Former NBA Lottery Pick Makes Season Debut For Raptors G League Team

Justise Winslow is back.

The 27-year-old former NBA lottery pick will return to the court Tuesday night for the first time since suffering a season-ending ankle injury in December of last year with the Portland Trail Blazers. His debut will come with the Raptors 905, the G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, at 7:30 p.m. ET in Mississauga.

“Justise is a player who has wealthy experience in the NBA and a lot of talent,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said Tuesday. “It's going to be very important to maintain his health, but also his playmaking, decision making, playing got tougher on defensive end, and just somebody who's a good connector.”

Winslow joined Toronto on an Exhibit 10 deal during training camp with the hope of rehabbing with the 905 before returning to the NBA later this year. He had worked with Rajaković during their time together in Memphis and wanted to join an organization he had some familiarity with.

The Raptors do not currently own Winslow’s rights outside of their G League affiliate meaning he’d have to be signed to an NBA deal before joining the team in Toronto. That also leaves him susceptible to being signed by any other organization should an NBA opportunity present itself.

Winslow averaged 6.8 points and five rebounds per game across 29 games for the Trail Blazers last year. He has a career 41.2% field goal percentage with a 31.5% three-point stroke.

Toronto currently has a full roster and it’s unlikely the organization will make a move to sign Winslow immediately, but should he return healthy for a stretch with the 905 it’s possible the Raptors give him a shot with the big club.