Celtics star Jayson Tatum shouts out Raptors, Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors have had to overcome arguably the best division in basketball to remain in the thick of the playoff hunt. This has meant getting into some absolute wars against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics to maintain their playoff positioning.

While the two franchises are normally bitter rivals who have had some high-profile clashes over the years, Tatum has great respect for the franchise and what they’re trying to build. The play of Barnes has caught his eye, which has crystallized the notion that he is going to be a problem for years to come.

Speaking on JJ Redick’s “Old Man And The Three” podcast, Tatum said that the seven-game series against Toronto in the bubble was the toughest series he was ever involved in. He credited Nick Nurse for making him work, saying that he was “exhausted after every game.”

When asked if any young players across the league caught his attention, Tatum singled out Barnes and Cavaliers sensation Evan Mobley. Tatum said that both Toronto and Cleveland “got that right” after selecting them, adding that they are both “special.” That’s high praise from a division rival.

Jayson Tatum is a fan of Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors.

Tatum has averaged 20.4 points per game over the course of his career, but that number dips to just 17.3 per game in matchups against Toronto. That’s his fourth-lowest average against a particular team. Even in a postseason series where Pascal Siakam was disappointing, Toronto was giving him everything they could handle.

Adding an insanely switchable young talent with room to grow on offense is exactly what Tatum did not want to see the Raptors do. With Barnes putting up 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 32-point demolition of the Celtics in Boston, Tatum saw firsthand how good he could be.

Tatum is not the only noteworthy name to bestow tons of praise on Barnes this season. Bradley Beal co-signed Tatum’s evaluation of Barnes as “special”, while Kevin Durant was shocked that Barnes was making so many plays after just turning 20 years old before their first meeting.

The Raptors and Celtics are likely poised to lock horns for postseason spots plenty over the next few years given the quality of this division. While Toronto is wary of Tatum and the scoring punch that he can provide for this team, the Celtics have that same level of respect for Toronto’s culture and the impact it is having on Barnes.