When the Toronto Raptors chosen ahead Scottie Barnes with the fourth choose of the 2021 N.B.A. draft, some people within the basketball world raised their eyebrows. Jalen Suggs, thought-about one of many can’t-miss prospects, was nonetheless on the board.
One common season later, the Raptors look prescient. The 20-year-old Barnes is a prime contender for the Rookie of the Yr Award. He’s evoked comparisons to Vince Carter and Damon Stoudamire, the 2 Raptors who’ve been named rookie of the 12 months.
“I had really by no means been to Toronto,” Barnes instructed The New York Instances lately. “I by no means even considered being in Toronto. It was simply by no means a thought in my thoughts. It’s not as totally different as I assumed it could be. The one factor that’s totally different is simply that climate, as a result of I’m from Florida.”
At his greatest, the 6-foot-9 Barnes is a flexible dynamo with a sport much like, however a lot much less refined than, that of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. This season, Barnes started all 74 of the games he performed in, averaging 15.3 factors, 7.5 rebounds and three.5 assists per sport on 49.2 p.c taking pictures. In a single blink, he can velocity the ball up court docket as a quasi-point guard. In one other, he assaults the rim for thunderous dunks. Raptors Coach Nick Nurse has usually had Barnes defend prime gamers, together with Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic.
Now, he’s a key to Toronto’s hopes to win the championship. He matches the mildew of the gamers who helped the Raptors win the franchise’s first title, in 2019, Basic Supervisor Bobby Webster stated.
“These actually type of versatile, lengthy forwards that may do a bunch are simply onerous to return by,” he stated. “And in the event that they hit, they are often actually beneficial and productive gamers.”
The query mark for Barnes is his long-range taking pictures. He hit simply 30.1 p.c of his 3-pointers in the course of the common season, and even that was an enchancment on his lone 12 months at Florida State College, the place he shot 27.5 percent from 3.
Barnes, who grew up in West Palm Seashore, Fla., helped the Raptors declare the fifth seed within the Jap Convention and a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers within the first spherical of the playoffs. Throughout Sport 1 on Saturday, Barnes was given the duty of attempting to comprise James Harden, however he left the sport with an ankle harm and was out for Sport 2 on Monday. Toronto missed Barnes’s protection and power, and misplaced in a 112-97 blowout to fall to 0-2 within the collection. Sport 3 is Wednesday, and it’s not clear if Barnes will be capable of play.
In an interview with The Instances earlier than the playoffs, Barnes mentioned the robust begin to his profession, his confidence stage and his marketing campaign for the Rookie of the Yr Award.
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
It was thought-about fairly stunning on the time that the Raptors picked you at No. 4 within the draft. What ran by your head when your title was introduced?
Even all through the entire predraft course of, I actually simply went in with no expectation. Actually, paying no thoughts. I actually was simply not worrying about issues that I couldn’t management. So I actually simply went there and simply was me wherever I went. So going into that after they stated my title, I used to be simply actually excited, actually joyful. I didn’t actually know what was going to occur, so I didn’t actually have any expectation. So I used to be simply an enormous burst of pleasure.
What do you bear in mind about your predraft conversations with Raptors president Masai Ujiri?
He’s a giant particular person on successful. Simply successful, successful, successful. So, me, I’m a giant particular person on successful, too. So, actually, it was similar to, we simply each actually had a mutual thoughts.
What’s been the toughest factor about leaping to the N.B.A. to date?
Both touring as a lot or simply adjusting to, like, the refs and actually how they name the sport.
When you have got free time, what do you love to do?
Simply chill on the crib and play video video games.
What are you enjoying proper now?
Play NBA 2K. Name of Responsibility. Fortnite.
Whenever you play 2K, do you play because the Raptors?
I don’t actually play as groups. I often play a create-a-player mode.
What was your favourite second of the common season?
So one among our favourite video games performed this 12 months was most likely with the Brooklyn Nets. Okay.D. [Kevin Durant] and James [Harden]. I feel it was at their home, however we misplaced. Nevertheless it was an attention-grabbing sport. There was numerous trash discuss being concerned. So it made it extra enjoyable. There was trash speaking, and we have been trash-talking again, and it was superior. It was happening to the wire, going forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards. However I’d say it was an amazing sport.
Do you trash-talk on the ground?
Generally. Not as a lot, however solely generally I’ll. However I received’t say a lot out right here.
LeBron James stated he watched you play in seventh grade. Do you know that till he stated that lately?
I don’t bear in mind him saying it. It sounds nice, however I do know he watched me in tenth or ninth grade 12 months once I performed with Zaire — Dwyane Wade’s son. Him and Dwyane Wade have been courtside watching our video games. I hit a game-winner and I clapped him and D-Wade up. I used to be hype and I went to the sideline and sniped D-Wade and Bron’s hand after the sport as a result of I simply hit a buzzer-beater. However to see these guys simply say these issues about me, it exhibits that folks see that potential in me of what I can do.
Had been you one of many widespread youngsters in class? What have been you want?
I used to be at all times an outgoing child. Not saying I used to be so widespread, however, you recognize, I had that core, that little swagger. I used to be very talkative, a child with numerous power. So I’d say I had a superb quantity of pals. I used to be at all times like a kind of humorous youngsters at school.
There are numerous comparisons between your influence as a rookie and Vince Carter’s and Damon Stoudamire’s. Have you ever ever spoken to Vince Carter in any respect?
I really did. I noticed him at one among our video games this 12 months and I went as much as him. I stated, “What’s up?” We actually couldn’t have that a lot dialog. I really noticed Damon Stoudamire on the mall in Boston, and we chatted it up for a short while. Went as much as him. Acknowledged him. And I simply began speaking to him.
What sort of influence are you hoping to go away within the league?
On this league, I’d say I wish to, in fact, win rookie of the 12 months this 12 months. Be on the All-Defensive workforce, a number of instances. Be a future M.V.P. Be a finals M.V.P. Be a finals N.B.A. champion a number of instances. After all, be a multiple-time All-Star. Actually, simply go away that legacy. that I used to be only a nice all-around participant.
Is there one thing that makes you rookie of the 12 months over the opposite candidates?
Actually simply doing so many several types of issues, and being that versatile participant that’s simply having a big effect on our workforce actually successful basketball video games.
