Raptors’ Scottie Barnes named NBA Rookie of the Year

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes won the NBA Rookie of the Year award on Saturday, April 23 (Sunday, April 24, Manila time).

Barnes received 48 first-place votes and 378 total points while edging Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley (43, 363) for the award. Barnes got 43 second-place votes and Mobley received 46.

Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons was a distant third with nine first-place votes and 153 total points.

Barnes, 20, averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in 74 games (all starts) during the regular season. He shot 49.2% overall and 30.1% from beyond the arc.

“We are incredibly proud of Scottie and are thrilled and grateful that his hard work has been recognized with this honor,” Raptors Vice Chairman and President Masai Ujiri said.

“What you see on the court is exactly who Scottie is: enthusiastic, joyful, athletic, skilled, and a winner. We – and our fans – loved seeing his development through this season and we can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

The Raptors selected Barnes with the fourth overall pick out of Florida State.

Barnes became the third player in franchise history to win the award. He joined Vince Carter, who won it during the 1998-99 season, and Damon Stoudamire, who won it during the 1995-96 campaign.

One of Barnes’ highlights during the regular season came on February 28, when he notched 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals against the Brooklyn Nets.

He became the first rookie to record 25-plus points, 15-rebounds, and five-plus steals in a game since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993. – Rappler.com