OverDrive - Armstrong on the Raptors season opening, Leonard's return to Toronto and the contender status

Episode Date: October 21, 2026

TSN Basketball Analyst Jack Armstrong joined OverDrive to discuss the Raptors' season opening, Kawhi Leonard's return to the roster and his role on the team, the championship level of the team, Scottie Barnes' duo with Leonard and more.

Let's head down to Scotia Bank, tipping off in a few hours. Raptors Bowls, here's our TSN. Raptors analyst, Jack Armstrong. Jack, you've been doing this a long time. You know, the excitement meter this year compared to maybe the past couple of years. How would you describe it? I would say right at the top of the list, I would think back to probably Vince Carter and that team coming back from getting to the Eastern Conference semis against Philadelphia

in 2001. in that next season of anticipation, and then the deal to get Kauai Lennon in 2018, 2019, and probably now. So I would definitely put it in the top three in terms of anticipation and excitement and enthusiasm that people have for it. And it's justified. You know, obviously the Eastern Conference is going to be a killer night in, night out. You talk about the Knicks, the Celtics, the Sixes, the Pistons, the heat, the paces, the hawks, you name it, magic, calves, you know, you've got nine, ten teams that I think can go into this season

legitimately thinking, number one, that they could have a winning season, and number two, a great many number of those teams I mentioned, think they could get to the conference finals and maybe the NBA finals and maybe win it all. Jack, how does things change in that perspective for Darko? I mean, he was babysitting a little bit, some tough years, and he was like, let's be energetic guys and just try to work our way through this. Now they got Kauai back, some serious expectations.

How does his role kind of change as the coach, or can he change, or does he just have to stay the same guy? Well, I think he's done a really good job here. The first, you know, I judge a guy more on how he kind of navigated and how the guys played when, you know, there wasn't a lot of hope. And I thought he had their attention and their respect. and laid that foundation. And then in year three,

I thought he did a fabulous job last year with this group. And kind of some, sometimes a group that maybe wasn't the most cohesive terms of the tactical side of it in terms of having enough spacing offensively. I think this group, from a tactical perspective, will be a little easier to coach

because I think there's a little bit more three-point shooting. I think they're a better defensive team. And so those parts, you know, a lot of it's going to be managing egos and expectations. But I feel confident that he's a really good communicator. I think he's earned the respect of every guy that's been here already and has their attention. And I think he'll do a great job not only with Kauai Leonard, but with the other newcomers, in terms of selling his vision and for how they want to play. And I think the guy like Kauai, when he's healthy, will make his job that much.

much easier because he will draw a lot of attention. And when you have a guy in the NBA that can attract a second defender, and now it opens up the floor for everybody else, and in particular, guy who could shoot the ball like he does on the perimeter from three, mid-range, low post, finish at the rim, make free throws. He's an incredibly efficient guy. I think it's going to make the other guys better. Now, this roster, when Kauai was here the last time,

they went 17 and 5 and the 22 games that he missed, does this group have that? I'm not sure. That group was a lot more of a veteran group, more polished than it already won. They just couldn't get over the hump. This group's got to prove it a little bit more. So if he misses, you know, 22, 25, 30 games,

how do you navigate those games? And can you not only be 500, but can you be a few games over 500? If you are, then watch out this could be a really exciting year. Well, the idea of playing off Kauai is clearly a topic, and when he arrived last time, you know, it was Kyle

Lowry's team. There's a lot of emotion because of who Kauai was traded for, right, and how close tomorrow and Kyle were, and there was, I think, a power struggle early on. An understanding of who Kauai was, but I'm sure Kyle was like, hey, do you know who I am and this is my team? Of what you know of

Scottie Barnes, how do you anticipate he handles now playing off Kauai, as opposed to, you know, he's kind of, he's been the man. Let's call it what it is. He's been the man the last couple of years. The man is now Kauai Leonard. How do you anticipate Scotty to respond to that?

Oh, I think he's very excited about it, just chatting with him. I think he, he's a pleaser. He cares about the greater good. I think sometimes he'd be, he'd prefer, you know, having a game. If you ask him, are you going to be a double ditches in scoring or in passing? I think he'd probably answer. he'd like to be more in terms of the passing side of it. So I've seen him be totally selfless.

I think, you know, you watch him against Cleveland last year. I thought he put it all together in the playoffs. There was a lot of pressure on him with Emmanuel quickly, as well as Brandon Ingram out of the lineup. And they took that team to seven games. That team went to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs, and there's high expectations for them. So I think Scotty Bonds really showed what his next year can be.

And at the same time, I think he needed somebody, just like Kyle Lowry needed somebody, to get him over the hump because they were winning north of 50, 55 games a year, but they couldn't get past LeBron and they couldn't get over the hump in big games. And so I think this group probably needs Kauai as much, if not more, than that last group. difference is this is a younger group, not as polished, but yet this group to me has a lot of upside. There's a lot of good young players here. Jack, you talk about the upside. What is the ceiling or the expectation for this group this year? I think if they're healthy, they're going to be right in the mix in terms of being one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. And as you

guys know, so much of this is all about matchups. Who you match up with, you know, you know, know, time of year and who you play in the first round of playoffs, all those types of things. But I personally think that this group has every right to come into this season, feeling like when you play Cleveland and Philadelphia and Boston and New York and those teams that you have every right to feel like you can win the game just as much as they do. And I think the experience these guys had a year ago in the playoffs, and I think the growth I've seen from them and adding a guy like Kauai

will make them that much better. And look, this group guards, they don't take plays off. So to me, you know, Coach Starco came in here more as a rep as an offensive guy, and I thought they improved steadily offensively as the year one on. They rely a lot on their transition, but their efficiency in the half court got better the year one on. But those kids, they guarded. and now you're going to have a Carl Murray Boyles playing more.

You're going to have a Jacobi Walter who beat out Grady Dick, a higher pick than him. But he has more of the two-way chops that you want in terms of his ability to shoot it, but more importantly, to be a lockdown defender at the wing. You know, Jamal Sheds a bulldog of a backup point guard. He's a winner. And, you know, if he can shoot the three better, that will help significantly. And then you add a guy like Kauai,

but, you know, I think they're finishing line up in the front core. When you look at Kauai and Scotty Barnes and Kalamari-Boils, yeah, they're not going to be the tallest front line. You look at the size that Oklahoma City has last night. You know, they're not that big. But, man, they can switch all the positions in a league where you've got to contain the dribble. You've got to guard the three.

I think this group has that ability to be a difficult team to play against, particularly when they get up into you and pick you up not only in the back court, but if they're in the half-quarter, just pressure from the half-court line on. So I think it's an exciting group. Jack, season's about to start quickly and like 10 seconds. Where's your favorite road trip coming up to stop in and get excited about? Maybe have a beverage or two. Never know.

That's probably not for us. But give me one spot you're saying, I can't wait to get that. Well, I have two games in New York this year. Obviously, you're playing the NBA champs. It's my hometown. And the first time I'm in New York, it'll be my mother's 100th birthday. So I think that's the reason why it's so special. When I'm in New York in February, we'll be not only calling it Raptors' Knicks games,

but I'll be there for my mom's 100th, which would be so, so special. And so that's number one, obviously, on the list. I love it. It has to be, and it should be. Great catching up with you, Jack. Enjoy the game and enjoy the season. We'll do it again soon. Guys, look forward to chat with you during the year.

Have a great night. You got it. Jack Armstrong, our TSN Raptors analyst. The music you love. Your favorite radio stations. Everywhere you go. The podcasts, everyone's talking about. All in one place.

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