(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors took some heat when they drafted Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 pick in 2021, as most people expected them to get Jalen Suggs instead.
Barnes proved them right with a promising Rookie of the Year campaign, all while Suggs struggled to find his footing.
However, his sophomore season raised some questions about his long-term potential, with some analysts thinking he was closer to his ceiling than most people thought.
That’s why it was such a breath of fresh air for the fans and the organization to watch the way he’s been dominating since the start of the season.
As shown by Hoops Central, the Florida State product has taken a major leap forward, averaging 21.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 three-pointers, and 2.0 blocks per game on 52/39/83 shooting, all career highs.
Scottie Barnes this season:
24 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST, 56% FG
21 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 1 STL
20 PTS, 12 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 2 STL
24 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 68% FG
22 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST, 2 BLK, 64% FG
17 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 5 BLK, 2 STL pic.twitter.com/3zW0ZOpnzJ
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 3, 2023
Despite Dennis Schroder’s arrival, Barnes has been the Raptors’ de facto point guard more often than not, often grabbing a board and initiating the offense.
His playmaking makes him one of the most promising point forwards in the game, and he’s becoming way more efficient as a driver and a scorer as well.
Barnes is making the most of the extended opportunities, and while he still needs to be more aggressive in terms of going to the line, his numbers are proving that he can be the franchise player they thought he could be.
Suggs, on the other hand, has been in and out of the Magic’s lineup and doesn’t figure to become a star any time soon, so the Raptors made the right decision.
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