Which Raptor would survive a zombie apocalypse? Who has the most impressive autograph collection? Did Luis Scola get emotional at the end of Fast & Furious 7? (Hint: hell yes). Why is Terrence Ross singing Alice Cooper? Every day until the season starts, a new player steps in front of the lens and answers the tough questions so you can get to know your Toronto Raptors. Up next, Cory Joseph can’t help but sing some Katy Perry.
|Know Your Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas|Terrence Ross| DeMar DeRozan| Norm Powell| Patrick Patterson| Anthony Bennett| Bismack Biyombo|
It didn’t take much for Toronto to become a fan of Cory Joseph. Not only is Joseph a hometown kid— born in Scarborough— but when he signed with the Raptors, he also became the only player on the team with an NBA championship ring.
As if it weren’t enough, Drake then took it upon himself to reference Joseph in his song, “Charged Up”: “I get a ring and I bring it home like I’m Cory Joe.” He decided to adorn the no. 6 jersey for the Raps as well.
OK, so it was something of a homecoming for Joseph. How he plans to fit in with the Raptors is another story.
Joseph figures to back up point guard Kyle Lowry and the amount of minutes he gets depends on how strong and durable Lowry appears down the stretch. In his last two seasons in San Antonio his minutes jumped, big time. The pressure on a local hero who carries a 4-year, $30 million price tag to perform, especially in a backup role, may mount as the season goes on. He’s not a big PPG guy but his FG% and 3P% increased through each of his four seasons.
With the Spurs, Joseph was part of Coach Gregg Popovich’s extremely structured and mobile offense. He’ll have to adapt to Dwayne Casey’s system and do so quickly.
What he brings to the locker room though, in terms of experience at such a young age, is invaluable. He’s quickly established himself as a fan favourite, and Drake’s got his back too.
Not a bad start.
2014-15 stats: 79 games played (14 starts), 18.3 mpg/6.8 ppg/2.4 rpg/2.4 apg/50.4% shooting (36.4% 3PT)
|Know Your Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas|Terrence Ross| DeMar DeRozan| Norm Powell| Patrick Patterson| Anthony Bennett| Bismack Biyombo|