Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors have a shared calling card: Defense. The Raptors finished the regular season fifth in defensive rating and fourth in points off turnovers. Their size, physicality, and athleticism bothered opponents all season long.
Barnes led the charge with his ability to guard any position and any player in the league. He finished the regular season with 116 total blocks and 114 total steals. No other player in the league managed to reach the 100-point mark in both categories. Victor Wembanyama, the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner, came closest with 197 blocks and 66 steals. Barnes also led the league in total clutch points.
His defensive impact was also felt in the playoffs, as he was able to defend Evan Mobley, James Harden, and Donovan Mitchell—three very different players.
His efforts were rewarded with a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team for the first time in his six seasons in the NBA. Barnes clearly felt that he was slighted.
Mannnn what do I tell ya🤦🏽♂️Bullshit😂 Let’s keep working😁❤️ https://t.co/KrtZBzKm9n
— Scott Barnes (@ScottBarnes561) May 23, 2026
He’s not wrong. The stats and the eye test both clearly position him as one of the most impactful and versatile defenders in the NBA. But there is a bright side for the Raptors: if he comes into next season with a vendetta and the desire to prove that he was snubbed, they will be even better defensively. Scottie Barnes is already a nightmare to go up against. No one in the NBA wants to face him when he’s trying to prove a point by shutting down anyone in front of him.
Scottie Barnes wasn’t far away from an All-Defensive First Team selection
Victor Wembanyama was the only unanimous All-Defensive First Team pick this year and led the pack with 200 points. Chet Holmgren got close with 190 points. Ausar Tompson finished third with 166 points, and Rudy Gobert and Derrick White rounded out the first team with 151 and 146 points, respectively.
Barnes was not far behind White with 130 points. He was, however, very far ahead of anyone else on the second team as the only player to crack the 100-point mark. Cason Wallace, Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, and Dyson Daniels all finished between 94 and 50 points.
Voters were most torn about Barnes’s place among the top defenders in the league. He received 42 first-team votes and 46 votes for the second team. The votes weren’t as evenly distributed in any other case.
While it is disappointing for Barnes and Raptors fans not to see him on the All-Defensive First Team, the voting results show that many voters actually view him as a top-five defender in the league and he will only continue to earn more respect in those conversations.
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