The 19th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Walter will make his seventh start of the campaign due to RJ Barrett (illness) and Gradey Dick (hamstring) both being sidelined. As a starter this season, Walter holds averages of 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Available Sunday
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Walter (illness) is available for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Walter will suit up after missing Thursday's loss to Memphis due to the illness. Over his last five appearances, the rookie has averaged 13.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 25.4 minutes per contest.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Draws questionable tag
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Walter (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Hawks, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
Walter is in danger of missing his second straight game due to an illness. His final status for Sunday will likely be determined by how he is feeling closer to game time. Davion Mitchell (illness), Bruce Brown (knee) and Ochai Agbaji would be candidates to absorb Walter's reserve minutes on the wing if he cannot go.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Won't play Thursday
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Walter (illness) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Memphis, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Walter will be held out of his first matchup since Nov. 25 due to the illness, and his next chance to feature will come Sunday against Atlanta. With the rookie sidelined, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Battle could see an uptick in playing time.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Iffy for Thursday
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Walter is listed as questionable for Thursday's game versus the Grizzlies due to an illness, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
Walter is in danger of missing his first game since Nov. 25 on Thursday due to an illness. If the rookie guard is unable to suit up against Memphis, Davion Mitchell and Jamison Battle are candidates to receive increased playing time.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Retreats to bench Monday
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Walter will come off the bench in Monday's game against the Knicks.
With veteran RJ Barrett slotting back into the starting five, Walter will retreat to the bench following two consecutive starts. The rookie was stellar in Sunday's loss to the Rockets, during which he posted a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three assists and two rebounds across 28 minutes. Over his last five outings (two starts), Walter has averaged 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Pops for career-high 27
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Walter fouled out of Sunday's 114-110 loss to the Rockets after recording a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds and three assists over 28 minutes.
The rookie might have pushed for 30 if he hadn't left the court for good with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter. Walter had never even reached 20 before Sunday, and the six made threes doubled his prior career high, so it would be easy to dismiss the performance as a fluke. The 19th overall pick in the 2024 Draft has been finding a groove with his shot, however. Over the last five games (two starts), Walter is shooting 44.4 percent (12-for-27) from the beyond the arc while averaging 13.6 points, 2.4 boards, 2.4 threes, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals in 24.8 minutes a contest.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Starting Thursday vs. Nets
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Walter will start in Thursday's matchup against the Nets, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The rookie will replace Jakob Poeltl (groin) in the starting five on Thursday, marking his fifth start through 14 regular-season appearances this year. Walter provided a spark for the Raptors while coming off the bench in his last five outings, during which he averaged 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 40.9 percent from the field across 23.2 minutes per contest.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Solid outing in close loss Monday
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Walter closed Monday's 122-121 loss to Chicago with six points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and two steals across 24 minutes.
The rookie was efficient while tying Kelly Olynyk for the team-high mark in steals. Walter has provided a spark for the Raptors thus far, and in his last five outings since moving back to the bench, he has averaged 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 40.9 percent from the field across 23.2 minutes per contest. The 20-year-old should continue to receive fairly significant playing time, especially with Immanuel Quickley (elbow) and Scottie Barnes (ankle) sidelined for an extended period.
Walter accumulated 19 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), one rebound and two assists over 22 minutes during Monday's 113-108 loss to New York.
Walter stepped his game up Monday and showed he might be ready to handle a more consistent role on offense, especially considering the absences of Immanuel Quickley (elbow) and Scottie Barnes (ankle). The 19-point output was a career-high mark for the former Baylor standout, who could jump into the starting lineup soon given the Raptors' lack of depth in the backcourt.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Won't start Thursday
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Walter will come off the bench in Thursday's game against the Thunder, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
With Gradey Dick (calf) back in action, Walter will come off the bench Thursday night after appearing in the Raptors 905's 134-92 G League win over the Greensboro Swarm earlier in the day, during which he chipped in seven points (3-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt), four assists and two rebounds across 13 minutes. The rookie started in the parent club's last four outings following a nine-game absence due to an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, during which he averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals across 22.0 minutes per contest.
Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Double-double in Wednesday's start
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Walter produced 14 points (6-14 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 119-93 win over New Orleans.
The 19th overall pick in the 2024 Draft returned from the G League and made a splash, recording his first career double-double against a Pelicans roster missing most of its key frontcourt players. The performance was definitely an encouraging one for Walter, and the 5-14 Raptors should have no problem finding minutes for him if the Baylor product is ready for a regular role, especially if Gradey Dick (calf), Immanuel Quickley (elbow) and Bruce Brown (knee) remain sidelined.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Starting vs. Pelicans
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Walter is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Raptors are tweaking their starting unit for this contest against the Pelicans to shake things up. It's unclear what kind of impact Walter might have, though, as he struggled in his first taste of action at the NBA level. The rookie out of Baylor hasn't played in the NBA since Nov. 6, as he spent the past few weeks with the Raptors 905 of the G League.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Rejoins parent club
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Toronto recalled Walter from the G League's Raptors 905 on Monday, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
After a recent six-game absence due to an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, Walter proved his health during a two-game stint in the G League over the weekend. In his two appearances for the 905 on Friday and Sunday, Walter logged 44 total minutes and tallied 33 points (14-27 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Now that he's back with Toronto, Walter could factor into the rotation for Monday's game in Detroit with Gradey Dick (calf) sidelined for the contest.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Available vs. Minnesota
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Walter (shoulder) is available for Thursday's game against Minnesota, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The rookie first-round pick has missed the Raptors' last six games with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, but he should see minutes off the bench in this one as a depth piece in the backcourt. Walter is averaging just 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in his four appearances off the bench this season.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Practices, but still questionable
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Walter practiced with the G League's Raptors 905 and remains questionable for Toronto's game Thursday against the Timberwolves, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Walter was briefly assigned to the G League earlier Thursday to get in some practice time, but Toronto hasn't ruled him out from being available against Minnesota, with the game tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The rookie first-round pick has missed the Raptors' last six games with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Goes through practice
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Walter (shoulder) was able to participate in Wednesday's practice, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Walter has been upgraded from out indefinitely to day-to-day, but he'll need to get his conditioning up. From what it sounds like, a potential return Sunday against the Cavaliers could be on the table. With Scottie Barnes (eye) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow) on the mend, consistent minutes won't be easy to come by for Walter, however.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Questionable for Thursday
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Walter (shoulder) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Timberwolves.
Walter was able to practice in full Wednesday and is on the verge of a return. Scottie Barnes (eye) is also questionable, while Immanuel Quickley (elbow) remains out. If Walter does crack the rotation, he's likely to have a minimal role initially.
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Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter: Remains out indefinitely
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Walter (shoulder) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Pacers and remains sidelined indefinitely, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Walter doesn't have a return timetable while he works his way back from a shoulder injury. Walter worked his way into Toronto's rotation in early November due to the Raptors' myriad of absences, but when everyone is healthy, the rookie will have an uphill battle to see minutes consistently.
