After the Toronto Raptors grabbed Collin Murray-Boyles with the 8th pick in the NBA Draft yesterday, the Raptors doubled down on their commitment with their pick today. As the draft moved on to the second round, Toronto selected Alijah Martin with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft.
Martin had a prominent role to play in the Florida Gators’ side that won the national championship last year, averaging 14.4 points per game in 36 starts. Before his time with the Gators, the 6’2″ guard made it to the Final Four in 2023 with Florida Atlantic. And although there are a lot of intangibles that he will bring to Toronto, the pick still appears rather hurried at 39.
Alijah Martin Gets Bumped Up by the Raptors
Although there are no doubts about Martin’s defensive prowess, his lack of size could be a problem in the NBA. In addition to that, Martin’s inability to create shots for himself and his offensive arsenal are severely limited. While the former Gator guard proved he can knock the ball down from beyond the arc as he shot 35% on his three-point range during his time in Florida, his jumper can still be seen as shaky and unreliable at times.
The Toronto Raptors have selected Florida’s Alijah Martin with the No. 39 pick. They will be keeping this pick.
Strong, explosive wing whose shot-making and defensive versatility played a key role in Florida’s championship run. pic.twitter.com/lJeoaPJSxZ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025
Owing to these factors, the Raptors’ 39th pick has been graded a C-. While Martin was expected to be selected in the mid- to late 40s, his selection at 39 raised eyebrows, especially with players like his college teammate Jamir Watkins and Koby Brea still on the board.
The grading is by no means a knock on all the good things that Martin brings to Toronto. Known for his intensity on the defensive end and a high motor, the guard shows active hands on defense, reflected in his 1.5 steals per game in Florida. Despite being an undersized guard, Martin is a relentless rebounder, grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game. A stat that proves his desire to win.
Martin is coming out of college as a hardened veteran, having spent five years playing NCAA Basketball. Having been to the Final Four twice, Martin is a proven winner and has no problems buying into the team’s philosophy. However, concerns around his scoring unfortunately shadow his potential.
Having already picked Murray-Boyles with their lottery pick, the Raptors already have a player who is strong on the defensive side of the floor and needed to pick up the slack on the other end. For the Raptors to go out and land another such profile, but also undersized, might suggest Martin will have a tough time settling into the NBA.
With more than enough young talent present in Toronto’s squad, Martin will not be hurried into action, and that would suit the guard well as he will try to build an offensive weapon that will suffice in this league. If he can’t do that, there isn’t too much upside to this pick.
