Scottie Barnes made his first All-Defensive Second Team this year. But, to him and many Toronto Raptors fans, it wasn’t the big accomplishment it sounds like. They felt that there should have been more, that he should have been on the first team and recognized as one of the five best defenders in the NBA.
It’s not an unreasonable complaint. Barnes is one of the most impactful and most versatile defenders in the league. Not many players can truly guard one through five in the way Barnes can—and he delivered in the big moments, leading the NBA in total clutch blocks for the season.
He will be on a mission to secure that All-Defensive First Team nod for the 2026-27 season. It is one of the goals Darko Rajakovic said he’d like Barnes to accomplish this season at Raptors media day.
“When you look at the way Scottie contributes to the team, it always starts with defense,” Rajakovic told reporters. “First thing is, I believe his goal and what he needs to achieve this year, what he’s going to achieve this year, he’s going to be on the All-Defensive First Team.”
Barnes echoed the same goal. “It felt kind of disrespectful that I didn’t make it,” he said at media day. “I know for sure I’ll be on it this year, make that statement.”
As far as goals for an NBA season go, this one seems very attainable for Barnes.
Barnes should have a great case this season
After the season Barnes just had and with the extra motivation from feeling like he was snubbed from the All-Defensive First Team, he should be up for his best season yet on both ends of the floor.
With the addition of Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors should be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference—if he stays healthy of course. Moreover, the Raptors can easily be a top-five defense again—and maybe even higher. Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and Collin Murray-Boyles could all be even better than last season, and Leonard is a notable defensive upgrade over Brandon Ingram.
This year’s All-Defensive First Team was comprised of Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert, and Derrick White. Except for Gobert, all of those players played for a team with a better defensive rating than the Raptors. So, the better the Raptors’ team defense, the better Barnes’s chances of making the first team, as he is the undisputed backbone of the Raptors’ defense.
Plus, with Leonard in the mix and the Raptors ascending to possible Eastern Conference contender status, there will be more eyes on the team, and Barnes’s defensive impact won’t be able to get past anyone.
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