Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists for his career. He averaged a career-high 10.3 points per game during the 2019-20 season with the Nets, and career lows (0.8 points, 0.4 assists, 0.4 rebounds) with the Raptors this season. “My son asked my wife, ‘Why is dad always on the bench?’” Temple said. “My wife explained to him, ‘Daddy has played for a long time. So now, the younger guys are really good and it’s their time to play. Do you want to see video of when Daddy was playing a lot?’ So, we pulled up some YouTube clips.”
So, what is the key to Temple’s longevity? “Just staying healthy,” Temple said. “Eating decently. But honestly, staying active. It’s obvious this is my job, so it’s easy. I shouldn’t have a reason to get out of shape. I stay in shape for a living. So just building habits while I’m playing now for when I finish that I can continue to do. Eat protein, lift a lot of weights and run as much as I can.”
When asked how he learned humility, Temple said, “Honestly, how I was raised, my parents and hard work. But I also say at this age — just with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as an actual person that believes in Christ — the No. 1 thing, you have to be humble. And we do affirmations with my kids every day and one of the things we say is, ‘I’m a servant leader.’ “So, if you’re a servant leader, your main focus is to serve others and show people how you should go about life by serving others at the end of the day. So, I try to spread the gospel about how I live. And I think if I’m being conceited and arrogant and cocky all the time, that’s not showing people what Christ-following is. The opposite of that is humble.”
Now, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster says Temple has been a key mentor for their young players. “He’s invaluable,” Webster said. “Three years ago, when we met him in Vegas, we didn’t have a great personal relationship with him. There is nobody on the team I trust more about the pulse of the team, what I need to watch and what messaging you can help us with, especially in today’s NBA with so many young kids coming in. “He’s been [mentoring] Scottie [Barnes] for a couple years; we have this young kid Collin Murray-Boyles. He’s a huge mentor and invaluable to us.”
Advertisement
NBA Communications: The NBA today announced the finalists for the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. The annual honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team. Current NBA players will select the winner from these 12 finalists (six finalists from each NBA conference): Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Pat Connaughton, De'Aaron Fox, Jeff Green, Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Jordan, Duncan Robinson, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Garrett Temple, Jaylin Williams.
Keerthika Uthayakumar: Garrett Temple played with his 262nd different teammate tonight, passing Vince Carter for 2nd-most in NBA history. Temple & Jackson-Davis had not played together before tonight.
Law Murray: Darko Rajakovic has ruled out Immanuel Quickley (back) for tonight vs Clippers. Garrett Temple and Sandro Mamukelashvili are available. And if you can type that on your iPhone with no typos, respect.
The members of the NBPA Executive Committee include: Fred VanVleet, President; Grant Williams, First Vice President; Mason Plumlee, Secretary-Treasurer; Jaylen Brown, Vice President; Jaren Jackson Jr, Vice President; Donovan Mitchell, Vice President; Garrett Temple, Vice President; Karl Anthony Towns, Vice President; Gabe Vincent, Vice President
Advertisement
Shams Charania: Free agent Garrett Temple intends to sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. The Raptors and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports reached the deal for Temple, who will enter his 16th NBA season. pic.x.com/W87onCqMLX
Josh Lewenberg: Garrett Temple just went to the locker room after Malaki Branham came down on his left knee. Could see the look of concern on his teammates' faces; the 38-year-old vet is beloved in that room. He recently spoke about wanting to return for Season No. 16. Hope he's OK.
Garrett Temple has learned to take the NBA life in stride, and in any conversation, he exudes a deep sense of gratitude for carving out a 15-year NBA career — and counting. “There are so many people that would kill to be in this position, so don’t take it for granted,” the Raptors veteran said after his team beat the Charlotte Hornets 108-97 on Friday. “I’m having a great time and I’d love to be a Toronto Raptor next year and the year after.”
