Needless to say, anyone doubting Scottie Barnes' ability to translate his skills within this widely perceived murky Raptors core has been proven wrong with the season sample to date. His quiet yet well-rounded breakout has established him as both a strong defensive presence for Toronto and a credible offensive threat. Barnes has demonstrated great poise from beyond the arc, a skill Raptors fans have long been waiting for, along with consistent effort across the board.
In 13 games so far, Barnes is averaging 19.7 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the field, a strong 41.2 percent from three (converting 1.6 of his 3.9 attempts), 81.3 percent from the free-throw line, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks.
As Daniel O'Connor of Raptors Rapture just recently highlighted, Toronto's 24-year-old two-way force leads the team in steals, blocks, and defensive plus-minus. Just as he's raising eyebrows with his steady jumper headed in a positive direction and his ability to let the three-ball fly, Barnes's impact on the defensive end continues to be his signature trait. The hope is that he can maintain this level through April, ultimately earning recognition in the All-Defensive conversations or perhaps even in top running for DPOY.
Speaking of potential recognition for Barnes' career, an interesting development has emerged concerning a current streak he maintains. If he can successfully turn over just one more game with this statistic, it will secure his place in Raptors history and surpass the existing record holder, who is arguably the most iconic franchise figure of all-time.
Scottie Barnes to surpass Vince Carter in Raptors history?
As per the official Toronto Raptors page on X: "Scottie Barnes has recorded at least one block and one steal in a career-high nine straight games (Oct. 29 - Nov. 15), tying Vince Carter for the franchise record. Barnes is one of two players in the NBA this season to record 20+ blocks and 15+ steals."
The other NBA player in question is Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner, who has recorded 25 blocks and 16 steals at the time of writing. The league leader by a significant margin is dominant Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, with an impressive 43 blocks and 13 steals.
The Raptors are set to face the Charlotte Hornets next on November 17, offering Barnes a prime opportunity to set a new franchise record with another game featuring one block and one steal. This favorable matchup provides a strong chance for Barnes to shine defensively, and barring any unforeseen or untimely events, it seems likely he will achieve it.