3 Players Scottie Barnes could turn into, from MVP to a flash in the pan

Best-case: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo seems like a lofty, out-of-reach comparison for Scottie Barnes. The Greek superstar has won two MVP awards, an NBA Championship, Defensive Player of the Year and has been a perennial Top 5 player for the last seven seasons.

At the same time, Antetokounmpo didn't enter the league and immediately win an MVP. It wasn't until his fourth season that he made his first All-Star Game; Barnes got him by a year in that department. When looking at statistical comparisons between Barnes and other players, his closest comparison in many areas is Giannis.

No other player in recent NBA history matches Barnes' combination of scoring, passing and defensive playmaking. In his third seasons, Antetokounmpo averaged 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks; that is very similar to the year Barnes just had, except that Scottie exceeded those numbers in just about every way.

It's not particularly likely that Barnes follows Antetokounmpo's explosive trajectory, if only because not every promising young star can become a Top-25 player of all time. Antetokounmpo is undeniable in the paint in a way Barnes will likely never be, and he has more size to leverage defensively. Yet if you're looking for a high-end outcome, it's not unreasonable to look to Antetokounmpo's career.

Both players provide elite impact on both sides of the court, and both have and will drive winning at high levels. Can Barnes reach a Top-5 status and be competing for MVP awards every year? It's unlikely, but it's absolutely a possibility, and Barnes is off to a great start in order to pursue it.