There was no pause when he was asked about his true “welcome to the league” moment.
“Giannis,” Collin Murray-Boyles answered instantly, referring to Giannis Antetokounmpo. “He’s probably the most dominant player I’ve faced so far.
His strength, speed and size — you don’t see that kind of combination often. Playing alongside him really opened my eyes.”
As a first-year player, Murray-Boyles admits he’s not quite on the level of the two-time MVP and NBA champion — and that’s perfectly fine.
The Toronto Raptors forward has more than held his own against plenty of others and is heading to Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend.
He’ll be one of 10 rookies competing in the Rising Stars event on Feb. 13, a showcase featuring first- and second-year players along with a G League squad.
A thumb injury that sidelined him before the break won’t stop him from participating, giving him a chance to shine on a national stage.
The No. 9 overall pick in the latest NBA draft is averaging 7.9 points, five rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Playing in Toronto, however, means many fans back home in Columbia — where he starred as a youth and spent two standout seasons at University of South Carolina — must rely on league streaming packages or hope for a televised game to catch him.
Still, he’s thriving. Living in another country, adjusting to a new culture, lifestyle and level of competition, he had plenty of reasons to struggle — but that’s never been his approach.
“I might be biased, but I always believed he’d succeed,” said Khadijah Sessions, a women’s assistant coach at USC who has trained him since his freshman year of high school.
“He invests the time and the effort. He truly loves basketball.”
That dedication has led to recognition — but Murray-Boyles isn’t letting early praise distract him. He knows this is only the beginning.
“I’m just focused on the season,” he said. “Games come so quickly, it’s hard to catch a breath.
The All-Star break will be my last real downtime. Anytime I get to go home, even briefly, I appreciate it.”
Though he now calls Toronto home — a city he admires for its beauty — he hasn’t forgotten Columbia or its famously warm weather.
He experienced cold winters during a prep year in Utah, but Canada’s climate is on another level.
The city is far bigger than anything he imagined growing up, yet basketball remains the common thread. He spends countless hours in the gym, soaking up lessons from the Raptors’ coaching staff, including head coach Darko Rajaković.
“If he notices something I need to improve, he tells me right away,” Murray-Boyles said. “And if I have questions, he’s always open to listening.”
Back home, Sessions remains a trusted mentor. No matter the distance, she continues to guide him.
“Whenever he’s in town, we’re in the gym working,” she said. “I text him after games, make corrections, encourage him. But I also give him space to grow. He’s learning the league.”
One major area of growth has been his jump shot — the final piece that needed refining after college.
Sessions pushed him to develop range, knowing he’d need to stretch the floor in the NBA.
The progress is clear, and he credits her as one of his strongest influences.
“She always checks in,” he said. “Gives me advice, gives me credit, keeps me grounded.”
There’s just one detail still up in the air: his jersey number. He wore No. 30 at South Carolina but switched to 12 in Toronto because 30 was taken by Ochai Agbaji. After Agbaji’s trade, the number became available again.
“We’ve talked about it,” Murray-Boyles said. “I started my career with 12, but 30 means a lot to me. I won’t change it this season — maybe next year.”
If he does switch, it may be the only step backward he ever takes.
