3 most exciting parts of surprising 2021-22 Raptors season

1. The Development of Scottie Barnes

When the Raptors took Barnes, confusion gripped Canada. Why didn’t they take Jalen Suggs? Just a few months later, Barnes has become a Rookie of the Year frontrunner and two-way standout that Magic Johnson believes is very similar to himself. Not bad, all things considered.

With 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game to his name, Barnes could take home the top individual honor for a rookie this season if the voters wise up. So much of this season was based on surrounding Barnes with the tools he needed to be successful, and he has taken advantage.

Scottie Barnes has been very impressive for the Toronto Raptors.

Barnes is going to have a ton of pressure placed on him in the next few years. With VanVleet and Siakam both scheduled to hit free agency before Barnes’ rookie contract expires, Toronto might need to transition to a combination of him and OG Anunoby as the focal points of this team on both ends.

Luckily, Barnes seems more than capable of handling that pressure and establishing himself as a quality NBA leader. With the on-court skills to do nearly everything required of him and the mental fortitude needed to become the face of a franchise, Barnes has been everything Toronto could have ever asked him to be.