Following the Toronto Raptors media day, one thing I can say I'm certain of is that if one thing isn’t going to change from last year's team to this year's team, it’s the defense. No matter who stepped up to the podium, the message about defense was real simple: this team is still going to pride themselves on that end and remain disruptive defensively. Now, all of that is great to talk about, but none of it is possible with Scottie Barnes once again being an anchor for Toronto on that side of the ball.
Barnes had a phenomenal defensive season, but was snubbed hard by voters when it came to the league's All-Defensive teams. While it may not seem drastic that Barnes was put on the Second Team instead of the First Team, the Raptors and Barnes clearly didn’t take kindly to that decision. Going into next season, it doesn’t seem like he or the Raptors staff has forgotten about the disrespect they felt when the league's All-Defensive teams were announced.
“He's going to be in the First Team All-Defensive. Last year he ended up being in the Second Team, and I think that was not fair. He deserved to be in the First Team All-Defensive. So that's first goal that he has individually that we have for him as as well," said Rajakovic.
"I know I'm one of the best defensive players in the world… I do what I do and I make impact on that floor every single night. It's whatever. I don't want to say how I really feel, but you know, it just felt kind of disrespectful that I didn't make it… I know for sure I'll be on there this year," said Barnes.
Barnes playing with some added motivation on the defensive end of the ball coming off a year as good as he just had defensively should scare the league. With his coaching staff behind him and using the disrespect he felt last season to challenge him, the Raptors could be in a place to challenge for the No. 1 defense in the league.
Could Barnes somehow be better defensively in 2026-27?
Barnes’ 2.9 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game average and Toronto finishing as a top-five defense both felt like valid reasons for him to be a member of the All-Defensive First Team last season. He also led the team in defensive on-off numbers among players to play more than 400 minutes, according to Databallr. And on top of all that, he finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, which, technically speaking, means he was the fifth-best defender in the league and should have been on the First Team. But NBA voters are known for egregious mistakes—just ask Marc Gasol or LeBron James about that.
After the Raptors postseason run last year, the entire basketball world found out how special Barnes is defensively, so there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll comfortably make the First Team this year. However, that isn’t what fans should be focusing on. The focus should be on how much higher his ceiling can be on that end of the floor this year, given the big roster shakeup the Raptors made.
Barnes is already elite defensively; we know that, but with a chip on his shoulder and the addition of another elite, switchable defender in Kawhi Leonard, his ceiling gets higher. Leonard has won Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career; he knows what it’s like to be part of not just top defenses, but great ones. Adding another high-IQ elite defender to this bunch gives Toronto the ceiling to challenge for the league's top defensive rating.
It also puts Barnes alongside another defender who knows how to create defensive advantages for his teammates. So whether it’s funneling players to the rim so Barnes can block their shot into the third row. Or making someone pick up their dribble and having Barnes run by and strip them, Leonard is going to help inflate Barnes’ defensive numbers.
Obviously, it feels like the next 15 DPOYs are going to go to Victor Wembanyama, and while I would never wish injuries on someone, what if he doesn’t meet the 65-game requirement? Barnes could comfortably be next in line for that award, given the season he is positioned to have in 2026-27.
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