What do you consider team basketball? Wins, defense, the coaching system, ball movement? Well, the 2021-22 Toronto Raptors joined a very exclusive club with their level of team play.

The 2021-22 Raptors made history by being one of two teams in NBA history to have all five starters average over 15-plus points per game (PPG). The only other team to ever have those averages were the 1973-74 Buffalo Braves led by Bob McAdoo (30.6 PPG), Jim McMillan (18.6 PPG), Ernie DiGregorio (15.2 PPG), Gar Heard (15.3 PPG), Randy Smith (15.5 PPG).

The Raptors finished the 2021-22 season with a respectable 48-34 record with Nick Nurse as the coach. Unfortunately, The Raptors lost in the Eastern Conference First Round (2-4) versus the Philadelphia 76ers. However, their regular season is still something to appreciate, as they finished with a top-10 defensive rating at number 10. Surprisingly, the Raptors’ offensive rating was 20th in the league. Below I will list the starting five by position with their 2021-22 season stats and my stat predictions for the 2022-23 season.

Point Guard: Fred VanVleet

2021-22 season averages: 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game

At point guard, Fred VanVleet made his first All-Star team this past season and has continued to prove himself as an undrafted gem. VanVleet won an NBA championship with the Raptors in 2019 and continues to help the Raptors stay competitive in the Eastern Conference. For the 2022-23 season, I predict that VanVleet will average 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

Shooting Guard: Gary Trent Jr.

2021-22 season averages: 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and two assists per game

At shooting guard, Gary Trent Jr. has taken the league by surprise, going from a second-round pick to being that go-to guy in crunch time to win you a game as a slept-on but rising star in the game. Trent finished this past season scoring a career-high in points and shows promise to keep growing as a great offensive player. For the 2022-23 season, I predict Trent Jr. will average 16.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. 

Small Forward: OG Anunoby

2021-22 season averages: 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game

At small forward, OG Anunoby was a crucial part of the team’s offense and has continued to be more involved on both sides of the ball. Since being a part of the Raptors 2019 championship team, Anunoby has grown year by year. For the 2022-23 season, I predict Anunoby will average 17.5 points, six rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

Power Forward: Scottie Barnes

2021-22 season averages: 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game

At power forward, Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes. Barnes had a stellar rookie season and showed superstar potential. We can expect Barnes to continually grow as a focal point of the team’s offense and have a bigger playmaking role. For the 2022-23 season, I predict Barnes will average 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists per game. 

Center: Pascal Siakam

2021-22 season averages: 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists

Last but not least, Pascal Siakam. Siakam won a championship with the Raptors 2019 team as well. Siakam has been the face of this Raptors team for the last three seasons and continues to get better. For the 2022-23 season, I predict that Siakam will average 24.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. 

In finality, this young Raptors team is a very real threat in the NBA as a title contender and has the means to beat the other powerhouses of the league. There seems to be a distribution of “wealth” on the team regarding how evenly spread the scoring is amongst the starters. I look forward to seeing what this group can accomplish.