TORONTO – Collin Murray-Boyles has developed a easy philosophy in his rookie NBA season: work laborious.
Murray-Boyles had 17 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists in an impactful efficiency for the Raptors as Toronto topped the Atlanta Hawks 118-100 on Monday. He additionally had three steals and two blocks, main the Raptors with a plus-24 defensive ranking.
“In case you’re not drained, you’re not going laborious sufficient, so I attempt to be as drained as attainable,” mentioned Murray-Boyles with fun.
Murray-Boyles began at centre rather than Jakob Poeltl, who stays out with a sore decrease again. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed pre-game that Poeltl had been cleared for contact, nonetheless.
Whether or not it’s steals or blocks, Murray-Boyles additionally has a easy philosophy on how one can disrupt opposing groups.
“It’s largely simply not having your palms by your aspect, like, that helps lots with it,” he mentioned. “Simply being energetic, having your palms up makes your life approach simpler.”
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The six-foot-seven ahead was chosen ninth total by Toronto in final summer time’s NBA Draft. Murray-Boyles performed energy ahead for the South Carolina Gamecocks however, on the undersized Raptors, has been pressed into service at centre with Poeltl unavailable.
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The 20-year-old was averaging 6.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 18.8 minutes per sport heading into Monday’s win over Atlanta. He’s performed at the least 24:45 in every of his final 5 video games, nonetheless, as he earns Rajakovic’s belief.
“A typical mistake is when a participant is available in, you have already got an thought of what he must be. Generally we as coaches simply attempt to field them in,” mentioned Rajakovic. “We’re consistently studying about Collin, what he can do, how he’s studying, how he’s selecting up on issues. It’s actually spectacular, his growth.
“The chance he’s taking up proper now, he’s doing spectacular issues for us.”
Murray-Boyles has discovered a kindred spirit in Scottie Barnes, with the pair an efficient duo on defence.
“We’re each across the identical dimension, we’re each bodily, we each guard rather well, we are able to transfer our ft, we are able to guard the perfect of them,” mentioned Barnes, who’s an inch taller than Murray-Boyles however famous that he’s about 20 kilos lighter than the rookie.
“After we’re on the market on the ground, we see a display screen come collectively, we do an important job of once we wish to swap. Is determined by the scout, the sport plan, what we wish to do, it really works.”
Murray-Boyles mentioned that, for his half, he’s drawing inspiration from Barnes who received the NBA rookie of the yr award in 2022.
“He brings power. He’s most likely, I feel, the perfect defensive participant based mostly off of simply his versatility and his effort,” mentioned Murray-Boyles. “Simply watching that, particularly as a younger man, sort of comparable dimension, clearly, seeing what he does, it simply makes me wish to imitate that and simply be the perfect I might be.”
The Raptors (22-15) take their two-game win streak to Charlotte on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 6, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
