Toronto Raptors: Watch Scottie Barnes score his first NBA points

The Toronto Raptors not only made their regular-season return to Canada after almost two calendar years away from Scotiabank Arena during their opener against the Washington Wizards, but they also got the chance to unveil No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes to the NBA world.

The Florida State alum is coming off of a very impressive preseason in which he led the team in assists while putting together a sparkling assist/turnover ratio. Concerns about using the No. 4 pick on him have since subsided.

Barnes might be a bit of a work in progress as a shooter, but he shows an aptitude for getting to the basket and finishing in the paint. What better way to show off that skill than by getting your first confirmed points in the NBA by muscling to the rim?

Barnes drove right past another top draft choice in Deni Avdija, switched hands while spinning, and uncorked a left-handed skyhook to get on the board for the first time in the NBA. There aren’t many 6-8 players of any age in the league that can pull off a move like that so easily.

Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes made his first NBA shot.

The only reason the selection of Barnes was questionable to some was the fact that he is very raw as a jump shooter. Most of his points during his rookie year are going to come on penetrations like this, so it’s encouraging to see the finishing skill he perfected with the Seminoles has transferred over.

Barnes is gradually coming into his own as a shooter, and the Raptors should look to use this season as a chance to get him as many reps as a catch-and-shoot guy as possible. Based on his pregame work, he is all-in on transforming his game to become that much deadlier on offense.

In a season that might not provide the Raptors with a chance to compete for a title, they can lean on the fact that some of their young foundational pieces like Barnes will start to show more improvement with each passing game. As he develops, he and some of Toronto’s other youngsters may pop off with a highlight-reel play every now and again.

When he gets that jumper fixed, he’ll be one of the premier young players in the East. For his first few games, as long as he is consistently hitting shots like that on offense and playing great defense.