Cavs: Evan Mobley leapfrogged in latest Kia Rookie Ladder

Barnes is filling out box scores

I’ll be the first to admit, right now it looks like I was wrong about Scottie Barnes. I didn’t think he was a high-lottery pick, and I certainly did not trust his transition to the NBA. However, all he is doing week in and week out is proving people wrong.

Right now Barnes is averaging just over 16 points per game. Normally if you look at a rookie, averaging just 16 points per game is great. But, Barnes’ impact goes further than that. He is shooting over 50 percent from the field, and he makes the players around him better.

If you open up ESPN tomorrow and look at the box score of a Raptors game, you’ll rarely see a column with no number next to Barnes’ name. He does it all, and that’s what makes him so impactful. He’s shooting under 20 percent from three, but the assists he gives out, or the blocks he picks up, make that a non-factor.

On the season Barnes is averaging over eight rebounds per game, three assists, one steal, and nearly a block per game. He came into the NBA without an elite shooting ability, and had other weaknesses. However, he’s just very good at everything. So Barnes’ deserves the top spot for now. Now, when Mobley comes back, that’s a different conversation.