Raptors’ Collin Murray-Boyles sees Toronto’s defense turning into ‘nightmare’ appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors already built their identity on the defensive end last season, and Collin Murray-Boyles believes the addition of Kawhi Leonard could take that to another level.
Toronto was a top-five defensive team in 2025-26 while going 46-36 and earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors then took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round before falling 114-102 in Game 7.
This offseason, they brought back a familiar face. Toronto reacquired Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a package of draft picks to Los Angeles, reuniting the franchise with the two-time Defensive Player of the Year who led it to the 2019 NBA championship.
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Asked how good Toronto can be defensively with Leonard in the fold, Murray-Boyles did not hold back. “Really good. I don’t think we have a limit to how good we can be,” the 21-year-old told Sportsnet. “If we’re all dialed in, I feel like it’s going to be a nightmare for any team if we’re all on the same page.”
“It’s going to be a nightmare for any team if we’re all on the same page.”
Collin Murray-Boyles on how good the Raptors can be defensively this season. pic.twitter.com/ag3tjWabLt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2026
The second-year forward stressed, however, that talent alone will not get the Raptors there. In his eyes, communication and trust will matter just as much as individual ability.
“It’s more mental than our ability,” Murray-Boyles said. “I think more just being on the same page when it comes to help and rotation and stuff like that. If a player gets beat, who can be there, step up for him. I think that’s going to be our biggest thing to focus on when it comes to how good our defense can be.”
Murray-Boyles is poised to play a bigger role in that effort. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of South Carolina earned All-Rookie Second Team honors last season after averaging 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 57 games, including 22 starts.
Now he gets to share the floor with one of the best perimeter stoppers of his generation.
If Toronto can deliver on the connected defense that Murray-Boyles envisions, the Raptors could be a problem for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
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