Malachi Flynn has plenty of reasons to smile these days.
For one, his play on the court has taken a step forward. He’s become a solidified member of the Toronto Raptors rotation and has strung together the most impactful stretch of his career. For a player who has bounced in and out of the rotation for the better part of the last three years, it’s a huge step forward.
As important, though, is what’s happening after practices.
The moment practice ends, Flynn, Garrett Temple, and Dennis Schröder get together and start their shooting drills. It’s a game Schröder organized with his backcourt mates back in training camp in which the three guards play the NBA’s version of around-the-world. Each player must make five shots from five different locations in the half-court and then make five consecutive shots to finish the drill. The first one done wins, claims bragging rights for the day, and occasionally a few dollars too.
On Friday, following morning shootaround, Flynn beat his veteran teammates and took a page out of Schöder’s playbook, sprinting around the perimeter of the gym with his right arm raised and his index finger extended in the air.
“It’s something fun,” Flynn said following his victory lap Friday during shootaround. “We just kind of got together the three of us and decided to do it. Whoever wants to hop in can hop in.”
That joy is what the Raptors have been looking for from Flynn this season. It sounds corny, but it’s working. Stable rotation minutes and an understanding that he’s free to make mistakes and keep playing has allowed the 25-year-old guard to feel comfortable.
“It means a lot. It gives you confidence as a player,” Flynn said of the support he’s seen from Raptors coach Darko Rajaković. “You go out there and you don't have to think. You make a mistake, you’re still staying in, you miss cover shots, you’ll still stay in. As long as you're doing the things that really matter, that are playing defense, being in the right spots, playing unselfish, those are really things he cares about. So if you do those, he kind of lets you play, which is really good.”
Flynn is still stoic on the court. He’s not running around with a grin on his face or showing the kind of emotion you might see from Scottie Barnes after a big play. He’s not built that way. But what’s clear is Flynn is having fun doing what he loves and it’s working.
“The game is fun to me,” he said with a smile Friday. “Even if I have a serious face throughout it.”
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