When the Toronto Raptors drafted Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, some media talking heads weren’t quite sure what to make of him. While he had all the athleticism in the world, his unusual physical profile had some decision-makers wondering if he is an oversized point guard or traditional power forward.
The Florida State alum has been doing a little bit of everything to start his professional career, and the results have been electrifying. Barnes has averaged 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, all while leading the Raptors to a 3-3 start without Pascal Siakam.
In a season where development is being prioritized, Barnes has made rapid strides in just a handful of games. Where others thought Toronto was getting a raw lump of clay, Masai Ujiri and Nick Nurse were getting a player that could contribute right away while improving the finer points of his game.
Based on what we saw during his time at Florida State and what he’s done in his time as a member of the Toronto Raptors, Barnes is already making some serious improvements to his game in key areas.
3 areas where Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes is getting better.
3. Shooting
The only reason there was any doubt about Barnes’ projection as a pro was due to his shooting, as he averaged just 10.3 points per game in college. A majority of those looks coming at the rim. Barnes needs to get that straightened out if he’s going to reach his full potential, but he appears to be on his way there.
Barnes may not be prime Dirk Nowitzki just yet, but he has made 25% of his 3-point attempts so far. The big improvement, however, has been with his mid-range game, as he looks confident spotting up, shooting off the dribble, and making contested shots. He has 12 made jumpers outside of the paint this season.
Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes is working on his jump shot.
The Raptors’ biggest weakness as a team right now is shooting, specifically from 3-point range. While Barnes likely won’t take such a dramatic step forward that he could fully patch that hole, he could be a big piece of how Toronto overcomes this issue.
Barnes is a jump shot away from becoming Toronto’s secondary offensive option with a shot at eventually becoming the primary option. This won’t come overnight, but considering what some experts thought he would be on the offensive end as a rookie, this is a step in the right direction.
2. Passing
Box score scouts might not be impressed by 2.2 assists per game, but those numbers belie how effective Barnes has been as a distributor. Nurse is not afraid to let Barnes initiate offense, and he has rewarded his head coach by pulling off some genuinely impressive dimes in his young career.
While he uncorked several amazing passes in his 25-point, 13-rebound blitz against the Celtics, their win against Indiana might’ve been the most impressive Barnes has been all season long. He had just two turnovers while handing out a career-high seven assists against a very big, physical Pacers team.
The Toronto Raptors have seen Scottie Barnes make some amazing passes.
Barnes was used as a point guard in Tallahassee, and while this helped give the Seminoles some matchup nightmares, how he was used may not have been conducive to getting the most out of him on offense. Nurse has made him effectively a hybrid player, equally adept at both hanging out in the paint and creating near the perimeter.
When Pascal Siakam returns to the fold, Barnes will have the added benefit of an All-Star in the paint that Barnes could locate with some more of his show-stopping passes. If he learns to work on avoiding turnovers, something every young player has struggled with at some point, the assist numbers should skyrocket.
1. Aggression
The worst thing that a rookie can be when they are on the floor is passive, as looking timid and overwhelmed by the NBA game is never a good sign. No one has had to tell Barnes to puff his chest out, as he is willing to take more shots than he ever did under Leonard Hamilton with the Seminoles.
Barnes has a usage rate of over 20% in three of his five games coming into his duel with the Magic, and he proceeded to take 14 shots. He made nine of them, finishing with 21 points. He’s not just sitting back and getting putbacks, either, as he has been running the floor and eviscerating the basket.
The Toronto Raptors have seen Scottie Barnes take games over.
Barnes’ aggression has manifested in three different ways. He’s owning the offensive glass, showing a willingness to shoot after a turnover or miss, and flying to the rim using the downhill speed and athletic ability that made him a top recruit and prized prospect in the draft.
This combination helped Barnes create the highlight of the night when it took him just three dribbles to go coast to coast and finish off this Raptors possession with a thunderous slam. If he’s pulling out rare athletic feats like this in his sixth NBA game, the sky is the limit for Barnes and the Raptors.