The Raptors were impressed by the mental toughness of first-round draft pick Malachi Flynn, taken aback by his determination, his work ethic, his willingness to fight and scrap and claw for whatever he needed to become an NBA player.
It probably shouldn’t have been a surprise, given the young man’s upbringing.
The 22-year-old point guard, taken 29th overall in Wednesday’s draft, grew up the youngest of seven children in his family and if that doesn’t instill a competitive nature in a young man, little else will.
“There was always something going on in the house, going to a brother’s track meet, going to a sister’s basketball game,” the native of Tacoma, Wash.