NBA: Scottie Barnes adds exuberance to Raptors camp

TORONTO – Scottie Barnes has yet to appear in the NBA, but he’s fast becoming a favorite among his teammates with the Raptors.

With the frequency of his encouragement and applause, he is an energy drink that has taken on human form.

His new companions took pleasure in talking about him on Monday, during media day.

It’s rare for a 20-year-old rookie to take up so much space so quickly, but the main one hasn’t even thought about it.

“At this point, you can’t afford to be shy,” Barnes said Tuesday at the OVO Training Center. It’s just the little less glorious things that need to be done in the heat of the moment. “

“It’s not really complicated. I am not shy. I’ll just continue to be myself. “

Toronto drafted him fourth overall, from Florida State. Nick Nurse has already said that he will be given a very important role with the Raptors.

“I expect him to have a considerable amount of playing time starting Monday (1st preseason game in Toronto, against the Sixers),” said the coach.

“He’s very demonstrative, clapping his hands and ‘let’s go, let’s go’. He loves to talk, he is smiling and he loves basketball. It is reflected in his game. “

A six-foot-nine athlete with oversized hands, a la Kawhi Leonard, Barnes has garnered praise for his versatility. He can play in all positions, and it is sometimes said of him that he is a playmaker to the size of a player who often rushes to the basket.

His weakness would be long distance, with a 27.5% success rate for all three points, in the NCAA.

Unsurprisingly, he focused on the accuracy of his shots during the offseason.

“It’s about shooting more and more, every day,” Barnes summed up.

What adjustments has he made?

“The instant the ball leaves the fingers,” he said. Have the point of impact on two fingers and go to the side, just a little. It becomes more natural. I have been working on it for two months and I feel that I am getting better every day. “

Pascal Siakam said that after the medical tests recently, Barnes gave him a ‘chest bump’ in the hallway, as if he had just landed a winning shot.

“He’s exciting to be around. He has a presence and it’s very nice to see that, said Siakam. He is always happy, always enthusiastic. “

His humor and good nature will also make him a favorite with Raptors fans, there is no doubt.

Shortly after the draft he wrote on The Players’ Tribune, commenting on how much he is looking forward to playing for the Raptors, and also about all the good words he has already received from supporters of the team.

On September 17, he was warmly welcomed at the Rogers Center before making the ceremonial pitch, before a Blue Jays game.

“He wants to be part of the team, he has in mind, ‘let’s go, let’s work together,’ Nurse said. He is expressive and enthusiastic. How can you not like it? “