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Toronto Raptors rookie Collin Murray-Boyles is seen as a potential X factor for the team despite dealing with a thumb injury that sidelined him for 11 games. He remains focused on his performance and recovery.
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 4: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors dunks against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 4, 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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As he stood by his locker, Toronto Raptors rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles stared at the wrap around his left thumb.
Murray-Boyles called it âannoyingâ to deal with an injury that affected him in various ways. He stayed sidelined for 11 consecutive games from mid-February to mid-March. He conceded he felt limited since returning last month. Yet, Murray-Boyles never complained about any pain that he feels. Instead, Murray-Boyles spoke in a matter-of-fact tone on how long he will have to keep wearing a wrap.
âItâll probably be the rest of the season,â Murray-Boyles said in a recent one-on-one interview.
Murray-Boyles doesnât represent the latest example of the leagueâs load-management problem. Nor is Murray-Boyles a hyped prospect that hit a rookie wall amid more demanding games, practices and travel. Instead of complaining to Raptors coach Darko RajakoviÄ and teammates about his injury, Murray-Boyles has forced himself to ignore the inconveniences.
âI know the team needs me,â Murray-Boyles said. âI know Iâm a big part of what Darko needs with the energy that I bring, the defensive intensity and being a playmaker in our offense. Iâm trying to get back into the flow of our game and how we play. Iâm just trying to impact it.â
Collin Murray-Boyles suffered a thumb injury that caused him to miss 11 consecutive games.
Since returning, Murray-Boyles has felt limited but has not complained about any pain.
The Raptors view him as an X factor due to his potential impact on the team's performance despite his recent injury struggles.
Collin Murray-Boyles returned to play in mid-March after being sidelined since mid-February.

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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 yearâs 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.
RajakoviÄ said he has become âreally, really pleased with Murray-Boylesâ developmentâ with his rebounding, screen-setting and finishing in pick-and-rolls. The Raptors have also become impressed with Murray-Boylesâ physically-imposing defense, improved shooting and maturity.
âI donât even focus on that,â Murray-Boyles said about making an NBA All-Rookie team. âItâs nice if people see what Iâm doing and get recognized and shed some light. But Iâm focused on the team. I could care less about self-accolades. Itâs nice on the rĂ©sumĂ©. But I donât really give a damn about the rĂ©sumĂ©, except for winning as many games and as many championships as possible.â
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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That explains Murray-Boylesâ determination to keep playing through his injury.
âHeâs not a soft guy at all. His thumb has been hurt damn near the whole season,â Raptors veteran guard Garrett Temple said in a one-on-one interview. âHeâs continued to have the mindset, âItâs not going to heal. So keep playing. Iâll let it heal in the summertime.ââ
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 hasnât 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.
âIâm trying to get back being comfortable with it like it used to be without the thumb injury,â Murray-Boyles said. âI just want to be confident with how I was. Itâs been a challenge, for sure, in a lot of aspects. But Iâm trying to work through it and still trying to adapt and move on from it.â
Murray-Boyles has impressed Toronto with his adaptability.
Though he dislikes wearing the wrap around his left thumb, Murray-Boyles has deferred to the Raptorsâ 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.
âHeâs a hard worker,â Ingram said of Murray-Boyles. âEvery single day, he puts the work in off the floor and on the floor. Heâs vocal and he knows the personnel coming into the locker room. He knows what we are doing.â
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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Murray-Boyles gave the Raptors such a positive impression with his work habits and attitude.
The Raptors marvel at Murray-Boylesâ 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.
âHeâs the strongest rookie that Iâve ever been around,â said Temple, a 16-year NBA veteran. âIf heâs going to read this, his head is going to get bigger. But heâs a very strong young man. So itâs one thing to be undersized. But heâs 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.â
The Raptors also appreciate that Murray-Boyles has addressed his shooting weaknesses entering the NBA. Murray-Boyles said he has worked with the Raptorsâ 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.
âHeâs going to be just fine as a shooter,â RajakoviÄ said. âHe just needs to completely recover with his thumb. Heâll need to put a lot of work into it this summer to get it right.â
Beyond dealing with his injury, Murray-Boyles said he never felt he has experienced a rookie wall or struggled with the NBAâs 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.
âYou address something one time with him and he picks up on things so quickly,â RajakoviÄ said. âHeâs able to apply it to the game right away.â
Besides studying game footage and player personnel, Murray attributed his attitude as a major reason for why he can process process new information quickly.
âThe willingness to shut up, thatâs really the biggest thing,â Murray-Boyles said. âJust 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.â
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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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 wasnât âhis main car.â But Murray-Boyles hardly viewed the moment as an acceptable rites-of-passage.
âI donât think it shouldâve happened. I didnât do anything wrong,â Murray-Boyles said. âBut it is what it is. Being a rookie, it comes with that type of stuff.â
Temple said the prank happened because Murray-Boyles âcame out to the game a little late when he wasnât in the rotation.â
âHe was mad as hell,â Temple said. âThatâs good. He was supposed to be mad. He changed his ways. The things that we needed him to change, he changed.â
Murray-Boyles and teammates didnât 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.
âThis has been a very good place to be. âI couldnât really think of anything better,â Murray-Boyles said. âThey make everything easy. Thatâs the biggest thing. They donât sugarcoat anything. Itâs really tough love over here. If I play well, theyâll say I did well. But theyâll always tell me what I need to work on and how the game could have gone better. They never let me be complacent.â
Neither does Murray-Boyles, who remains determined to fulfill Templeâs vision as âa big part of a playoff teamâ even through his thumb injury.
âIt 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,â Murray-Boyles said. âItâs really good character building all around.â
This article was originally published on Forbes.com