Immanuel Quickley had been with the Toronto Raptors for less than three months when his beloved uncle Shawn Hamilton died.
Even though he was relatively new to the organization, about a dozen members of the Raptors made the trip to attend Hamilton’s funeral. It was an act of kindness and respect that Quickley will always appreciate.
“They didn’t have to do that,” said Quickley on Monday after practice at the OVO Athletic Centre. “Love is an action not just words.
It’s not just something that you say, it’s something that you do and they’ve definitely shown that.”
Quickley and RJ Barrett of Mississauga will both be listed as probable when the Raptors host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Both Quickley and Barrett have missed significant stretches of Toronto’s 13-game losing skid as they grieved the loss of loved ones.
Quickley took a leave after Hamilton died of cancer on March 20, missing six games. Barrett, whose 19-year-old brother Nathan Barrett died on March 14, has been on leave for nine games
It’s great. Not only just RJ – RJ is obviously my guy – but the whole team,” he said. “This organization has been great since the first day I got here.
“Just to be able to share the court with those guys has been a blessing. Look forward to it.”
Injuries have also plagued Toronto this season, contributing to the disastrous losing skid.
All-star forward Scottie Barnes (left hand fracture), centre Jakob Poeltl (left hand torn ligament), guard Ochai Agbaji (right hip), forward Chris Boucher (partial MCL tear), guard D.J. Carton (right ankle sprain) and Jontay Porter (personal reasons) will all be inactive against L.A.
