Tempo was the day’s theme on Thursday, starting with the name unveiling of Toronto’s WNBA franchise, which will begin play in 2026.
By night’s end, tempo remained the hot topic as Canada’s top hoopster, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, played his first and only game in Toronto this season with the championship-contending Oklahoma City Thunder.
There are more accomplished scorers in the NBA than SGA, better athletes who can play above the rim. But no player goes about his business with as unique a tempo as the Hamilton native, who plays at his own pace and can score at all three levels.
OKC got its hands on SGA in that fateful trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that sent Paul George to L.A. at the wishes of Kawhi Leonard.
Even in the moment, the deal seemed ill-advised and time has clearly shown that the Clippers made a huge misjudgment.
The Thunder rolled into Toronto a bit undermanned but still had little trouble swatting aside the Raptors — who were without centre Jakob Poeltl because of an illness — 129-90 at Scotiabank Arena.
Gilgeous-Alexander produced a game-high 30 points while the Thunder’s other Canadian starter, Lu Dort, had six points with six rebounds.
The youngest team in the NBA, the Thunder boasts a roster dotted with young stars, along with the presence of SGA, and a trove of future draft picks — all of the requisite elements that will make OKC a contender this season and in the years to follow.
The Raptors, meanwhile, are in the midst of a rebuild.
Toronto’s perceived equivalent of SGA is Scottie Barnes, which sums up the dilemma facing the franchise as it aims to return to relevance.
Barnes entered the night having scored a career-high 35 points in a win over visiting Indiana. There’s no question he has the skill and potential to be an elite player, but he needs help.
In a perfect world, the Raptors will somehow acquire a player who is better than Barnes and he will be slotted more properly as the No. 2 option.
SGA is a clear-cut No. 1, whose next jump in his evolution will arrive only when he’s dominating playoff games and leading OKC on a deep playoff run.
The players surrounding Barnes are more complementary.
At least the Raptors were able to welcome back Gradey Dick, who hurt his calf in the first game of Toronto’s recent four-game road trip. Dick missed the next three games plus the first two in Toronto’s homestand, both wins in which RJ Barrett flourished. He topped the Raptors with 17 points against the Thunder.
The next glimpse of the Raptors progression will be provided when Immanuel Quickley returns from his elbow injury.
It was a night to celebrate basketball in Canada with the program’s two faces in SGA and Barrett opposing each other.
Barnes scored the game’s first basket Thursday night on a rhythm three-ball, one possession after SGA’s turnaround over Barrett rimmed in and out.
And so the game began.
The one glaring difference between SGA and Barnes, who is three years younger, is how effortless and efficient SGA gets to his spot, not to mention his ability to change direction and speed.
Another glaring difference is the talent surrounding each player on their respective teams. On Thursday night, the talent disparity was pronounced.
Dick’s first three heaves came from distance. He buried one attempt, but also launched an air ball.
SGA took 11 shots in the game’s opening eight minutes as the Thunder opened up a double-digit advantage.
Toronto began the night by going 4-for-20 from the field.
Similar to Tuesday night’s visit by the Pacers, 30% of Thursday’s opening lineup had a Canadian theme. Unlike Tuesday, Toronto’s opponent was not inferior.
OKC led 34-17 after the opening quarter and was up by 27 at the half.
But on this night, the score became immaterial when everyone knew the likely outcome would not favour the Raptors.
Despite Toronto’s market size, it remains a small market from an NBA perspective given all the inherent issues associated with being the lone team residing outside of the United States.
OKC is a small market by every definition, but its ability to draft and develop has turned the Thunder into a legitimate contender.
At the head of the snake is a Canadian whose career trajectory may even supplant two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash as the greatest hoopster Canada has produced.
At this stage in their development, the Raptors need nights such as Thursday.
It would be foolish to deem it as a measuring stick, but it allowed the Raptors to look at a team that used the draft to build its core pieces.
When viable trade options became available, OKC pounced.
In a way, the Raptors were exposed to a blueprint that has served the Thunder well and figures to be sustainable.
At some point, players will want to secure their bag. From that standpoint, the Raptors are ahead of the game having locked up Barnes and Quickley this past off-season with Barrett under contract.