Look, Scottie Barnes' lack of a consistent jump shot isn't a secret to anybody.
But I’ll admit, in some Raptors discussion circles, it feels like a forbidden topic when it comes to Toronto’s franchise cornerstone.
For all of Barnes's strengths across various aspects of the court, finding his niche beyond the arc, has long been the missing piece to fully unleashing the 23-year-old as a force to be reckoned with.
A reliable 3PT shot would elevate Scottie Barnes to the next level
It's not like anyone expects Barnes to suddenly become a lights-out sniper — he already brings a diverse skill set that includes defensive versatility, playmaking, and inside scoring.
That said, even with the addition of Brandon Ingram to the squad and rumors swirling about Toronto still trying to insert their name into the superstar sweepstakes, Scottie Barnes remains a focal point in the Raptors' pursuit of success — though his ability to be the number-one option for a title contender remains somewhat uncertain.
Sam Vecenie discussed the need for Barnes to refine his three-point shooting in his "Game Theory Podcast," an episode that focused on the Toronto Raptors' offseason preview.
Vecenie praised Barnes' defense but noted his inconsistency with shooting:
"The issue for me is what it's always been for Scottie [Barnes]. It's the shooting. He's a 30% three-point shooter over the course of his career, 27% from three this past year. In his second year, he shot like, I believe the number was like 33% from the mid-range outside of 10 feet. Last year, he shot, I think it was like 36, 37, somewhere in that ball park in the mid-range. And then, this past season, it was a little bit better, it was like 41, 42. So like, you could look at this and say he's getting comfortable from like the mid-range areas of the court and his jump shot is coming along in some respect. But, to me, it's just there hasn't been shooting consistency with Scottie [Barnes]. That's always been my main concern with him as an overall, like threat offensively. "Sam Vecenie, June 9, 2025
Now, to be fair, during the same podcast, Vecenie showered high praise on Barnes, comparing him to a generational superstar—if not the greatest of all time—LeBron James. He didn't necessarily label Barnes as a LeBron duplicate, but given his abilities, he certainly fits that player archetype.
But what Vecenie said about Barnes is 100% accurate.
As bitter a pill as it may be for many Barnes enthusiasts and Raptors fans to swallow, his struggles from deep cannot be ignored. However, you can clearly see the determination in Barnes to improve in that aspect of his game. The coaching staff—especially Darko Rajakovic—encouraged him this past season to get that shot going. The more reps he took, the better, even if his shooting percentage wasn’t immediately effective.
I think in history, we've seen worse shooters eventually develop a consistent flow, just look at guys like Brook Lopez or Draymond Green in recent years as prime examples. I do not doubt for a minute that Barnes can somehow reach that level, but for much of Raptors Nation, that long-awaited shooting leap remains a source of immediate hope.