Scottie Barnes does just about everything at a superstar level. The Toronto Raptors forward is one of the NBA's best and most versatile defenders, as well as a gifted playmaker, a dangerous finisher inside, and even a vastly improved volume scorer. Unfortunately, he's also a lackluster shooter in the midst of a dreadful stretch.
As Barnes toes the line of superstar status, it's his broken jump shot that's preventing him from making the leap that once felt inevitable.
Barnes' first eight games have appeared spectacular in other areas. He's currently averaging 23.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and leading Toronto to a 4-4 record despite Kawhi Leonard's early injury.
Unfortunately, Barnes is also shooting 15.4 percent from beyond the arc and 68.0 percent at the free throw line through his first eight games.
Barnes should rectify his issues at the charity stripe considering he's a career 77.0 percent free-throw shooter. His three-point shot isn't quite as likely to be truly fixed, however, as his current form is just a drastic example of a consistent issue.
Until Barnes can shoot well enough to hold opposing teams accountable in an off-ball role. his leap to superstar status will remain on pause.
Scottie Barnes' jumper is hurting spacing, limiting Raptors' offense
Barnes is a career 29.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He shot 34.1 percent in 2023-24, but that was his only season above 30.4. As such, there's a realistic possibility that a faulty jump shot will simply be a part of his arsenal throughout his career.
Yes, Barnes is still a fairly young player at 25 years of age, but he's also in his sixth NBA season and hasn't exactly displayed signs of promise on the shooting front.
The most concerning element of that truth is how it's negatively impacting the Raptors' offense. Thus far, the team is scoring 110.7 points per 100 possessions with Barnes on the court. Among Toronto players who have played at least 150 minutes, only Jamal Shead has produced a worse offensive rating.
To make matters worse, the Raptors are scoring a team-best 123.0 points per 100 possessions when Barnes isn't on the court—a result of the floor opening up due to his absence.
Raptors are playing better offense without Scottie Barnes
Thus far, the Raptors are converting 10.3 threes per 100 possessions when Barnes is on the court and a team-best 12.3 when he isn't. They're also attempting 10.9 more free throws per 100 possessions, as well as averaging 3.0 more assists.
That offers a clear explanation for why the Raptors have been able to score 12.3 more points per 100 possessions when their franchise player isn't on the court.
Barnes will likely right the ship enough to shoot in the high 20s or even low 30s by the end of the season. If the Raptors are hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs, however, then they'll need their franchise player to be able to hold teams accountable for leaving him open.
It's too soon to hit the panic button, but if Barnes wants to ascend to superstar status and help the Raptors become a contender, he needs to fix his jump shot.
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