Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has admitted that it's a big positive to have a player like Tyler Hansbrough on his roster.

Hansbrough joined the Raptors in July following a four year spell with the Indiana Pacers and the 27-year-old has impressed his new coach with his aggressive style of play.

"The No. 1 thing is playing hard like that every day is an NBA skill, that is a talent," Casey told reporters. "I don't know how you describe it or what you call it but for the guys I've seen over the years who bring it every day like that, that is not easy to do.

"You would want everybody to give it every day like that and hit people and play hard and take hits, get beat up every day, but it doesn't happen."

The Raptors face the Boston Celtics in their season opener next Wednesday night.