during which he averaged 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 40.9 percent from the field across 23.2 minutes per contest.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Tue 12/17/24 7:35 PM

Walter closed Monday's 122-121 loss to Chicago with six points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and two steals across 24 minutes.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie was efficient while tying Kelly Olynyk for the team-high mark in steals. Walter has provided a spark for the Raptors thus far, and in his last five outings since moving back to the bench, he has averaged 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 40.9 percent from the field across 23.2 minutes per contest. The 20-year-old should continue to receive fairly significant playing time, especially with Immanuel Quickley (elbow) and Scottie Barnes (ankle) sidelined for an extended period.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Tue 12/10/24 11:03 AM

Walter accumulated 19 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), one rebound and two assists over 22 minutes during Monday's 113-108 loss to New York.
EDGE Analysis
Walter stepped his game up Monday and showed he might be ready to handle a more consistent role on offense, especially considering the absences of Immanuel Quickley (elbow) and Scottie Barnes (ankle). The 19-point output was a career-high mark for the former Baylor standout, who could jump into the starting lineup soon given the Raptors' lack of depth in the backcourt.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Thu 12/5/24 7:29 PM

Walter will come off the bench in Thursday's game against the Thunder, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
EDGE Analysis
Walter will come off the bench after appearing in the Raptors 905's 134-92 G League win over the Greensboro Swarm on Thursday, during which he chipped in seven points (3-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt), four assists and two rebounds across 13 minutes. The rookie started in the parent club's last four outings following a nine-game absence due to an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, during which he averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals across 22.0 minutes per contest.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Thu 11/28/24 11:52 AM

Walter produced 14 points (6-14 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 119-93 win over New Orleans.
EDGE Analysis
The 19th overall pick in the 2024 Draft returned from the G League and made a splash, recording his first career double-double against a Pelicans roster missing most of its key frontcourt players. The performance was definitely an encouraging one for Walter, and the 5-14 Raptors should have no problem finding minutes for him if the Baylor product is ready for a regular role.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Wed 11/27/24 7:31 PM

Walter is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Raptors are tweaking their starting unit for this contest against the Pelicans to shake things up. It's unclear what kind of impact Walter might have, though, as he struggled in his first taste of action at the NBA level. The rookie out of Baylor hasn't played in the NBA since Nov. 6, as he spent the past few weeks with the Raptors 905 of the G League.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Mon 11/25/24 3:27 PM

Toronto recalled Walter from the G League's Raptors 905 on Monday, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
EDGE Analysis
After a recent six-game absence due to an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, Walter proved his health during a two-game stint in the G League over the weekend. In his two appearances for the 905 on Friday and Sunday, Walter logged 44 total minutes and tallied 33 points (14-27 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Now that he's back with Toronto, Walter could factor into the rotation for Monday's game in Detroit with Gradey Dick (calf) sidelined for the contest.

Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF TOR
Thu 11/21/24 6:32 PM

Walter (shoulder) is available for Thursday's game against Minnesota, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie first-round pick has missed the Raptors' last six games with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, but he should see minutes off the bench in this one as a depth piece in the backcourt. Walter is averaging just 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in his four appearances off the bench this season.