Expectations are high going into the new season for the Toronto Raptors with a maturing young core and the return of Kawhi Leonard.
But whether or not the Raptors make a deep playoff run depends on a few factors, one of them being centre Jakob Poeltl.
The Raptors signed Poeltl to a four-year, $104 million extension in July of 2025, but he was limited to just 46 games last season due to a back injury that flared up at last year’s training camp and lingered throughout the season. With Poeltl about to turn 31, it’s possible he’ll have to manage the injury for the rest of his career.
Poeltl finished the season averaging 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, which were his lowest totals since the 2020-21 season with the San Antonio Spurs. And while he started all seven games in Toronto’s first-round series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he played the least of any starter by more than 10 minutes per game.
But after a summer recuperating and training in his native Austria, Poeltl said at media day last week he’s feeling good going into the season.
“Feeling really good. Been putting a lot of work in this summer trying to get in the best shape possible. Get in the best back situation I guess possible. Hopefully all that work will pay off,” Poeltl TSN 1050 Toronto last Monday.
“I also have some more experience with how things went last season. So, I think just based off of that I can manage it better already, so I’m honestly pretty confident.”
The Cavs outrebounded the Raptors by 31 in the series and the Raps were at times punished on the interior. Currently, Poeltl is the only player on the Raptors’ roster taller than 6-foot-9.
As TSN’s Josh Lewenberg wrote in a column posted last week, the Raptors were 772 points better with Poeltl on the floor compared to without from 2023 to 2025. He’s always been efficient on the offensive end and is an anchor on the defensive end, averaging more than a block per game during his six years as a Raptor.
When asked what he was hoping for from the upcoming season, Poeltl said being on the court consistently was key – not only for him, but for the rest of the team.
“I think I want to just get some consistency back. Like, last year was tough with the injury situation. Our team with other guys like [Immanuel] Quickley being out at times, we kind of couldn’t get that rhythm going the way I would have wanted to. So, for me, just to be out on the court as much as possible and really dialling it in early in the season to then be able to build something over the season and be ready for a playoff run.”
What’s he most excited for this season?
“How hungry everybody is. We’ve kind of gotten a taste of something last year, and now obviously adding a guy like Kawhi giving us that piece of even more experience, even more individual basketball talent. If we can put all these pieces together, I think we have a really good mix that can make us a very successful team. We’ve just got to go out there and do it,” Poeltl said.
He’s set to enter his 11th NBA season and reflected on the journey his career has been.
“It’s honestly like a long journey to look back on, but honestly, it feels like it flew past like nothing happened. But yea, really enjoyed it and hopefully there’s a couple more good years to come.”
