TORONTO – Entering his sophomore NBA season, Jamal Shead knew there was one statistical category he wanted to guide the league in: games played.
He got there Sunday, appearing in his 82nd game of the Toronto Raptors’ season — one in every of just 18 players within the league to suit up in all 82 games in 2025-26. The second-year guard, who typically leads Toronto’s second unit, said one in every of his off-season targets was to be a consistent presence within the Raptors’ lineup.
“I played in 76 last 12 months, so I knew I could get one other six out of myself,” said the 23-year-old Shead by his locker at Scotiabank Arena. “Just attempt to proceed to be in every game, just be available for this team.
“That was one in every of my goals.”
Shead averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 rebounds over 22.6 minutes per game, starting 12 times. The Naismith Defensive Player of the 12 months for his senior season with the NCAA’s Houston Cougars, he averaged 0.9 steals and 0.2 blocks for Toronto.
“The medical staff are really awesome here,” said Shead. “They take heed to my every need, and so they’ve accommodated me after every game. Just ask me what I want, what I don’t need.
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“There’s a lot that goes into it, and I even have such an awesome team around me. It’s been an incredible season with my body.”
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Most significantly, Shead was a relentless for a Raptors team that had significant injuries all season.
When RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley missed long stretches of time, Shead often absorbed their minutes, and he also gave all-star Scottie Barnes a likelihood to rest when he stepped into the playmaker role.
All-star forward Brandon Ingram, named Eastern Conference player of the week on Monday, said Shead’s consistent presence within the lineup helped the Raptors reach the playoffs for the primary time in 4 years.
“He’s the pinnacle of the snake, especially for the second group,” said Ingram, who played in 77 games, the second most in his 10-year profession. “He began some this 12 months, and to be available is the perfect thing, knowing that any person’s gonna be there consistently, doing the identical thing each night, defensive intensity, running the team.
“That’s special to do, especially how hard he plays each night.”
Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that Shead’s playing in every game this season says so much about how much preparation he put in off the court.
“(Shead) had a extremely good summer that allowed him to undergo a season like this,” said Rajakovic. “All of the recovery, the nutrition, all the stuff he’s doing to take care of that through the course of the season.
“He’s a really durable player and winning player. I find it irresistible for him.”
The Cougars were a winning team yearly Shead was playing collegiate basketball in Houston, reaching the Final 4 of the boys’s championship in his freshman season in 2020-21.
The subsequent 12 months, the Cougars won the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and reached the Elite Eight of March Madness.
The team switched to the tougher Big 12 conference for the 2023-24 season, but Houston didn’t decelerate, winning the regular-season title.
After a muddled 30-52 rookie season for the Raptors, Shead is about to make his NBA playoff debut Saturday when Toronto opens its first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I’m just excited, man, and I feel we get to play for something larger,” he said. “Our season ended on today last 12 months. So just having the ability to have a shot at playing some more games and continuing this season with this team, it’s exciting. ”
Shead might have to step up again when the Raptors open their best-of-seven series in Cleveland. Quickley was listed as day-to-day Monday with a light right hamstring strain.
Quickley underwent medical imaging a day after Toronto’s playoff-clinching 136-101 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press