TORONTO – Unbelievably, Allen Graves and Jaden Bradley only got to catch their breath after they sat down in front of the media.
Graves and Bradley each had a whirlwind 48 hours after the Toronto Raptors chosen them nineteenth and fiftieth overall, respectively, within the NBA draft. After the initial excitement of being drafted, the pair got on planes and flew to Toronto to tour the Raptors’ practice facility, get their jerseys, and meet with media.
“It’s been crazy. The entire town of Ponchatoula, literally the entire town, has hit up my phone and I’m really appreciative to them,” said Graves, referring to his hometown in Louisiana. “The last 48 hours has been a surreal feeling. It’s been crazy.
“Each time I confer with my family, I’m like, ‘That is crazy. That is crazy.’ It’s a extremely amazing feeling to have the opportunity to undergo this.”
Graves’s name was called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday night, and the 19-year-old power forward was on the draft in person at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., so his travel to Toronto’s OVO Athletic Centre wasn’t too hectic.
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Bradley, nonetheless, was chosen Wednesday night and was back at home in Concord, N.C., and had lower than 18 hours to get himself across the border.
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“I used to be in North Carolina, watching the draft with my family. We had a great, good time, watching it and hearing my name get called,” said Bradley, noting that he was talking to reporters around 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday and had arrived in Toronto by noon on Thursday. “I just couldn’t wait to get out here.
“But that’s been the past couple months, just on the road doing the workouts, and so I’m used to it without delay.”
Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Santa Clara Broncos last season.
Bradley averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals over 39 games with the Wildcats (36-3 overall), top-of-the-line teams in NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball last season.
Of the 30 players drafted within the second round on Wednesday, Bradley was the just one chosen and kept together with his team’s original pick. He said he appreciated the vote of confidence from the Raptors.
“Meaning the world to me,” said Bradley. “Just the organization that had that faith in me I’m gonna show them that it’s going to work out.
“Going to place the work in, it’s going to be tough, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
Now it’s time for the 2 draft picks to get to work.
“I feel like without delay the main target is just really getting my defensive ability, having the ability to switch, having the ability to guard,” said Graves. “I feel like that’s how I’m going to remain within the league, that’s how I’m going to maintain getting contracts and every little thing like that.
“Just ensuring that I’m having the ability to activate the defensive side of the ball, working on foot speed, all that stuff.”
Bradley said that he’s going to attempt to learn from the Raptors’ veterans like Jamal Shead, who he played against in college.
“They’ve been in this method and I haven’t, so that they have numerous knowledge for me,” said Bradley. “I can’t wait to learn from those guys.
“But, obviously, work on my shooting, be consistent with that, my playmaking, keeping my turnovers down, getting out on the fast break, just making it easier for my teammates and myself.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2026.
Note to readers:It is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly stated Graves and Bradley officially signed their contracts.
© 2026 The Canadian Press