Scottie Barnes is coming off a tremendous 2023-24 season. The 22-year-old took a giant leap in his third season and became an All-Star for the first time in his career.
With the Toronto Raptors in a rebuild, Barnes is the player the franchise will build around moving forward.
Barnes now has the expectation of being the team’s best player and leader.
Someone who has shown great leadership qualities since his arrival to the Raptors is veteran Garrett Temple.
Barnes had high praise for Temple and said he inspired him to be a leader in his end-of-season press conference:
“Every day sitting next to Garrett Temple picking on his mind, watching the way he handles things and he gets out there on the floor and plays so hard and so passionate. For me just sitting back and watching that you know I just can’t wait to get back on the floor and play my heart out. Just seeing the type of veteran he is and how he just doesn’t take things for granted, that helps me. So every time we got a huddle, every time at halftime we talk, every time our team has something you know it just helps me go on to that leadership role….just watching him do it, everything comes so natural to me.”
Temple served as a leader in the Raptors locker room and on the bench. He also practiced what he preached by going out there and playing well when Toronto was shorthanded due to injuries.
Barnes got to learn a lot from Temple as he spent a lot of time with him while recovering from his hand surgery.
Temple’s unrestricted free agency
Temple is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He is turning 38-years-old in May and his best playing days are certainly behind him. However, he has proven to be an important presence in the Raptors locker room.
Many Raptors players have spoke highly about the veteran, including Barnes. This suggests that Temple could be back with the team next season.
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