The Toronto Raptors are still doing cartwheels all over Scotiabank Arena after landing Scottie Barnes in the 2021 NBA Draft. His Rookie of the Year award remains a firm reminder of the fact his debut season was one of the most exhilarating campaigns in Raptors history.
Barnes averaged 15.3 points per game as a rookie, making fools out of all the haters who thought that it would take a long time for his offensive game to adapt to the NBA. With 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, Barnes continued to show what a very unique player he can be at his best.
If Scottie continues to perform as well as he did during his rookie season, Barnes’ name will be plastered all over the Raptors’ record books by the time his career in Canada comes to a close. Given how diverse his game is, look for Barnes to potentially set records in several fields.
These three milestones are all within arm’s reach for Barnes if he ends up taking that next developmental step in the right direction. Barnes was drafted with the expectation he would be a record-breaker, and he’s well on his way to unseating some of the more memorable names in club history.
Toronto Raptors: 3 milestones Scottie Barnes could reach.
3. 500 Assists
Barnes was tabbed as a solid passer when he came into the league, but even the most optimistic projection of his game didn’t do justice to his showstopping distribution ability. After 256 assists in his rookie season, this year promises to be even more statistically proficient.
Barnes would end up at No. 22 all-time in Raptors history if he hits 500 on the dot, coming in right behind names like Cory Joseph, Andrea Bargnani, and Jalen Rose. If the Raptors utilize Barnes as more of a primary ball-handler, he’ll fly much further up the list than expected.
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes is a tremendous ball-handler.
Barnes’ per-game assist totals don’t tell the whole story of how impactful he can be as a passer. Barnes regularly set Raptors Twitter ablaze with no-look passes in transition and cross-court heaves that prove his standout basketball intuition.
While it will be tough to rank very high on the assists per game leaderboards thanks to the presence of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, but he’s skilled enough to get his fair share of dimes in before the game ends.
In addition to Scottie and his climb, VanVleet and Siakam (both of whom rank in the top 10) should make some changes of their own to that all-time assist list.
2. 1,000 rebounds
Barnes was dominant on the glass at times, using his ability to grab offensive rebounds for putbacks to great effect while being one of the few Raptors who managed to hold his own on the defensive end. Barnes might already enter four digits after just two digits.
1K in this area puts him in the same company as Oliver Miller, Tracy McGrady, and Kevin Willis. An even more lofty goal for Barnes to challenge for is 1,200 rebounds, which would tie him with Ed Davis for 19th all-time in Raptors history. Not too bad for someone who wasn’t projected as a starter by some when he was drafted.
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes can dominate the glass.
Barnes has a 7-3 wingspan, and he has used every inch of that to pile up double-doubles against some of the best interior big men in the game. Barnes might be listed as a small forward and have a game centers around being a perimeter nuisance, but he has shown to be 100% viable as a small-ball big man.
While Toronto is one of the best teams in the league at creating second-chance points on offense, they are also less than impressive at preventing those points on the defensive end. This slightly new roster has placed a clear emphasis on being a better rebounding team, and Barnes is expected to be part of the solution.
1. 2,500 points
It’s been a joy to watch all of Raptors Twitter come together and observe Barnes’ climb up the franchise’s scoring charts. After working all the way up to 53rd on Toronto’s all-time scoring list, Barnes has the skills to end up inside the top 25 by the end of the season.
Barnes was able to climb as high as he did thanks to a blend of constant energy and spectacular mid-range finishing. If his much-hyped adjustments to his shooting are indeed going to translate when he kicks the regular season off, Toronto could have a legitimate superstar on their hands.
The Toronto Raptors have a great scorer in Scottie Barnes.
Vaulting up to 2,500 points would make him one of the top 22 scorers in club history, outpacing the likes of Tracy McGrady and Kawhi Leonard. Names like Anthony Parker and Serge Ibaka will be in Barnes’ sights for 2023-24 if he is able to continue on this pace.
Barnes may have to fight with some of his teammates for shots, but even the most casual Raptors fan can see that he has a smoothness and efficiency to his game that will set him up for tons of success at the next level. He’ll continue to push aside some respected names in the future.