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Raptors' Malachi Flynn scores 73 points in impressive pro-am display

Olivier Neven
·Writer
·3-min read
Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn will hope to turn his impressive performance in a pro-am tournament into some NBA success. (Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn will hope to turn his impressive performance in a pro-am tournament into some NBA success. (Getty Images)

Malachi Flynn may have a point to prove.

On Saturday, the Toronto Raptors guard appeared in former NBA guard Jamal Crawford's "Crawsover" Pro-Am tournament in Seattle, suiting up for the "Sonics" team.

Just as Crawford predicted, Flynn certainly delivered, and then some, scoring a whopping 73 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 115-108 win.

The 24-year-old's impressive performance turned some heads in the basketball world, with many taking to social media to sing Flynn's praises.

Internet jokesters didn't shy away from making memes about Flynn's big day, even throwing shade at NBA superstar LeBron James, who made his long-awaited return to the Drew League Pro-Am on Saturday.

The Tacoma, Washington native has struggled to establish himself in the NBA after being drafted with the 29th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Raptors.

In 91 career games with Toronto, Flynn has averaged six points, 2.3 assists and two rebounds, while shooting 38 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three in 16.1 minutes per game.

Following the Raptors' disappointing playoff exit in the first round at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach Nick Nurse spoke about what he'd like to see out of Flynn if he wants to consistently crack the rotation.

"I think he needs to be a little bit more of a pressure defender up the floor, just as a nuisance and as a change for us," Nurse said. "Fred (VanVleet) can do it, but he’s not really a guy that will spend all that energy up the floor but it’s good to have a guy come off the bench and just turn a guy a little bit in the backcourt and eat into them."

In January, Flynn's father took to Facebook to vent about his disapproval over his son's role in the team and his treatment at the hands of Nurse.

"I pray for Nick 'Nursery' but the way he has treated my son, I wouldn't treat a dog that way," Eric Flynn said. "Malachi Flynn is a better person than he is a basketball and why would you treat a good person that way."

Here's to hoping that Malachi has finally figured out how to make his mark in the NBA.

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