The Toronto Raptors are reportedly adding a new member to the roster, though only to a contract with the G League. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Toronto has signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905. The 27-year-old was born in Nigeria. However, he grew up in Canada and attended Orangeville Prep as a high schooler. Now as a member of their G League team, Omoruyi returns to Canada.
Toronto Raptors will add Eugene Omoruyi to their G League affiliate, Raptors 905, sources told @hoopshype. Omoruyi has averaged 5.7 points in three NBA seasons with the Mavs, Thunder, Pistons and Wizards. He returns to Canada where he played in high school to pursue an NBA return pic.twitter.com/aDc7o9Wwpa
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 18, 2024
Toronto Raptors Sign Eugene Omoruyi to G League Deal
Eugene Omoruyi’s NBA Career
Omoruyi declared for the 2021 NBA Draft but went undrafted. For the first two seasons of his career, Omoruyi played for the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons. During that time, he appeared in 44 games, including six starts. In those games, he averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds. Last season, Omoruyi played 43 games for the Washington Wizards, all off the bench. On the year, he averaged 4.8 points and 2 rebounds. Before joining the Raptors organization, Omoruyi signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of training camp. The team waived him before the start of the season, however.
Amazing thing to watch last night: How much OKC’s super-small lineups with 6-6 “Eugene from Eugene” Omoruyi at 5 rattled the Wizards. pic.twitter.com/EtDoN1j4et
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) January 7, 2023
Now that he is in Toronto, Omoruyi can enjoy a bit of a homecoming. However, it is unlikely he will play for the NBA team this season. Still, he is a player with a few years of NBA experience and can provide depth down the line. Bringing him in is a very low-risk, high-reward signing for the Raptors.
The Last Word
Nearly a month into the 2024-25 NBA season, the Raptors are the worst team in the NBA with a 2-12 record. Despite their slow start, however, the Raptors may not be the worst team in the league. Most importantly, Toronto is dealing with a multitude of injuries. This includes franchise star Scottie Barnes, who has only appeared in four games this season due to an eye injury. Furthermore, the team is still without Kelly Olynyk and Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors also do not look too bad when you consider the numbers. While still not amazing, they rank 21st and 28th on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, respectively. Furthermore, despite being shorthanded, the Raptors nearly gave the reigning champion Boston Celtics just their fourth loss of the season on Friday night. Toronto is unlikely to contend for a playoff spot this season. Nonetheless, there is a lot to like about the team, and they are significantly better than their record shows.
Only time will tell if they can flip the script and go on a run in the near future. However, there is no denying that there is a lot of potential in Toronto.
