Toronto Raptors rookie Allen Graves has found an unusual way to get ready for games, and it starts with a nap spot that looks more like a broom closet than a bedroom.
The 20-year-old power forward, who is spending this season living out his NBA dream in Toronto, says he heads to a very specific room in his house before tipoff. The setup is tight enough that he has to crawl in and out, but Graves doesn’t seem bothered by the space at all.
“You got my pre-game nap spot right here; this is where I go,” said Graves. “My Harry Potter room; that is what this is.”
The latest episode of Raptors Open Gym showed off the room, which appears to sit under the stairs and has the same cramped feel as the space Harry Potter slept in with the Dursley family in the book series. Graves’ version may not be glamorous, but it clearly works for him.
That offbeat routine fits a rookie who has already made an impression early. Toronto took him in the 2026 first round with the idea that he could develop into a reliable two-way bench piece, and so far he’s done exactly that, earning a roster spot and showing well in his first two games.
Graves described the moment he first stepped onto the floor in Toronto as one he won’t forget.
“Just being able to walk out in front of the Scotiabank fans and hear the national anthem. That was the moment I was just looking around and thinking, 'Man, this is, this is real. I'm here," Graves told Offside in an exclusive interview last week.
Toronto has opened the season with wins over the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, and Graves has averaged 3.5 points and 3.5 total rebounds through those two games.
The nap room might be tiny, but for Graves, it’s apparently part of the formula. And if the Raptors keep rolling, they’ll happily take a little Harry Potter magic wherever they can get it.
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Raptors' Fast Start Still Hinges On One Missing Piece
The Raptors have opened the 2026-27 season with back-to-back wins over the Bulls and Wizards, and the early formula has looked familiar in the best possible way. Torontos defense has been active, the young players have brought plenty of energy, and the group has already shown it can win with pace, length and pressure on the other end.
Still, the first two games have also highlighted a familiar concern: the perimeter shot has not come along yet. Toronto has struggled from three-point range, and until players like Kawhi Leonard and JaKobe Walter find a steadier rhythm from deep, the offense could be left leaning too heavily on defense to carry the load. The start is encouraging, but the missing balance is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]