It appears that the Toronto Raptors have learned their lesson.
The Raptors faced heavy backlash, especially from fans, after seemingly forgetting how to stand up for their teammate — guard Jamal Shead, late in their Wednesday loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La.
Even Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic had something to say about his players’ inaction.
“There is a way on how you need to stand up for each other, and protect each other,” Rajakovic said following the game against the Pelicans, via Omer Osman of Raptors Updates. “This team that we have is all about that, all about connectivity, and it needs to be addressed the right way.”
Against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, the Raptors let their actions speak for themselves in their response to the criticisms.
After Toronto forward RJ Barrett was shoved by fellow former Duke Blue Devils star and Suns guard Grayson Allen while going into the paint, Raptors players immediately went to the scene to let everyone know they had their teammate’s back.
Unlike in the Shead moment, where only Immanuel Quickley tried to care, multiple Toronto players gathered near Barrett, with forward Ja’Kobe Walter, big man Jakob Poeltl and guard Quickley backing up their teammate this time around.
The team gathers together after Grayson Allen’s foul on RJ Barrett. https://t.co/llJ2WPXJ4s pic.twitter.com/IfU6N3tOjW
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) March 13, 2026
The Raptors have struggled to stay consistent of late, and an internal issue about leaving a teammate out to dry is not going to make things any better for Toronto. Fortunately, they seem to have already worked that out following the incident between Jamal Shead and Dejounte Murray.
Toronto has also gotten back on track after defeating the Suns, 122-115, snapping the Raptors’ two-game losing streak and improving their record to 37-29.
