Toronto Raptors rookie Allen Graves balances NBA with daily Bible study and reading
The 19-year-old power forward, drafted 19th overall, has been sharing Scripture videos on Instagram for over two years while pursuing his love of literature.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Toronto Raptors rookie Allen Graves might be the youngest player on the team, but he carries an old-soul discipline: a daily reading practice and Scripture videos that have earned him a devoted social media following.
The 19-year-old power forward, selected 19th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara University, credits his mother with instilling a reading habit from childhood. "Every day, she made sure we read for 30 minutes before bed," Graves said. "It started off with Magic Tree House, then went to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. All those books, I had to read a lot of them."
Graves' passion for literature continues to grow. His Instagram account, @allen_studies, is dedicated to his faith, where he has been sharing almost 10-minute Bible scripture videos every day for more than two years.
The Raptors selected Graves for his defensive ability and physical presence, though Graves told The Athletic that he believes his greatest asset is his mind.
In his first two NBA Summer League games with the Raptors, Graves has been impressive: he averaged 15 points and shot nearly 57 per cent from the field while collecting 16 rebounds. Toronto and Graves will play the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat this week before Summer League wraps up by July 19.
The facts
What pick was Allen Graves in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Allen Graves was selected 19th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara University by the Toronto Raptors.
How long has Graves been posting Bible videos on Instagram?
Allen Graves has been sharing almost 10-minute Bible scripture videos on his Instagram account @allen_studies every day for more than two years.
What were Graves' stats in his first two NBA Summer League games?
In his first two NBA Summer League games with the Toronto Raptors, Allen Graves averaged 15 points, shot nearly 57 per cent from the field, and collected 16 rebounds.
