The so badly want to turn into a very good basketball player, and it’s not hard to see why the organization holds such hope. He’s a sturdy six-foot-five and a solid 220 pounds and possesses all the requisite characteristics of an NBA regular. He’s quick and fast, strong and explosive — close your eyes and imagine something like a younger, more raw from about four or five years ago — and there are high hopes around the franchise for the 24-year-old Agbaji.
They know he has to be a much better shooter, a more attentive defender and a more consistently high-IQ offensive performer, but the team is bound and determined to give him every opportunity. Agbaji rewarded them Friday at the Scotiabank Arena with steady, smart, key contributions at both ends of the court. His numbers weren’t eye-popping in a 115-107 victory over Philadelphia that devolved into a steady stream of fouls and free throws, but Agbaji had one of his best games as a Raptor.
He finished at the rim in transition and with smart cuts off the ball, his perimeter defence was on point and his help came at the right time and from the right spot. His performance was part of a fine all-around outing by the Raptors, who shrugged off the ugliness of to Cleveland. And if the Sixers were missing Joel Embiid and Paul George, the Raptors were full measure for effort, intensity and defence.
led the way with 27 points. Agbaji had 12 points and eight rebounds while playing steady defence. He was exactly the kind of “.