How Chris Boucher Became the NBA's Most Underrated Big Man

I remember watching Chris Boucher during his early days with the Toronto Raptors and thinking there was something special about his game that wasn't getting enough attention. Fast forward to today, and I'm convinced we're witnessing one of the most fascinating development stories in modern basketball. How Chris Boucher became the NBA's most underrated big man isn't just about stats or highlight reels—it's about a journey that defies conventional basketball wisdom.

When Boucher entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017, most scouts saw him as a project player at best. Standing at 6'9" with a slender frame that weighed just 200 pounds, he didn't fit the traditional mold of an NBA big man. I recall analysts questioning whether his body could withstand the physical demands of the professional game. Yet here we are years later, and Boucher has not only survived but thrived, carving out a unique role that makes him invaluable to the Raptors' system.

What makes Boucher's story particularly compelling is how he's transformed perceived weaknesses into strengths. His lean physique allows him to move with a guard-like fluidity that traditional centers simply can't match. Last season, he averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and perhaps most impressively, 1.9 blocks in just 20 minutes per game. Those numbers might not jump off the page until you consider his efficiency—he's one of only three players in NBA history to maintain a block rate above 9% while playing limited minutes. That's not just good—that's historically significant.

The international basketball community has taken notice too. His recent comments about playing for Gilas Pilipinas reveal much about his character and global appeal. "Sa Gilas, sobrang happy ako kasi naging part ulit ako ng Gilas pool. Sana 'pag na-lineup ko, gagawin ko lahat," Boucher shared recently. This enthusiasm for international play demonstrates his commitment to basketball beyond the NBA spotlight—a quality that often gets overlooked when discussing players' overall impact on the game.

I've spoken with several NBA analysts who consistently emphasize Boucher's unique skill set. "He's essentially created a new prototype for the modern big man," one Eastern Conference scout told me anonymously. "His ability to protect the rim while stretching the floor with his three-point shooting—he shot 38% from deep last season—makes him a nightmare matchup. Most teams don't have a single player who can adequately defend both those skills simultaneously."

What often gets lost in the analytics is Boucher's basketball intelligence. I've watched him develop an almost psychic understanding of Nick Nurse's defensive schemes. He anticipates passing lanes with the intuition of a point guard and times his weak-side help defense with precision that can't be taught. These aren't skills that show up in traditional box scores, but they're exactly why his plus-minus numbers are consistently among Toronto's best.

The journey hasn't been smooth. Boucher spent significant time in the G League, playing for the Raptors 905 where he won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. That development path—often viewed as a setback for many players—actually provided the perfect incubator for his unique talents. He refined his three-point shot there, developed his defensive timing, and perhaps most importantly, built the confidence needed to succeed at the NBA level.

Looking around the league today, I'm struck by how many teams could use a player like Boucher. In an era where versatility is prized above all else, his combination of shot-blocking and floor-spacing remains incredibly rare. Yet when discussions turn to the league's most valuable role players, his name rarely surfaces. This oversight speaks to how our basketball analysis often prioritizes traditional statistics over contextual impact.

Boucher's story resonates because it's fundamentally about maximizing opportunity. He's taken every chance he's been given—whether in the G League, with the Raptors, or internationally—and turned it into something meaningful. His development should serve as a blueprint for how organizations can identify and cultivate unique talent that doesn't fit conventional molds.

As the NBA continues to evolve, I believe we'll see more players following Boucher's path—big men who prioritize mobility and skill over brute strength. But what sets Boucher apart is that he arrived at this style not through trend-following but through necessity. He had to become this type of player to survive in the league, and in doing so, he's helped pioneer a new approach to the center position.

The question of how Chris Boucher became the NBA's most underrated big man ultimately comes down to persistence meeting opportunity. He's proven that there's still room for players who don't fit traditional templates, provided they have the work ethic and basketball IQ to maximize their unique attributes. As he continues his career both in Toronto and with Gilas Pilipinas, I'm excited to see how his game continues to evolve—and how long it takes for the broader basketball world to fully appreciate what he brings to the court every night.