The following is part of Raptors Republic’s preview series for the 2026-27 series. You can find all the other pieces here.
Alijah Martin’s first NBA season was more of an introduction than anything else. The Raptors gave him a look in 23 games, but with just 2.2 points per game and limited minutes, there was not much of a chance for the 24-year-old to really show what he could do on an NBA stage.
That said, Martin is coming off a strong year with Raptors 905 that was good enough to earn a new contract extension. On Canada Day, he signed a two-year, $4.8 million contract with Toronto. The Raps clearly believe there is something worth developing here. Now Martin has to turn that belief into a regular NBA role.
With the 905, Martin averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc. He was good enough to earn All-NBA G League Third Team and All-Defensive Team honours.
That is a big difference from what we saw with the big boys. The good news is that Martin already knows what his calling card can be. He is a competitor through and through.
Martin brings energy on defence, is willing to battle for loose balls and does not shy away from physical play. He’s a quick-twitch athlete who thrives when competition becomes physical and feisty. That should give him a chance with Darko Rajakovic, especially on a Raptors team that has made its defence such an important part of its identity.
Finding guys who are willing to make the uncomfortable plays is extremely important to this organization. For Martin, though, defence alone probably will not be enough. His biggest job this season will be getting his shooting back to where it has been throughout his career.
The numbers from his first NBA season were ugly. He shot below 35 percent from the field and below 20 percent from three. That is obviously not sustainable, particularly for a player who is unlikely to get a ton of opportunities to create his own offence. Of course, those were in a very small sample size. However, Toronto has a reason for not giving up on the shot.
Martin was a 36.4 percent three-point shooter over five years in college and, as mentioned before, he shot nearly 38 percent from deep with the 905. There is a track record there. He needs to bring it with him to the NBA floor.
It will not be easy for the second-year player. The competition will be tough. Quickley, Shead, Walter and Barrett are all going to be fighting for minutes in the backcourt and on the wing. Martin is not going to walk into the season with a guaranteed spot. He may have to wait for his chance, and when it comes, he needs to be ready.
A few strong defensive possessions, a couple of knocked-down threes and some smart decisions can go a long way for a player trying to earn a coach’s trust. He absolutely has that dawg in him. If the rest translates, it could be hard for Rajakovic to take him out of the rotation when guys get healthy again.
Unfortunately, Martin missed an opportunity to build some momentum during Summer League. Knee inflammation kept him out of the entire tournament, taking away the chance to play bigger minutes and get comfortable with a larger offensive role. That is not how he would have wanted the summer to go. Still, the opportunity should be there once the regular season begins.
If the Kawhi Leonard deal gets finalized and he is back with the Raptors, the team will be serious about taking another step. Having reliable depth is going to matter. Injuries are going to happen. Players will have off nights. Someone will have to step in and give the team useful minutes, even if it’s just for a short period of time.
There is no obvious path to a major role for Martin right now, but that does not mean there is no path at all. If the offensive game catches up, things could get interesting. He was a sharpshooter for the Raptors 905 last season, and if that translates to the NBA, it would go a long way towards solidifying the Raptors’ depth when anyone else is out hurt. Suddenly, Martin would not just be a guy the Raptors like. He would become a guy they need.
