Now we know the reason Scottie Barnes missed the start of Raptors Training Camp

Scottie Barnes missed the start of Toronto Raptors Training Camp for an undisclosed "personal matter" that was not discussed ahead of time and which meant he was held out of the team's preseason opener against the Washington Wizards -- not that they needed his help.

As happens with most official media coverage, the press was respectful of Barnes' privacy and didn't comment in detail on what kept Barnes away from the first few days of training camp. That's been the standard for responsible NBA coverage; for example, most media members knew Andrew Wiggins was missing time over the last two seasons due to his father battling an illness that ultimately took his life, but they waited to report on it until it was officially made public.

Whatever is going on with Scottie, it didn't appear to be a significant illness or injury, as he was present at Media Day and appeared to be in good health. He also showed up to camp just a few days late, and appears to be practicing in full.

If this were James Harden one might suspect he was flying to Las Vegas to enjoy some frivolities, but Barnes has always maintained a work ethic that wouldn't pull him away from his team unless absolutely necessary.

Scottie Barnes was absent for the best of reasons

Thankfully, Raptors fans no longer need to wonder -- or for the most shrewd out there, to keep silent on what they assumed or discovered. On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN's Brian Windhorst casually reported that Scottie Barnes missed the start of training camp for the birth of his child.

It became a public story last month when Barnes confirmed rumors that he and his partner were expecting a child, and it appears the due date was quite close when he did so. Given that he often communicates to fans on Twitch, it may be that an official announcement about his new child comes there rather than through the Raptors' official media arms.

It's a big season for Barnes, who just signed the largest contract in franchise history and looks to fully take over the reigns now that Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are on new teams. After making his first All-Star team last season, he will look to repeat that feat and push for an All-NBA nod this year.

Once upon a time, Raptors fans remember Fred VanVleet becoming a father and turning into a flamethrower in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019. Perhaps Barnes can channel his new role into a strong season that elevates the team and sets him on another level individually.

Congratulations to Scottie Barnes and his family!