Montverde Academy gave the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons some potential franchise players in the 2021 NBA Draft, as Masai Ujiri was able to add Florida State’s Scottie Barnes to the roster just a few picks after Troy Weaver began the draft by selecting Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham.
Barnes’ hot start in the NBA has taken many by surprise, as he was thought to be incredibly raw on the offensive side. With 15.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through 22 contests, Barnes has shown that his ability to get to the rim is already befuddling NBA defenders.
With Cunningham missing the start of the season due to an injury, Barnes and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley zoomed right to the top of the Rookie of the Year race, as they have both been impact contributors on both ends for their respective teams. However, Cunningham is starting to heat up.
In the last four games, Cunningham is making 51% of his shots while averaging 22.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Cade picked up his second career triple-double, which proves that some of the early season issues plaguing him are melting away. Has he usurped Barnes in the hypothetical rookie power rankings?
Toronto Raptors: Is Scottie Barnes playing better than Cade Cunningham?
Some might resist comparing the two players given how wildly different their styles are. While Barnes is a two-way stopper with handles in the OG Anunoby mold, Cunningham is an oversized point guard that is willing to be the primary offensive generator during his rookie season.
Still, even when you take into account the fact that these two are being asked to play two different roles, Barnes is still having the better season so far. What he’s been able to give to this Raptors team as they fight for their playoff lives has been nothing short of astonishing.
While Cunningham is going to get his gaudy numbers by virtue of both his immense talent and his situation as the primary offensive force in Detroit, Barnes is continuing to make his mark on both ends with a Toronto team that doesn’t let him dominate the ball.
When one looks at these 2 statistical edges that Barnes still holds over Cunningham despite the No. 1 overall pick’s recent hot streak, it becomes clear that No. 4 is just barely edging out the former Cowboys star.