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Grading 2024-25 NBA Season for Raptors' Jakob Poeltl at the NBA All-Star Break
© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Before the 2024-25 NBA season started, Jakob Poeltl was the player openly talking about this being a rebuilding year for the Toronto Raptors at media day for the team. The Raptors starting center was obviously right in his assessment.

Toronto has been firmly involved in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for the majority of this year's campaign. This has caused many to question Poeltl's fit with the Raptors for the long-term future.

In spite of hearing his name tossed out in constant trade rumors, the Austrian big man has quietly delivered a career year in a multitude of categories.

Poeltl is averaging a career high in points per game this season. His mark of 14.2 during 2024-25 comfortably eclipses his previous high of 13.5 in 2021-22 with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Raptors center is also averaging a career high in rebounds per game. The average of 10.1 that he has posted would be the first time in his career where Poeltl has exceeded double digits.

The 1.2 steals per game average of the nine-year pro is also a career high. As is his free throw percentage of 65.8. Poeltl's 2.8 assists per game at the break tie a career-best as well.

The Raptors big has posted another campaign where his on-off numbers per 100 possessions look strong too (+6.6). All in all, for all the troubles the Raptors have dealt with as a team, Poeltl has been far from the problem in Toronto.

Whether the Raptors choose to hold onto the 29-year-old as a part of the rebuild, or eventually pivot to using Poeltl as a tool to aid the rebuild, they should be in a strong position to do so after his solid 2024-25 NBA season.

As Toronto awaits Poeltl's return from hip injury, the former ninth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft will receive a strong grade for his season to this point.

Midseason grade: B+

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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