Scottie Barnes – The Case for ROY (Rookie of the Year)
As we race through the last 10 games of the season let’s take some time to look at the Raptor’s rookie, Scottie Barnes. It doesn’t seem like very long ago that Jim and I were glued in front of the television intently watching the 2021 Draft. Toronto through some stroke of luck have ended up with the 4th overall pick and Jim and I knew that there were 4 names to watch: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs. Jim and I were tingling with anticipation. We had watched some NCAA ball the previous season and we were delighted that the worst the Raptors could do was Jalen Suggs. We had watched his game winner; cool under pressure, team leader. He looked like a player you could build around. So Jim and I were salivating. What if someone took Suggs ahead of the 4 spot and one of the big 3 fell to the Raptors? The anticipation was overwhelming.
With the first pick, the Pistons took the consensus pick, Cade Cunningham.
With the second pick, the Rockets took Jalen Green. If anyone might have slipped to 4, it would have been him.
With the third pick, the Cavs took Evan Mobley.
Before the commissioner even said the words, I heard them: And with the fourth pick in the 2021 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jalen Suggs’, only when the commissioner said it, he said Scottie Barnes.
“Scottie Barnes?” I said incredulously and hopefully Jim would correct me, but instead out of his mouth tumbled, “Scottie Barnes?”, just as incredulously as I had said it. If Jim and I had both heard the same thing then that must have been what the commissioner said. Perhaps it was a mistake, but no, it wasn’t there was Scottie Barnes and not Jalen Suggs walking the steps and receiving a Raptors cap. Unbelievable. Jim and I were speechless. How could Masai have gotten it so wrong we wondered still somewhat in shock.
Fast forward 9 months and Scottie Barnes is a force, blowing away previous Raptor rookie records. This is not the year for this team, said Masai at the preseason press conference. But somehow using the force of his will, Scotty Barnes has amazed with his play and pulled his teammates along with him. Sure, he was expected to be a defensive force and a 6’9” point forward with good handles but no one could have guessed he’d be putting up almost 16 points a night with 55% shooting on a Raptors team still shooting for 5th place in a strong Eastern Conference. Add to that his near 8 rebounds and 4 assists to go along with a block and a steal a game playing 34 minutes a night, Scottie has achieved one more thing I though impossible only a few months ago: he has made us forget about Kyle Lowry.
Looking back into Raptor lore, it’s true that both Vince Carter and Damon Stoudamire scored more points but both were badly losing team with Stoudamire’s Raptors only winning 15 games that season. From my experience, the Raptors have never had a better rookie than Scottie Barnes with the potential to be a top 5 player in this league. Of course only time will determine whether the young man can fulfill that potential, but I’m sold that he is the Raptors future.
In truth though, even as good as Scottie is, we must acknowledge the way Evan Mobley has showcased his skills in his rookie season. Strong at both ends of the floor and a very mobile 6’11”, Mobley helped the Cavs climb the standing early in the season and made a strong impression. However, though a little slower out of the blocks, Scottie has equaled Mobley’s strong stats and makes a large case for being even more important to his team’s success. Scottie brings a positive energy and optimism that’s infectious to his teammates and I believe that is what has pushed the Raptors firmly into the playoff picture when all indications were the opposite at the beginning of the year. And for that, I award Scottie ROY and look forward to watching his career closely.