The Raps won... again!
On the road for a matchup at State Farm Arena with the Atlanta Hawks, the Raptors edged out their foes in a thrilling clash that would end with Toronto getting its hands raised, winning 122-119.
Who helped get the job done for the Raptors' fourth win in five games? Gotta pay respects to the old heads for rapidly rising in value, including Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, and the always game-on Chris Boucher. Aside from the vets, it's a pleasant sight to see Gradey Dick returning back to form, especially with a recent insider report revealing his "untouchable" status.
By a mile, though, the star of the night in the ATL has to go to number 4, Mr. Scott Wayne Barnes.
Barnes would embark on a late game explosion, proving to be a worthy leader for the Raptors in crunch time. He'd end the game with these impressive box score stats: 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
In the Raptors' last collision against Orlando, Barnes' excellence was on full display alongside another star Eastern Conference forward, Paolo Banchero, arguably showcasing a future NBA rivalry somewhere down the line.
Barnes' stellar night and star status would even get a nod of approval from one of the game's all-time greats, on a national TV platform, no less. Every basketball fan loves the Inside the NBA crew, and Charles Barkley spoke about his high regard for the Raptors' star forward during last night's broadcast.
Charles Barkley applauds Scottie Barnes as a top-end NBA talent
Chuck would say: "Scottie Barnes is one of the 10, 15 best players in the world.”
He would also go on to mention that Barnes would easily see a spot in the All-Star Game if Toronto's record weren't what it is (currently 12-32). SB would make the All-Star game last year as a last-minute injury replacement; however, it's a big reach to anticipate a back-to-back appearance for Barnes unless the injury bug comes plaguing the East.
For an NBA legend to give a public endorsement labeling Barnes as a top 10, top 15, best player in the world is the absolute compliment for a young star on the rise. Of course, basketball fandom is a world of unique takes and opinions, so maybe others would say otherwise. But sometimes, the praise of one is enough to carry.
Says a lot about how highly Barnes is viewed in the eyes of Charles Barkley, who has been a very vocal supporter of Toronto, despite the franchise finding it difficult to warrant support on a national television level. Regardless of where you may stand on the matter, this stamp of approval is sure to reach Barnes himself, and perhaps he can use it to further his ascent to NBA supremacy.
It'll be cool to see where Barnes' career projects as the Raptors figure out a pathway to playoff relevancy once again.