Toronto Raptors fans can breathe easy: Jack Armstrong is coming back.
After a stretch of uncertainty about his future, the longtime TSN analyst confirmed Thursday night that he’ll return for his 29th season with the Raptors. Armstrong made the announcement during an interview with TSN SportsCentre host Jay Onrait, ending the speculation that had built up over the past few weeks.
“I’m back, I’m excited. Looking forward to the years to come talking hoops. I’m very, very appreciative of TSN and their commitment,” Armstrong said.
He added, “It’s a great time to be talking basketball. I want to thank the fan base for the outpouring of love and support.
It means a lot to me and my family. Thank you.”
Onrait told Armstrong that Raptors basketball just wouldn’t be the same without him.
The reaction from fans had been loud earlier this month, when it was reported that the 63-year-old broadcaster did not have a contract with TSN for the 2026-27 season. Social media filled up with support, including posts saying Armstrong should be protected from any change and that there should be no Raptors broadcast without him.
A former NCAA basketball coach, Armstrong has been a fixture on Raptors broadcasts since the 1998-99 season. For the last 18 seasons, he has worked alongside Matt Devlin on TSN’s coverage. Since the 2019 NBA championship, he has become one of the most recognizable voices in Toronto sports.
Armstrong is expected to be part of all 41 regular-season games TSN will air this season, along with the network’s preseason and playoff coverage. His next appearance will come Saturday in Quebec City, when the Raptors face the Miami Heat in their preseason opener on TSN.
In Other News...
Darkos Early Message On This Raptors Rookie Really Stood Out
Allen Graves got his first taste of Raptors basketball in preseason, and the early returns fit the profile Toronto expected when it brought in the rookie. In 15 minutes, he chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds and a steal, while also showing the kind of defensive energy that has already drawn attention from the coaching staff. For a player viewed as a long-term developmental piece, the debut was less about polished offense and more about whether he could hold his own in the teams system.
Darko Rajakovics message after the game stood out because it cut through the usual rookie caveats and centered on Graves defensive effort and aggressiveness. There are still questions around his speed and athleticism, but the Raptors clearly see a player whose value may come first on the less glamorous end of the floor, with a possible three-point shot adding to the appeal. For now, Toronto is focused on the foundation, and Graves has already given them a reason to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Stiller Had The Perfect Caveat To RJ Barrett's Knicks Return
RJ Barretts return to New York has the kind of built-in drama that comes with any homecoming, especially for a Toronto-born player who spent his early NBA years with the Knicks before being dealt to the Raptors on Dec. 30, 2023 in a multi-player swap. Since arriving in Toronto, Barrett has settled in as a steady scoring presence, giving the Raptors dependable production while carrying the added weight of being one of the most recognizable names from that trade.
The Knicks, meanwhile, got OG Anunoby back in the deal, and his impact helped fuel a title run that ended the franchises 53-year wait for a championship. So Barretts first game back at Madison Square Garden figures to carry plenty of emotion, even before the crowd starts sorting through the trades long tail and what it meant for both teams. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Made Their Center Problem Even Harder To Ignore
The Raptors frontcourt picture got a little thinner Wednesday, when the team waived Trey Jemison III after he had been on a two-way contract and appeared in one preseason game. The move leaves Toronto with two open two-way roster spots, and it adds another layer to a center group that has already been under the microscope as training camp and roster building continue.
Nate Bittle, Jamarion Sharp and Nimari Burnett are among the names that could be in the mix for those openings, while former Raptors draft pick Christian Koloko is also being mentioned as a possibility. No signings have been reported yet, so the next move will say plenty about how the Raptors want to address a position that is suddenly impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
