Jamal Shead is making waves in Toronto - and it’s not just Raptors fans who are starting to take notice. The rookie point guard has quietly become one of the most reliable backup floor generals in the league, and his latest performance might just be the loudest statement yet.
In Friday’s loss to the Clippers, Shead dropped 15 points and dished out a career-high 13 assists. That kind of production off the bench doesn’t just happen - it’s the result of poise, vision, and a whole lot of trust from his teammates.
“He’s amazing. He wants everyone to succeed,” said fellow guard Gradey Dick, who spoke about Shead like a guy you’d go to battle with.
“He has my back and I have his. When you have a point guard like that, it’s super motivational.”
That chemistry is no small thing - especially for a young team still finding its identity. Dick recalled a moment during the game where he missed a shot, and Shead immediately pulled him aside.
“He told me, ‘Stay right there. The way they’re playing defense, you’re going to be open for another one.’
And that was one of the next plays.”
That’s not just good leadership - that’s high-IQ basketball. Shead’s ability to read defenses, keep his teammates engaged, and stay two steps ahead is what separates him from your average backup guard.
And here’s the kicker: he’s doing it all on a rookie-scale deal. The Raptors hold a team option for next season worth just over $2.29 million - a bargain for a player already producing at this level.
It’s safe to say that option’s getting picked up.
Around the Atlantic:
In Brooklyn, the Nets finally snapped a five-game skid on Friday, but not without a scare. They watched a 20-point fourth-quarter lead vanish before a clutch bucket from Michael Porter Jr. sealed the win over the Bulls.
Head coach Jordi Fernández didn’t sugarcoat it: “There’s no safe lead in the NBA. Teams will always punch back,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, responding is important.”
The Nets did just that, showing some much-needed composure in crunch time. One of the more intriguing moves down the stretch?
Fernández went with Nolan Traore over lottery pick Egor Demin at the point. Traore rewarded that trust with seven assists, showing off his feel for the game in high-pressure moments.
“I’m very happy with both,” Fernández said. “They play selflessly, and that’s how you learn and get better.”
Fernández made it clear he expects Demin to take that benching personally - in a good way. “I know he’s not happy if I take him out of the game.
That’s what I hope,” he said. The message is clear: this is a developmental moment, not a demotion.
Demin’s ability to guard bigger players, get into the paint, and stretch the floor with his shooting is still very much part of the long-term plan in Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, in New York, Landry Shamet finally made his return to the floor after missing 25 games with a shoulder injury. The veteran guard logged 16 minutes and chipped in six points during the Knicks’ loss to the Warriors.
While the numbers were modest, the return itself was a win. “He worked his tail off,” said head coach Mike Brown.
“Landry, he’s a worker, man. He was in a great rhythm before he got hurt.”
Brown emphasized that Shamet’s return is just the beginning of a longer ramp-up process. “It’s going to take some time for him to get back,” he said. “But it’s exciting for him to be back and we’re going to be patient while he fights to get back to where he was.”
Between Shead’s rise in Toronto, the Nets’ resilience, and Shamet’s return in New York, the Atlantic Division is brimming with storylines - and a whole lot of young talent finding its voice.