Toronto Raptors rookie guard Ja’Kobe Walter will miss his first NBA coaching camp due to a sprained proper shoulder, the group introduced Friday. The 6-foot-4 Walter was chosen nineteenth total by Toronto within the first spherical of the NBA draft this previous June.
Walter, 20, was injured throughout casual exercises this week. The Raptors mentioned it’s going to replace Walter’s situation following subsequent week’s coaching camp in Montreal.
In July, Walter signed a four-year, $16.78 million contract with the group. Per Spotrac, his deal contains membership choices within the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. He’s slated to earn $3.46 million in 2024-25.
Ja’Kobe Walter sprained his acromioclavicular joint (MC joint) throughout casual exercises this week.
He is not going to take part in on-court actions in the course of the begin of coaching camp subsequent week.
An replace will likely be offered after subsequent week.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) September 27, 2024
In 35 video games (all begins) with Baylor in his lone season with the Bears, he averaged 14.5 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 32.3 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures 37.6% from the sphere, 34.1% from 3-point vary, and 79.2% on the free throw line.
Walter was additionally named Massive 12 Freshman of the 12 months and was chosen to the third-team All-Massive 12. By the tip of the season in his convention, he completed eighth in factors (508), seventh in 3-pointers (75), third in free throws (145), and fifth in offensive win shares (3.0).
Toronto Raptors guard Ja’Kobe Walter appears to be like ahead to taking part in alongside Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett
In Baylor’s 88-82 season-opener victory over Auburn on Nov. 7, 2023, Walter recorded a career-high 28 factors on 7-of-13 (53.8%) taking pictures from the ground, 3-of-6 (50%) from past the arc, and all 10 made free throws.
The McKinney, Texas, native mentioned after the draft that he plans to offer it his all with the Raptors. He talked about three younger core gamers: Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett.
“I’m simply attempting to make a right away affect in any approach I can,” mentioned Walter in a video convention from the draft flooring in New York Metropolis. “No matter they want me to do coming in, I’m gonna do it for them. … [I] actually simply [want to] attempt to convey that successful depth.
“I’ve watched all of them play college-wise and within the NBA. … Scottie is a giant character man; you realize what he brings to the group: all of the power. RJ, identical with him, he can rating the ball very properly, after which Quickley is only a nice level guard. I believe I’m going to slot in properly with them, and I’m tremendous excited.”
In accordance with Sportsnet, Walter’s first identify Ja’Kobe — pronounced juh-KOH’-bee — is a mixture of the names of all-time greats Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
“Me and my household talked about this for a very long time. I prayed so many occasions for simply this second, proper right here,” Walter added. “So now that it’s lastly right here, it’s simply desires into actuality, and I’m simply grateful.”
