Are The Toronto Raptors Legitimate Contenders In The Eastern Conference?

At the beginning of the 2025–26 NBA season, the expectations for the Toronto Raptors were relatively low. After missing out on the playoffs for the last three seasons and posting back-to-back losing campaigns, why would anyone expect more? Yet, when most figured the team would be battling for lottery balls, here we are looking at a team sitting 11–5 and in second place in the Eastern Conference. Add in a six-game winning streak and a berth in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, and suddenly people are asking if this team is for real.

The answer is… maybe. 

After coming over at the trade deadline last season and sitting on the sidelines, Brandon Ingram has given the Raptors a legitimate three-headed scoring attack alongside Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. With all three in the neighborhood of 20 points per game, they have quickly built on-court chemistry with each other, finding a pace and space that has led the team to the sixth-best scoring average in the league (121.1 ppg).

But it isn't just on the offensive end that coach Darko Rajakovic's team is succeeding. With a starting lineup that goes 6'3", 6'6", 6'7", 6'8", and 7", the Raptors have a long, lean, and athletic starting unit that can guard multiple positions (ok, well maybe not Jakob Poeltl). Currently ranked tenth in opposing points per game (114.6), the Raptors have proven to be a solid two-way team early in the season.

So are the Raptors, in fact, contenders in the East? 

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks are still the favorites, and the Detroit Pistons look to be the one team that can legitimately dethrone either team. However, if luck remains on their side, the Raptors could be a top-four team heading into the playoffs. 

If the Raptors can address some of the potholes in their roster, specifically their lack of a quality backup point guard, bench scoring, and Ingram’s abysmal 28% from three-point territory, there could be hope. 

The other issue is health. That three-headed scoring monster we talked about earlier is a concern. In his last three years, Ingram has played just 18, 64, and 45 games; Barnes has fared better with 65, 60, and 77, and Barrett clocks in with 58, 58, and 73. Throw in starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, who has played 33, 38, and 68, and there is legitimate cause for concern that if one goes down, the team will suffer.

While it is impossible to tell what the future has in store, what we do know in this moment is that the 2025-26 Raptors are currently way better than advertised and are legitimately in the mix for home court-advantage in the first round. In a conference where injuries have dominated the story, the Raptors are capitalizing on their good fortune. For a team that plays hard, plays together, and is finally healthy (knock on wood), they are once again bringing a winning attitude back to Toronto.