ROTY: Scottie Barnes

4.24..22

Jaden Rivers  

The regular season is coming to an end, getting to what everyone watches the league for; the NBA post-season and Awards. The 2021-2022 season featured some great rookies in their respective roles and teams. Evan Mobley added another Dimension to Cleveland’s defense towards the future, Cade Cunningham figured it out towards the end of the year, Franz Wagner was a positive force in Orlando. Other names like Ayo dosunmu, Herbert Jones, and Jalen Green, can be put in this group as well. But the award can only go to one player; Toronto’s very own Scottie Barnes

             Florida State brought in a mobile 6’9, 230 forward with Promise. He affects both sides of the floor with his Inside scoring, aptitude for defense, and playmaking, along with a hustle you don’t see in most rookies. He was looking to push the pace, find teammates, and guard the best player, Toronto has yet another well-versed wing within their ranks. With splits of 15.3 pts, 7.5 rbnds, 3.5 assts, and 1.1 stls. 

             Outside of his shooting woes, he was efficient and aggressive; without sacrificing the effectiveness of the teams’ offense. He’s scrappy, and with a great frame, that’s bound to add some muscle I have reason to believe scottie is going to be a force to reckon with for the coming years. With an intuitive coach like Nick Nurse, Scottie has some great tools to flourish and he has the award to prove it.