Scottie Barnes produced well-rounded, high-impact play for the Raptors, averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while leading the team to the fifth seed. He defended at an elite level, finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earning All-Defense recognition from 88 of 100 voters. Despite these accomplishments, he was excluded from all three All-NBA Teams. The All-NBA Third Team instead included Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Duren, and Chet Holmgren. The comparison raises questions about whether winning, defense, and overall offensive value were weighed consistently, especially in the cases of Duren and Barnes.
"Scottie Barnes did almost everything All-NBA voters claim to value. He was the clear best player on a playoff team, filled every column of the box score and defended at an elite level, as proven by his fifth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting. In total, Barnes averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists while leading the Raptors to the fifth seed."
"Somehow, that still was not enough to earn him an All-NBA spot. Despite putting together one of the most well-rounded seasons in the league, Barnes was left off all three All-NBA Teams. Instead, the All-NBA Third Team was made up of Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Duren and Chet Holmgren."
"Duren received a single third-place vote in the Defensive Player of the Year race. He was also only voted to an All-Defense Team by six voters, while Barnes was voted to an All-Defense Team by 88 of a possible 100 voters. Based on how voters evaluated defense in other award races, Barnes clearly had a much stronger defensive season than Duren."
"If Duren's All-NBA case was built heavily on winning and defense, then Barnes had a very strong argument of his own. He was the better overall offensive player and based on the voting results, the better defender. Barnes' all-around value should have mattered more."
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