Ja'Kobe Walter

20-Year-Old GuardG
Out
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 11/1/2024
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Walter was the 19th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and was chosen based on his excellent three-point shooting, though it remains to be seen if that will be enough to grant him a regular role in the rotation right away. He falls into a good situation, however, as the Raptors are embracing a rebuilding process and are relying on young players such as Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley. The path toward seeing regular minutes looks complicated early on, but Walter could see his minutes increase as long as he adjusts to the NBA. His three-point shooting should be valuable in category-based leagues, but given that he's expected to open the 2024-25 season as a rookie bench option on a rebuilding franchise, his fantasy upside will be close to minimal. Walter might have some upside in deeper and/or dynasty leagues, but he shouldn't be targeted in standard formats. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Current Season
#71
ADP
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary

As a high school junior in McKinney, TX, Walter won the state championship. For his senior campaign, he transferred to Link Academy in Branson, MO where he was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and for Team USA in the Nike Hoops Summit. A five-star recruit, he committed to playing college ball for Baylor. During the 2023-24 season, Walter was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and voted Third-Team All-Big 12. Across his 35 appearances, he averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.3 minutes. First and foremost, Walter is a three-point shooter. Of his 10.9 shot attempts per game, 6.3 of them came from distance. He drained 2.1 per game at 34.1 percent. While that's not an elite number, he took plenty of difficult movement triples. He's capable of pump faking and driving off his three-point threat, but he's not a top-shelf athlete and needs to work on his finishing around the basket. He'll often pump fake to push in and shoot a mid-ranger. Taking a step forward as a ballhandler and passer would do wonders for his potential. Defensively, Walter struggles from a lack of footspeed and may be better off guarding bigger players given his 6-foot-10 wingspan on a 6-foot-5 frame. Walter's gravity as a three-point shooter, especially one who can move off-ball, should be valuable to any NBA franchise. At the very least, he could operate as a specialist. If he can continue developing as a playmaker and defender, Walter could grow into a role similar to Devin Vassell. While Walter may not project as a primary offensive engine, he could develop into someone who can run secondary actions and make tough jumpers near the end of the shot clock.

Out at least another week
GToronto Raptors
Shoulder
October 21, 2024
Coach Darko Rajakovic said Monday that Walter (shoulder) is a week to 10 days away from being cleared for full-contact portions of practice, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Walter participated in some parts of Monday's practice but still has multiple hurdles to clear before returning to game action. The rookie missed the entire preseason schedule due to the shoulder injury, so even when he's cleared to suit up, Walter likely won't factor into Toronto's early-season rotation.
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Average Fantasy Points are determined when Ja'Kobe Walter was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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More Fantasy News
Another absence coming
GToronto Raptors
Shoulder
October 17, 2024
Walter (shoulder) has yet to be medically cleared and won't play in Friday's preseason game versus the Nets, Aaron Rose of SI.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Out again Friday
GToronto Raptors
Shoulder
October 11, 2024
Walter (shoulder) has been ruled out of Friday's preseason game versus the Wizards, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
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Restricted to start training camp
GToronto Raptors
September 27, 2024
Walter sprained his acromioclavicular joint (shoulder) during informal workouts and will not participate in on-court activities to start training camp, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Held to five points
GToronto Raptors
July 13, 2024
Walter notched five points (2-8 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT) with two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 21 minutes during Saturday's 94-69 Summer League win over the Thunder.
ANALYSIS
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Headed to Toronto with No. 19 pick
GToronto Raptors
June 26, 2024
Walter was selected by the Raptors with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
New Orleans could be interested
GFree Agent
June 9, 2024
The Pelicans could target Walter with their first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times Picayune speculates.
ANALYSIS
The Pelicans hold the 21st pick in this year's draft, and they would be wise to add another guard to the roster since they have enough scoring weapons already. Walter spent the 2023-24 season with Baylor and posted solid numbers, averaging 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest. However, he's not much of a passer, and the fact that he shot only 34.1 percent from three in 2023-24 suggests he's still a work in progress offensively.
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