TORONTO – It’s an previous adage that inexperienced persons don’t draw fouls within the NBA. It’s in part as a result of veterans get the advantage of the doubt from referees and a bit bit as a result of younger avid gamers don’t understand how to attract defenders into fouls.
Thankfully for Toronto Raptors freshman Ja’Kobe Walter, he performs like an previous soul.
The 20-year-old Walter is averaging seven issues, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Raptors to this point this season, however had a season-high 19 issues in Monday’s 113-108 loss to the New York Knicks. He’s drawn 8 taking pictures fouls and 3 and-1s to this point this season, together with making 4 of five loose throws as a part of his 19-point efficiency.
“Simply being competitive, simply seeking to end via touch, now not specializing in any reason,” mentioned Walter, who accounted for just about part of Toronto’s 11 free-throw makes an attempt on Monday. “We weren’t getting a large number of the whistle calls as of late, however I feel simply nonetheless going to the rim, seeking to end, and now not specializing in it.”
Walter was once decided on nineteenth general on this previous summer season’s NBA Draft and is one among 4 inexperienced persons that made the Raptors lineup. Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Struggle, alternatively, are all no less than 22 years previous.
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Walter was once a standout freshman for Baylor College final season, averaging 14.5 issues, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 35 video games, all begins. He confirmed some defensive prowess too as he averaged 1.1 steals and nil.2 blocks according to recreation.
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“I feel crashing the glass, rebounding, been specializing in that,” mentioned Walter on how he’s translating his recreation to the NBA. “I’ve a large number of power, all the time been in a position to do this.
“I’m simply looking for others, being assured with my passes, attending to the paint.”
Walter has spent two stints at the Raptors’ inactive listing to recuperate from a sprained shoulder, lacking a complete of 14 video games. Within the 11 video games he has performed in, his utilization price is 20.8 according to cent, a stat that signifies what share of crew performs contain him when he’s at the flooring.
Head trainer Darko Rajakovic mentioned that one among Walter’s strengths is he doesn’t let the velocity of the professional recreation get to him.
“At the same time as a rookie, even twenty years previous, he has a particular tempo that he’s enjoying with. He does now not get speeded up,” mentioned Rajakovic after apply on Tuesday. “He performs at his personal tempo, and it lets in him to look issues, to create touch.
“He additionally has excellent dimension, lengthy palms, he can end on the rim, and for him it’s working out that, ‘OK, I will do that at this stage as smartly.’”
The Raptors showed on Wednesday that all-star Scottie Barnes sprained his proper ankle within the loss to New York. Barnes can be re-evaluated in a single week.
Within the intervening time, Rajakovic mentioned he’d be depending extra on swingman RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., reserve guard Davion Mitchell, Shead and Walter to lend a hand raise the weight whilst Barnes recovers.
It’s a state of affairs that Toronto’s intensity avid gamers are used to this season.
The Raptors have now misplaced 107 guy video games to harm or sickness this season, a bunch that can cross up with Barnes and start line guard Immanuel Quickley (partly torn UCL) and Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgical procedure) all out.
Mitchell, who additionally attended Baylor, mentioned that Walter was once smartly ready for taking part in professionally after his time on the college in Waco, Texas.
“I feel it comes from being across the Baylor individuals who’ve been round NBA avid gamers earlier than, who roughly train you tips on how to be an NBA participant,” mentioned Mitchell. “I’m pronouncing now not simply train you tips on how to be a faculty participant.
“When I used to be there, they taught me tips on how to be a professional, a bit bit.”
This record by way of The Canadian Press was once first printed Dec. 11, 2024.
&replica 2024 The Canadian Press
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