Veteran guard Bruce Brown insisted Monday that recent comments about his stint with the Toronto Raptors were not intended as a slight against the city or the organization. Speaking to TSN’s Kayla Grey before the Denver Nuggets faced Toronto in their preseason opener, Brown explained he merely answered a media-day question about when he first considered returning to Denver.
“They asked, ‘When did you think about getting back to Denver?’ I said, ‘When I got to Toronto,’” Brown said. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to be in Toronto. I think Toronto is one of the best cities in the NBA. I loved my time there.”
Brown left the Nuggets as a free agent in 2023, then spent two seasons with the Pacers, Raptors and Pelicans. He told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that constant losing after departing Denver made him question the move. Fans in Toronto reacted strongly, prompting Monday’s clarification.
Ingram’s Debut Highlights Preseason Opener
Despite a 105-92 loss to Denver, the Raptors received an encouraging first look at newly acquired forward Brandon Ingram. The 28-year-old delivered a team-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, showing the half-court shot creation Toronto sought when it traded for him late last season.
Toronto’s starting unit struggled overall: Scottie Barnes went 0-for-7 from the field and all five starters finished with negative net ratings.
Rookies Dick and Walter Embrace Competition
First-round picks Gradey Dick (2023) and JaKobe Walter (2024) enter training camp without guaranteed roles. Both said they welcome the fight for minutes.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve had to battle for playing time,” Walter admitted Sunday. “I love the competitiveness and the drive it gives me every day.”
Shead Emerging as Young Leader
Second-year point guard Jamal Shead, 23, has become a vocal presence among the Raptors’ younger players. Writer Eric Koreen of The Athletic compared Shead’s influence to Fred VanVleet’s role with Toronto’s bench early in his career.
Shead downplayed the label. “I’m a point guard. I give out information, they receive it, and we move on,” he said. “It’s more a respect thing than me being the best leader ever.”
The Raptors continue preseason play later this week as head coach Darko Rajaković evaluates rotations ahead of the Oct. 29 regular-season opener.
Source: Hoops Rumors
