Toronto Raptors’ newest rookie sets record straight after controversial draft reaction

“It was just surreal,” said Collin Murray-Boyles after being drafted No. 9 overall by the Toronto Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors selected Collin Murray-Bowles No.9 overall tonight out of South Carolina, which shocked fans after many thought they would take Khaman Maluach. Seconds after his name was called, fans were shocked again when Murray-Boyles was seen on camera shaking his head while dropping an f-bomb:

It immediately spread throughout the internet that the rookie must have been upset to land in Toronto. As someone who is hip with the youths, and knows that an f-bomb can mean anything from anger to sadness to pure joy, I wasn’t too worried about it. In every other interview immediately following his draft, Murray-Bowles seemed happy and excited to be drafted to Toronto.

Shortly after, he joined a Zoom call with media here in Toronto. It did not take any time at all for Sportsnet’s Michael Grange to ask the question: What did that reaction mean?

Murray-Boyles was honest: he was shocked and elated to be drafted to the Raptors, the first team that had worked him out.

“Just disbelief,” Murray-Boyles said over Zoom from Barclays Center, “Toronto was probably my first team that I worked out for. What I said was not a bad thing by any means. Just very thankful for it. That was like a surreal moment to hear my name called by this organization that has a good history and has really good players as of right now. It was just a crazy moment. Obviously thankful for the opportunity that they gave me.”

There you have it, nothing bad! Murray-Boyles went on to express his excitment at playing in a diverse and unique market like Toronto.

“I know how passionate the fans are, how diverse the city of Toronto is. To see that and to be around that environment on a daily basis is something that’s going to only make me a better player overall. That environment is amazing. The city is great,” He said.

“So just being there and it’s going to make me a better player, obviously lift my morale. It’s definitely a lot about just the team and me getting to know the team and trying to really be the best that I can for the team,” he finished with a smile.

Murray-Boyles is expected to come to Toronto in the coming days to be introduced to the organization and city. The Raptors still have the No. 39 pick in the draft, which they will make tomorrow at 8 p.m. as the Draft heads into Night Two.

As for tonight, Raptors’ GM Bobby Webster will speak to the media about Murray-Bowles at some point tonight.