Toronto Raptors rookie Allen Graves is still early in his Toronto journey, but he’s already getting a feel for how quickly the city can embrace one of its own.
The 6-foot-9 forward, taken 19th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara University, said the first Raptors player to contact him after draft night was Immanuel Quickley.
"I think IQ [Immanuel Quickley] was the first player to reach out," Graves said.
Graves said Quickley told him he was excited Toronto had drafted him and that he would really enjoy being there.
"I remember he told me he's really excited that Toronto drafted me, and that I'm really going to enjoy being here."
Graves said he answered back with the message that he was ready to get to work.
Quickley’s outreach may catch some fans off guard, given that the 27-year-old guard has missed 74 games since arriving from the New York Knicks in the OG Anunoby trade midway through the 2023-24 season. But he wasn’t the only veteran to send a note. Graves also said Garrett Temple, who is now retired, reached out on draft night with encouragement.
The rookie’s first summer in the organization has already included a strong showing on the court. In four NBA Summer League games last month, Graves averaged 16.8 points and nearly seven rebounds, giving Raptors fans an immediate glimpse of what he can bring.
Off the floor, he said the welcome has been just as strong. Graves described everyone he’s met as “super” welcoming and said fans around the city keep stopping him to say how excited they are to see him in a Raptors uniform.
He’s also taken to Toronto’s summer scene. When he came to the city for the first time in June for his pre-draft workout, he said he was struck by how beautiful it was and even FaceTimed his family to show them the lakeshore.
The only part of Toronto he may need some time to adjust to is the winter, something the Louisiana native figures could take a season or two.
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