The Toronto Raptors have officially extended the contract of center Jakob Poeltl for multiple years, the NBA team revealed on Tuesday. Although specific financial terms were not disclosed, various sources indicated that the agreement is valued at $104 million US spanning four years. Poeltl, a 29-year-old player hailing from Austria, achieved career-best statistics last season, recording 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game across 57 regular-season matches for the Raptors. Impressively, he maintained a field goal percentage of 62.7%, ranking him fifth among eligible NBA players.
Originally selected as the ninth overall pick by the Raptors in the 2016 NBA draft, Poeltl was later involved in the trade that sent him and DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal in 2018. Subsequently, in 2023, he returned to the Raptors and penned a new four-year contract worth $78 million.
Standing at seven feet tall and weighing 245 pounds, Poeltl boasts an average of 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over his 595-game career. Expressing his loyalty to the team, Poeltl stated, “Toronto has always felt like home for me — I want to be a Raptor for life.” He extended gratitude to General Manager Bobby Webster, team ownership, and the fans for their unwavering support. Poeltl emphasized his confidence in the team’s young core and their potential for future success, eagerly awaiting their return to the Scotiabank Arena court.