Raptors’ Shead draws 65th offensive foul call of the season

Jamal Shead is the definition of heart and hustle. Shead may not produce the impressive box scores that astound people, but he consistently performs the essential tasks vital to winning basketball games. Things that often go under the radar.

The Toronto Raptors’ last game against the Memphis Grizzlies is evidence of his impact. Shead is a maestro at drawing offensive foul calls. Shead drew his 65th offensive foul in the first half of the game. That 65 number is the second-most in the entire NBA.

Kyle Lowry was beloved in Toronto for many things, but the one thing that always stood out was how he drew offensive charges. Shead has shades of that plus. His ability to draw those calls does not just come from charges; it comes from playing high-energy defence that gets his defenders uncomfortable.

Portland Trail Blazers’ Toumani Camara leads the league with 102 offensive fouls drawn, which is a new league record. The other two players in the top four are Atlanta Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker and New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson. What makes Shead’s case so much more unique is that he is the only one who comes off the bench. Camara, Alexander-Walker, and Brunson all have played at least 740 more minutes than Shead.

Among the Raptors, Shead has drawn more than double the next-most-drawn player on the team. Immanuel Quickley ranks second on the squad with 27, and Scottie Barnes, a candidate for defensive player of the year, has just 18 offensive fouls drawn.

That number, 65, is a major improvement over Shead’s rookie year. Last season, Shead finished with 29 offensive fouls drawn, which placed him tied for 15th in the league.

Even when his shots are not falling, Shead has demonstrated his determination to do whatever it takes for his team to secure a victory. With just five games remaining in the schedule and the Raptors trying to claw out of a play-in spot and into the sixth seed, that kind of mentality could go a long way.