The Toronto Raptors are struggling right now, but their future sure looks bright.
They found a diamond in the rough when they drafted Scottie Barnes with the fourth-overall pick last season, shocking most insiders who thought they’d go with Jalen Suggs instead.
Notably, the FSU product didn’t need a lot of time to prove why he was worthy of that selection.
Barnes impressed with his defense, often embracing the challenge of guarding the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or James Harden without hesitation.
His offense was also ahead of schedule, and his durability allowed him to have one of the most impressive rookie seasons we’ve seen in years, topping first-overall pick Cade Cunningham for Rookie of the Year honors.
So, even though some believe he’s failed to take a leap forward in his sophomore season, it’s hard to watch Barnes’ game and not think of him as a star in the making.
At least, that’s what NBA legend Kevin Garnett seems to think, as he recently took to Twitter to shower the 21-year-old in compliments.
“Scottie Barnes is a young OG! Not the elder statesman or the most accolades in Toronto, but he’s the heart and soul. OG and the next up. I know about that,” Garnett tweeted.
Scottie Barnes is a young OG! Not the elder statesman or the most accolades in Toronto, but he’s the heart and soul. OG and the next up. I know about that… 💯
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) January 18, 2023
That’s a lot of praise coming from one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history, so he better keep working hard to live up to the hefty expectations now put on his shoulders.
Barnes is expected to lead the new era of Raptors basketball, and he’ll only have a bigger role once they move Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr., and/or even OG Anunoby, as most insiders predict
The future is bright up north, and Barnes has a lot to do with that.
NEXT: Multiple Teams Are Looking At A Raptors Star