TORONTO — Despite his relatively smaller size, Ochai Agbaji is determined to take on some of the NBA’s most prominent forwards.
In the Toronto Raptors’ 119-118 preseason win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Agbaji was primarily tasked with defending all-star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Standing at six feet five inches, Agbaji is an inch shorter than Brown and three inches shorter than Tatum, but he’s ready to rise to the occasion.
“I embrace that challenge every night,” Agbaji stated. “It’s exciting to face these matchups against the defending champions, and I know I need to elevate my game.”
He added, “No matter who it is—whether it’s them or Kevin Durant—it’s always enjoyable to compete against top players.”
Last season, Agbaji averaged 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 27 games with the Raptors after being traded from the Utah Jazz on February 8. Although he played as a shooting guard, his role with the relatively undersized Raptors this season will often see him matched up against larger opponents.
“It requires a helpers’ mentality on defense,” Agbaji explained. “Everyone has to be ready to support when their teammate is facing a post-up or gets beat off the ball. It’s a collective effort that we need every night.”
Last season, Brown averaged 23 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during his third all-star year, while Tatum, a five-time all-star, averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
Despite the challenge of defending these scoring threats, Agbaji recorded a game-high plus-29 defensive rating and limited Brown and Tatum to below their usual scoring averages, with Brown finishing with 19 points and Tatum with 24.
On Tuesday, Agbaji also contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, shooting 7 of 11 from the field and 1 of 4 from three-point range.
“For me, his defensive work is the priority, and he made a significant impact on the game,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “Tonight, he was also effective in transition and created scoring opportunities.”
The Raptors will play their final preseason game against the Nets in Brooklyn on Friday.
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