Scottie Barnes continues to be the bright spot for the Toronto Raptors in an up and down season.
Barnes’ presence is felt all over the court and he impacts the game in so many ways. His skillset was on full display in the Raptors latest victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Barnes was the only player for the Raptors who brought the effort from start to finish and as a result, Barnes had one of his best all around games of the season.
He put up 22 points, 17 rebounds (ties his career-high), 7 assists and 3 blocks. Barnes shot it 7-14 from the field and 7-7 from the free throw line.
He also became the first player in Raptors franchise history with 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 3+ blocks in a game:
Scottie Barnes
First player in Raptors history with 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists & 3+ blocks in a game#WeTheNorth
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 19, 2023
Barnes is currently in the mists of a big third year leap and it looks like he could be heading to his first All-Star game in February.
His numbers have been too good to ignore. For the season Barnes is averaging 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists 1.6 steals and 1.3 steals.
He’s also seen his field goal percentage increase to 48.8 percent and his three point percentage increase to 38.8 percent.
Through 26 games, Barnes has been the Raptors MVP. He continuously fills up the stats sheet and he has been consistent throughout. Even in games where Barnes has started slow, he comes alive when he needs to.
Barnes has demonstrated the will to win and has showcased his competitive mentality. This has been a very frustrating season for the Raptors, but Barnes gives Raptors fans optimism for the future.
Will the Raptors trade Siakam?
With the emergence of Barnes, it’ll be interesting to see if the Raptors finally embrace a rebuild around him and look to trade their pending free agents.
One name that continues to pop up in trade rumors is Pascal Siakam. He could be traded relatively soon given his contract situation with the Raptors.
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