Toronto Raptors Snubbed in NBA Schedule Release
The Toronto Raptors have been disrespected in the NBA schedule release, with the team not being featured on Opening Night or Christmas Day. The 2026-27 NBA season is right around the corner, with training camps set to begin in just under two months. The schedule has been locked in by Commissioner Adam Silver, with the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons kicking off Opening Night, followed by a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
The Christmas Day games see five of the previous six teams again, joined by the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors. One notable team that wasn't mentioned was the Toronto Raptors, who were narrowly eliminated in the seven-game first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers last postseason. Many expect them to be a championship contender next year, especially after adding seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
Why it Matters for Toronto Raptors
Not only were the Raptors snubbed from the two biggest days of the regular season, but they won't be featured at all throughout Opening Week. There are six games over the following three days after Opening Night, and every team playing has already been mentioned besides the Cavaliers and Houston Rockets. If Toronto needed any more fuel after being somewhat disrespected by Silver throughout the Aspiration scandal, they have just been given one more thing to push them towards greatness.
What Comes Next?
Franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes was also snubbed last season from the All-NBA teams and All-Defensive First Team. With a hungry Barnes and a joyful Leonard, the Raptors have everything it takes to be the biggest dark-horse candidate to go to the NBA Finals next season. Adding on, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl all have much to prove as well. After constantly being named in trade rumors since the midseason deadline on Feb. 5th, they should come into the regular season ready to prove to everyone why they all have such hefty contracts.
Specifically, Poeltl has been targeted as one of the worst contracts in basketball, and he wasn't able to show why he was given that extension last season because of the lower back strain that severely limited his aggression and physicality. Barrett, on the other hand, is going into a contract year, and although the Raptors likely won't be able to pay him what he deserves, he could at least raise his value and force the hand of general manager Bobby Webster to pay him every penny he can.
The Raptors' recent form has been a concern, with a 2-3 record in their last five games, including a 114-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 3rd. They will need to turn things around quickly if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs next season.
Conclusion
The Toronto Raptors have been disrespected in the NBA schedule release, but they are using it as fuel to push themselves towards greatness. With a talented roster and a hungry team, they have everything it takes to be a top contender in the 2026-27 season.
