Title: Malachi Flynn’s role with Raptors still unclear in the short run
Date: January 6, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I looked at Malachi Flynn’s first real game action for the Raptors and why rookie usage might be down around the league.
It was easy for the expectations put on Malachi Flynn to increase.
The No. 29 overall pick not only looked like a sharp fit on the court and off of it, he impressed with a pair of very strong preseason performances. All of the praise came draped in the necessary caveats: He is a rookie. Rookies rarely contribute to winning, especially on good teams. The learning curve for point guards can be steep.
Still, he was earning rave reviews. Kyle Lowry had worked out with him before the draft and said “he has a chance to grow really quick.” Matt Thomas talked up how quickly he’d picked up the system. Fred VanVleet, who has taken on a leadership role with the rookie, declined to tell the media the “secret sauce” to making lineups with multiple small guards work, offering only that “we still got to sprinkle Malachi in there in game reps.”
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 