NBA Playoffs: Why Raptors View Collin Murray-Boyles As An X Factor

The Raptors (46-36) enter their NBA playoff first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) on Saturday (1 pm ET) as a No. 5 seed mostly because Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes have produced at All-Star caliber levels. But the Raptors also view Murray-Boyles as an X factor.

Plenty of focus on this year’s NBA rookie class centers on Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel. But after the Raptors drafted Murray-Boyles at No. 9 following two years in South Carolina, he could make an NBA All-Rookie team after averaging 8.5 points on 57.9% shooting and 5.0 rebounds per game as mostly a reserve (57 games). Murray-Boyles has also started in 22 games either to fill in for an injured Jakob Poeltl or for matchup purposes.

Rajaković said he has become “really, really pleased with Murray-Boyles’ development” with his rebounding, screen-setting and finishing in pick-and-rolls. The Raptors have also become impressed with Murray-Boyles’ physically-imposing defense, improved shooting and maturity.

“I don’t even focus on that,” Murray-Boyles said about making an NBA All-Rookie team. “It’s nice if people see what I’m doing and get recognized and shed some light. But I’m focused on the team. I could care less about self-accolades. It’s nice on the résumé. But I don’t really give a damn about the résumé, except for winning as many games and as many championships as possible.”

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 5: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net against Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 5, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

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How Murray-Boyles has managed his injury

That explains Murray-Boyles’ determination to keep playing through his injury.

“He’s not a soft guy at all. His thumb has been hurt damn near the whole season,” Raptors veteran guard Garrett Temple said in a one-on-one interview. “He’s continued to have the mindset, ‘It’s not going to heal. So keep playing. I’ll let it heal in the summertime.’”

Technically, Murray-Boyles healed his injury enough to miss only 11 games and return on March 23. He has played in 12 of the past 14 games since then. He hasn’t healed his injury enough, however, without the ailment affecting his game.

Murray-Boyles conceded he often feels the sting when he matches up against brute big men. Murray also shared he often senses the wrap disrupting his shooting stroke. Since his return from injury, however, Murray-Boyles has still averaged 11.8 points on 66.2% shooting and 5.2 rebounds per game.

“I’m trying to get back being comfortable with it like it used to be without the thumb injury,” Murray-Boyles said. “I just want to be confident with how I was. It’s been a challenge, for sure, in a lot of aspects. But I’m trying to work through it and still trying to adapt and move on from it.”

Murray-Boyles has impressed Toronto with his adaptability.

Though he dislikes wearing the wrap around his left thumb, Murray-Boyles has deferred to the Raptors’ training staff on the treatment. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Murray-Boyles stayed diligent with his weight-training regimen that centers on bulking up his 6-foot-7, 245-pound frame without compromising his mobility. After fielding concerns about his shooting accuracy during his collegiate career, Murray-Boyles has tweaked his shooting mechanics both before and after his injury.

“He’s a hard worker,” Ingram said of Murray-Boyles. “Every single day, he puts the work in off the floor and on the floor. He’s vocal and he knows the personnel coming into the locker room. He knows what we are doing.”

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 20: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors reacts during first half of their NBA game against the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

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How Murray-Boyles is a quick study

Murray-Boyles gave the Raptors such a positive impression with his work habits and attitude.

The Raptors marvel at Murray-Boyles’ consistent diligence to strength training in the offseason and in between games. They respect that he has embraced the challenge with defending physically-imposing frontcourt veterans.

“He’s the strongest rookie that I’ve ever been around,” said Temple, a 16-year NBA veteran. “If he’s going to read this, his head is going to get bigger. But he’s a very strong young man. So it’s one thing to be undersized. But he’s not giving up any strength in the post at all. You couple that with his lateral quickness and he poses a problem for a lot of scorers.”

The Raptors also appreciate that Murray-Boyles has addressed his shooting weaknesses entering the NBA. Murray-Boyles said he has worked with the Raptors’ coaching staff on improving his balance and shooting mechanics. He has become faster with getting into a shooting stance. He has lowered his base to create more arc on his shot. He has tweaked his stroke to ensure he can he release the ball in one motion. He has placed his shooting hand on top of the ball to improve the accuracy. Murray-Boyles hardly plays like a stretch-five, nor do the Raptors expect him to be. But he has shot more efficiently inside and more respectable outside even amid his recent injury.

“He’s going to be just fine as a shooter,” Rajaković said. “He just needs to completely recover with his thumb. He’ll need to put a lot of work into it this summer to get it right.”

Beyond dealing with his injury, Murray-Boyles said he never felt he has experienced a rookie wall or struggled with the NBA’s faster speed because he devotes his free time toward rest and recovery. Murray-Boyles refrains from staying glued to his phone, playing video games or staying in his hotel room for an extended period of time. Instead, Murray-Boyles said he spends lots of his free time taking walks outside, reading, listening to music and conversing with his family.

“You address something one time with him and he picks up on things so quickly,” Rajaković said. “He’s able to apply it to the game right away.”

Besides studying game footage and player personnel, Murray attributed his attitude as a major reason for why he can process process new information quickly.

“The willingness to shut up, that’s really the biggest thing,” Murray-Boyles said. “Just being able to listen to people above you. Everybody wants the best for you. Because what is best for you is best for the team. So just having your ears open.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors poses for a portrait during the 2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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How Murray-Boyles handled a rookie prank

Murray-Boyles mostly kept that attitude even when his teammates pulled a practical joke on him.

In mid-March, Murray discovered that various Raptors players filled his car with buttered popcorn. The video showed that Murray-Boyles did not seem amused. A little over a week later, Murray-Boyles sounded more subdued since he got the car cleaned and that it wasn’t “his main car.” But Murray-Boyles hardly viewed the moment as an acceptable rites-of-passage.

“I don’t think it should’ve happened. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Murray-Boyles said. “But it is what it is. Being a rookie, it comes with that type of stuff.”

Temple said the prank happened because Murray-Boyles “came out to the game a little late when he wasn’t in the rotation.”

“He was mad as hell,” Temple said. “That’s good. He was supposed to be mad. He changed his ways. The things that we needed him to change, he changed.”

Murray-Boyles and teammates didn’t exactly view that incident through the same lens. But the moment at least revealed that all parties feel comfortable with expressing their feelings around each other. Otherwise, Murray-Boyles has mostly earned praise for his habits and for how he handles feedback.

“This has been a very good place to be. “I couldn’t really think of anything better,” Murray-Boyles said. “They make everything easy. That’s the biggest thing. They don’t sugarcoat anything. It’s really tough love over here. If I play well, they’ll say I did well. But they’ll always tell me what I need to work on and how the game could have gone better. They never let me be complacent.”

Neither does Murray-Boyles, who remains determined to fulfill Temple’s vision as “a big part of a playoff team” even through his thumb injury.

“It has been a really good year of learning and getting better, learning how I can be better for the team and how I can be a better person,” Murray-Boyles said. “It’s really good character building all around.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com