After a hot-and-cold start, Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as one of the more exciting rookies in last year’s loaded draft class. The versatile big man, whom the Raptors selected ninth overall in 2025, looks to carry his momentum this season, aided by the leaner physique he worked on all summer, writes Josh Lewenberg for TSN.

The team’s leadership has noticed the change, with general manager Bobby Webster describing him as a “lean, mean, fighting machine,” and head coach Darko Rajakovic praising the change.

“I do see the change in his body,” Rajakovic said. “He’s [leaner], he’s a little bit more explosive, and he’s doing a great job.”

Murray-Boyles was able to accomplish the transformation by picking up long-distance running, and says he has lost a “significant” amount of weight. Rajakovic wants to ensure that he doesn’t let the lost bulk impact his aggression offensively. He says Murray-Boyles’ path to playing both the four and five is a “work in progress,” according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange (via Twitter), and wants to make sure that no matter what, the young big is playing with force.

We have more from the Raptors:

• Toronto’s new star wing Kawhi Leonard sat out the Raptors’ preseason debut in Quebec City, as was widely expected, per Grange (Twitter link). He is likely to miss the team’s next game in Vancouver as well, as he focuses on ramping up his conditioning following the offseason.
• Scottie Barnes filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, two assists, two rebounds, and three steals in just 12 minutes in his preseason debut, but a bumped knee in the first half could have contributed to the decision to sit the versatile forward for the remainder of the game, per Lewenberg (via Twitter). Rajakovic called the move precautionary.
•  The Raptors struggled in their preseason opener against the new-look Heat, but it wasn’t their defense against the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Miami attack that was cause for concern, Grange writes. Rather, it was the offense outside of Barnes and RJ Barrett that raised eyebrows. They were missing Leonard, but any team that employs the two-time champion will have to be ready to step up if and when he misses time, and Grange points to the guard rotation as being particularly important when it comes to contributing on offense. Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter combined for just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting in the first half. Quickley, in particular, will be crucial in terms of balancing the team’s offense, and Walter will also likely have to step into a larger role when Leonard sits.