‘His swag is through the roof.’ But Raptors rookie Dalano Banton has found a way to stay grounded in his hometown

MIAMI One other teenager might need been overwhelmed by the circumstances and given in to them.

A lesser younger man might need gone all big-time enjoying for the NBA workforce in his hometown, the primary Canadian ever drafted by the Raptors and one who exploded onto the scene early within the season.

It wouldn’t have been uncommon for somebody like Dalano Banton to coast a bit, to relaxation on his laurels, spend all his out there time with household and pals and different hangers-on who’d wish to know and hang around with an NBA participant.

However Banton has someway escaped all that.

He works at his craft and finds manner to enhance, and hasn’t given in to exterior influences within the least.

“Basketball being a lot of my time, all people type of understands that I gained’t be round a lot. I can’t be seeing individuals on daily basis,” the native of Rexdale mentioned right here earlier than the Raptors confronted the Miami Warmth on Saturday evening.

“All people needs the very best for me. No person pressures me to do something or see anyone or something like that. I’m grateful for that. Your help workforce is what’s going to assist maintain you going off the court docket.”

That stage of maturity from the 22-year-old not solely stands him in good stead. Holding his priorities straight has allowed him to climate some sometimes attempting occasions in his rookie season.

“Rookie life, it’s the ups and downs of it,” teammate Fred VanVleet mentioned of Banton. “It takes time to know tips on how to get it each evening. It takes time to know what it takes to do it each evening.

“One sport is enjoyable and it’s cool. Two video games is cool, however are you able to do it each evening? That’s the way you turn out to be a participant on this league, is by having the ability to convey a sure stage of efficiency each single evening.”

As a result of Banton has been capable of focus solely on basketball — not all the time a given with a rookie, and definitely not one who has the profile in his metropolis that Banton does — his sport has come again round.

He began out gangbusters — an extended, fast guard who had an impression on video games merely together with his velocity and athleticism — however then hit an anticipated wall. A few of it was the pure development of NBA rookies; a few of it was as a result of the Raptors might need requested an excessive amount of of Banton too quickly.

“To be trustworthy with you, we might have overloaded him there for a stretch,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse mentioned. “He went and performed like 5 straight nights (between the NBA and the G League). Who is aware of, however our intention was simply to present him as (many) reps as he may get, and it appeared like after that little stretch was when he took a little bit downturn.”

Banton’s sport did go off the rails a bit, and he seldom bought on the court docket for about three weeks. However some confidence-building video games with the Raptors 905 and the absence of VanVleet due to harm, which pressured Nurse to make use of Banton, appear to have rejuvenated his sport.

“Going up and all the way down to the G League and enjoying up right here with the Raptors, I really feel like I’m placing myself ready to have , lengthy profession,” Banton mentioned. “All people right here seems out for me. They by no means let nothing slide with me. All people holds me accountable.”’

Banton’s teammates perceive what he can do on the court docket, and what he has to do off it. They recognize his skilled strategy, which centres on focusing solely on basketball. They’ll help that to the hilt.

“One factor about him: He works laborious. I really like his vitality, I really like his character, his confidence. His swag is thru the roof,” VanVleet mentioned. “He has all of the intangibles. He’s simply bought to determine what sort of participant he needs to be within the league and simply stick with the main points, the professionalism of what it takes to be ready, execute the sport plan and do what the coach is asking of you.”

And just like the help system that enables Banton to not get distracted enjoying at house, the basketball help system permits him to study the sport.

“You bought to do it each evening, and he’s positively succesful. So we’ll be there to assist him and help him alongside his journey, however positively a bit we are able to use going ahead,” VanVleet mentioned.