Date: November 4, 2025
Source: Toronto Raptors (YouTube)
Following the Raptors’ 128–100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Jakob Poeltl discussed his return from a back injury, his ongoing recovery process, the team’s growing chemistry, and his on-court connection with Immanuel Quickley.
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On Returning from His Back Injury
“It’s a tough question. I think I’m still a little bit away from feeling 100%, but I’m pretty happy about how today went. I felt pretty good for the most part — there were some phases where it stiffened up a little bit, but overall I felt good. Hopefully I can continue to manage it and just continue to get better.”
On Minute Restrictions and Management
“It’s probably a little bit of both — it was my first game back to see how I feel out there and not overexhaust myself. So yeah, a bit of both.”
On Managing the Injury Moving Forward
“I’m definitely going to have to put in a bunch of work behind the scenes. Hopefully I’ll get to a point where it won’t affect me in games, or at least not as much. I don’t have much experience with stuff like that, so I’m still trying to gauge the situation and just get better every day.”
On How the Injury Affects His Daily Life
“Some days it’s better, some days it’s worse. I wouldn’t say it’s a crazy impact on my daily life — it’s more in high-intensity situations like games or practices where it bothers me more. Today felt good, honestly. I noticed it a little bit when I got tired, but for the most part it felt really good.”
On the Team’s Performance vs. Milwaukee
“I think we’ve had a pretty good run these last few games where we’ve looked better. We were a step faster and a bit more physical — more ready for the game than them. We’ve got to bring that even when the other team comes out 100%. That’s going to be a challenge for us, but hopefully we’ll continue to grow.”
On His Chemistry with Immanuel Quickley
“It’s been really good. We’re in constant communication — during practice and during games — about what we see out there. Especially in pick-and-roll situations, Quick likes to do a lot of stop-and-go, trying to snake or seal his defender, so it’s really important that we’re on the same page. I try to read his body language as best I can. The more time we get out there together, the more fluent it becomes.”
Pulse Takeaway
Poeltl’s return was a positive step — he admitted he’s not 100% yet, but said the back felt strong overall. He emphasized the work he’s putting in behind the scenes and praised the team’s physicality and pace in their win over the Bucks. His growing chemistry with Immanuel Quickley continues to be a key piece of Toronto’s offensive flow.
Quotes from Jakob Poeltl via Toronto Raptors (YouTube). Used for analysis and commentary.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
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