During the NBA 2021 Draft, the Raptors surprised their world by selecting Scottie Barnes with their fourth choice instead of the expected Jalen Suggs, finally drafted by the Magic. Tonight, during the first Toronto – Orlando of the season, Scottie confirmed that it was quite a good choice.
If Jalen Suggs shone by releasing the best game of his young career (21 points in 30 minutes), Barnes – him – never ceases to impress. Already convincing on the first five meetings of the Dinos, the product of Florida State particularly shone in this big clash of rookies. The boy’s stats? 21 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals for only a small loss of ball, all at 9/14 shooting, 1/2 from the parking lot and 2/2 on free throws. It’s clean, way too clean for a beginner who is only discovering the world of the grown-ups, even if there were obviously a lot of kids in front knowing that we are talking about the Magic of Orlando. But Magic or not, there are quite simply some signs that never disappoint. The confidence he has in his little shoot, the intensity he brings to both sides of the field, his coast-to-coast à la… Scottie Pippen and just his overall way of playing, without too much reflect. We’re talking about a 20-year-old rookie who has only just played his sixth game in the NBA, and sometimes we already have the impression of seeing a daron on the field because he is so solid, both physically and through his game. Barnes was especially illustrated in the first half against the Magic (19 of his 21 points), he still left a big impression and the fans of Toronto – under the spell – did not hesitate to chant “Scottie is better ! In reference to the Raptors’ choice to select Barnes instead of Jalen Suggs.
3 dribblespic.twitter.com/ZSeKpezg8a
– TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 29, 2021
Still quite amazing to see the level of confidence and the initiatives taken by Scottie Barnes in less than two weeks among the pros. Such confident pull-ups.
– TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 29, 2021
This new performance by Scottie Barnes is clearly a continuation of what he has shown in the Summer League, then in the preseason, then at the start of the regular. While Pascal Siakam is still absent, Barnes is running at averages of 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists at 55.6% shooting in 35 minutes of play and six starts. Attention Spicy, there is a kid who is not laughing and who could well push you towards the exit one day. The icing on the cake, Scottie has already put his name in the history of the Raptors franchise, he who has become only the second rookie to reach 100 points after six games played. The other ? No, it was not Vince Carter, but a certain Damon Stoudamire in 1995-96. That season, Mighty Mouse had finished Rookie of the Year. Seen as it’s gone, Scottie Barnes could well have a similar fate.
“It’s amazing what he’s doing on the pitch. He dunkes in transition, he finds his partners, he defends. He does everything for us and helps us win. “
Heavy this little one. Very heavy. Scottie Barnes impresses at the start of the season and continues to build up game after game. Something tells us the Raptors don’t regret selecting him over Jalen Suggs…
Scottie Barnes is the second rookie in @Raptors history to reach 100 points through his first six games.
The first was Damon Stoudamire, the 1995-96 Rookie of the Year. pic.twitter.com/SbHnK5EFpm
– NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) October 30, 2021
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