Recent years have seen the 2021 NBA Draft Class making their mark on the league. Evan Mobley has become a two-way force and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Cade Cunningham is at the forefront of the resurgence of the Detroit Pistons and is among this season’s MVP candidates. Franz Wagner and Alperen Sengun have starred in the NBA and on the international stage. Austin Reaves was putting together an All-Star campaign until a left calf strain sidelined him for at least four weeks. And then there’s Scottie Barnes.
Barnes was named the draft class’ Rookie of the Year due in large part to his ability to do a little bit of everything, giving the Toronto Raptors the swiss army knife they missed when Kawhi Leonard departed.
This all-around ability extended into his sophomore season, where he remained a steady anchor. However, in Years Three and Four, his health suffered as he missed parts of those campaigns due to various injuries ranging from ankle injuries to fractures to his hand and orbital bone. The Raptors really missed him during that stretch, as they went a combined 55-109 during those two seasons.
In 2025-26, though, it seems that things are turning out better. Toronto is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 20-14 and Barnes has been an integral part of their recent success.
Against the Golden State Warriors, Barnes had the kind of triple-double a center would churn out, and his 25 rebounds tied a franchise record. It was obvious that the 24-year old is the Raptors’ bonafide leader and him being involved in pretty much every play was not just a page out of the Warriors’ playbook, but also something Golden State needs at this point in their campaign.
On the second game of the back-to-back set, Toronto was facing a large margin and Barnes was largely absent production wise. The forward did finish with a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and a block) in the 107-106 come-from-behind Raptors victory but it only told half the story. Barnes let the game come to him rather than forcing the issue, and he kept moving the ball around, letting Toronto’s offense find its rhythm and eventually, the ball found its way to him. In the end, it was the Florida native who put the finishing touches on the win.
That Barnes can churn out performances like this and remain a positive influence to his team even on off nights should be no surprise not just because he has a clean bill of health, but also because he has more help that allows him to be the best version of himself. Barnes’ usage rate this season (22.9) is actually at its lowest since his sophomore season (20.0) and he has five more teammates who are averaging at least 9.7 points per game.
A more balanced roster would allow the Toronto Raptors to rest Scottie Barnes, but their current circumstances may limit their opportunities. The playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference remains a game of fine margins and while there remains a ton of basketball to be played, every victory matters. And the Raptors know that they need Barnes more than he needs the rest.
