The Toronto Raptors may have found a silver lining in Scottie Barnes’ hand fracture, as it provided the 22-year-old with an opportunity to gain a new perspective on the game.
March 1 marked a significant turning point for the Toronto Raptors this season.A three-game winning streak toward the end of February injected some hope into the team’s slim chances of making it to the play-in tournament.
There was a brief moment when it seemed like Toronto might sneak into the play-in picture or, at the very least, compete in meaningful games in April.
However, that hope quickly faded away.
Scottie Barnes fractured his hand while contesting a layup attempt by Jonathan Kuminga, abruptly ending Toronto’s season. Without Barnes, the Raptors stumbled to a 3-19 record for the remainder of the season, looking like one of the worst teams in the NBA during the final five weeks.
Yet, amidst the disappointment, there may have been a hidden benefit to Barnes’ injury.
“Him getting injured turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” remarked Raptors guard Garrett Temple during an interview on the VC Show with Vince Carter.
Barnes has consistently demonstrated a high basketball IQ since entering the league.
From the outset, he showcased remarkable passing skills and a keen understanding of the game that set him apart from many other rookies.
“He’s incredibly cerebral. He might possess the highest basketball IQ I’ve seen in a rookie or even a first, second, or third-year player,” noted Temple. “His comprehension of the game is remarkable.”
Taking a step back from on-court action in the final month allowed Barnes to absorb insights from a different vantage point. He had the opportunity to observe firsthand everything Temple had been imparting, as the seasoned 13-year veteran transitioned from a benchwarmer to a significant contributor for Toronto.
“I think it all unfolded as it should, allowing him to witness me communicating,” Temple added. “In this league, some players may hesitate to confront teammates or express certain things. But he’s the type of player who’s willing to do so, always driven by a desire to win, and he approaches it with the right intentions. That’s been beneficial for him.”
Following his injury, Barnes became noticeably more vocal on the sidelines, signaling a burgeoning leadership role for the 22-year-old within the Toronto team during the final stretch of the season.
The hope for Toronto is that the lessons learned during those challenging final weeks will yield long-term benefits for the organization. Despite slipping to the sixth spot in the NBA Draft Lottery, if Toronto retains its top-six protected first-round pick, the adversity faced during that difficult stretch will prove worthwhile.
