Collin Murray-Boyles did not hesitate when asked about his official welcome to the NBA moment.
Speaking during a press conference at the NBA Rising Stars event over All-Star Weekend, the 20-year-old forward pointed to one matchup.
“Guarding Giannis. You were like, oh. Yeah. I feel like there’s no – I don’t think there’s one person that comes to the NBA and guards Giannis and be like, That wasn’t that bad. No, he was – That was insane, insane, yeah,” Murray-Boyles said.
The assignment came against Giannis Antetokounmpo, a former MVP who remains one of the league’s most dominant interior scorers.
For a rookie adjusting to NBA speed and strength, the challenge was immediate.
Murray-Boyles has appeared in 43 games for the Toronto Raptors this season, making 19 starts and averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 22.2 minutes.
He is shooting 55.3% from the field, with most of his attempts coming inside the arc, where his 59.7% two-point accuracy reflects efficient finishing.
Toronto has leaned on him as an energy forward alongside Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, often asking him to defend multiple positions.
Guarding Antetokounmpo presents a different level of physical pressure. The Milwaukee star attacks in transition, draws fouls in the paint and forces help rotations, which tests a defender’s footwork and discipline.
For Murray-Boyles, the experience underscored the gap between college and the NBA.
The Raptors sit fifth in the Eastern Conference at 32–23, averaging 113.8 points per game while shooting 47.3% as a team.
Murray-Boyles averages 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks, numbers that reflect activity but also the learning curve against elite scorers.
