en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Toronto Raptors News https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/news Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic spoke to the media about his expectations for Kawhi Leonard this upcoming season after the Raptors acquired him in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:17 GMT Sportsnet Video https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161272 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161272 false false Raptors forward RJ Barrett speaks to the media about teammate Jamal Shead who inked a contract extension with Toronto, praising the point guard’s leadership and suggesting he’s following the blueprint of Raptors legend Kyle Lowry. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:12 GMT Sportsnet Video https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161271 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161271 false false Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic speaks to the media about point guard Jamal Shead who inked a contract extension with the Raptors on Thursday, speaking highly about Shead’s leadership. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:08 GMT Sportsnet Video https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161270 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161270 false false Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead speaks to the media for the first time since having his contract extended, talking about the process and his family’s reaction to the news. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:04 GMT Sportsnet Video https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161268 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161268 false false Perhaps the best feel-good story at a Raptors training camp with immaculate vibes came Thursday, when the team signed Jamal Shead to a contract extension. Michael Grange has more on how Toronto locked up its “heart and soul.” Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:00 GMT Michael Grange https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161267 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161267 false false Speaking to reporters on Thursday, including Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca and Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter links), third-year guard Jamal Shead said his new extension with the Raptors came together relatively quickly. “I thought the offer they gave me was really fair. Honestly, above fair,” Shead said of his three-year, $24MM extension. “They believe in […] Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:34:18 GMT Rory Maher https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161149 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58161149 false false The 45th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Shead will be with Raptors through the 2029-30 season Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:47:01 GMT @globeandmail https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58159682 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58159682 true false The son of Hakeem Olajuwon plans to play basketball in the same state where his father became famous. Hakeem finished his pro career with the Toronto Raptors in 2001-02. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:38:20 GMT Sportsnet Staff https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58159593 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58159593 false false The 2026-27 season hasn't even started, and the Toronto Raptors have already been crowned champions with Kawhi Leonard once again. Wait, what? With Raptors basketball just a few weeks away, the popular video game "NBA 2K27" simulated the outcome of the upcoming season — and has Toronto winning it all with Kawhi back in the lineup. The simulation, conducted by NBA 2K ambassador Ronnie Singh, has the Raptors putting together the best regular season in franchise history, finishing atop the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 record, including an impressive 34-8 record at home. The Raptors then cruise through the Eastern Conference playoffs, beating the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic en route to the Finals. Toronto then apparently meets none other than Hamilton's own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the series going the distance before the Raptors win Game 7 at home. If this hypothetical ever happened, it would hands down feed Canadian basketball for generations. The simulation didn't have Kawhi taking home his third Finals MVP. Instead, the honour went to his All-Star teammate Scottie Barnes, who put up a 36-point triple-double in Game 7. The accolades for Toronto don't stop there. Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković is named Coach of the Year after leading the team to 15 more wins than the previous season. The NBA 2K simulation had the Toronto Raptors achieve their best record in franchise history. (@ronnie2k/Instagram) Of course, there is one stat that stands out as a reason to question the simulation... the game has Leonard playing all 82 regular-season games — something he's never actually done in his career. Yeah, that's right: no load management, no missed games and no nights off — just Kawhi staying completely healthy to play every single night and average 18.5 points and 5.9 rebounds. If that's the case, Raptors vice-president of player health and performance Alex McKechnie should get an MVP vote. Last year's prediction from the NBA 2K series was close to being spot on. It had the Thunder beating the New York Knicks in the Finals, while the actual champion was the Knicks after the Spurs eliminated OKC in the Western Conference Finals. So take the simulation for what it's worth. Even if the outcome of the season was the Eastern Conference Finals, it feels like it would be an outcome many Raptors fans would still be happy with. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:22:18 GMT Marley Dickinson, Offside https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58158748 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58158748 false false Rogers Communications Inc. says it has completed its purchase of the remaining 25 per cent stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment from Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Inc. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:11:07 GMT Globalnews Digital https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58157876 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58157876 false false Kawhi Leonard is back with the Toronto Raptors for his second stint with them. During his media availability, he may have let it be known around the time he will retire. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:43:33 GMT Hunter Cookston https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58157561 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58157561 false false The Raptors apparently have seen enough from Jamal Shead to know they’d like him to stick around. Toronto and the third-year guard have agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2029-30 season, his agent KJ Smith told Shams Charania of ESPN. Shead was entering the final […] The post appeared first on . Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:05:09 GMT Sam Amico https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58156369 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58156369 false false He's been one of the NBA's best backup guards since breaking into the league, all while rarely missing a game. Read more. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:50:41 GMT Ryan Wolstat https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58156190 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58156190 false false The Raptors lock up a piece of their future. The post first appeared on . Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:25:45 GMT Camden MacMillan https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58155863 https://sportspyder.com/nba/toronto-raptors/articles/58155863 false false