Raptors fans faced multiple award snubs, including Collin Murray-Boyles missing the All-Rookie First Team and Scottie Barnes being left off All-Defensive First Team and all All-NBA teams. Comparisons to Jalen Duren followed, with claims that Barnes was more well-rounded and more deserving. Barnes’ impact as a defender, playmaker, and scorer was emphasized, while Duren’s role was framed as benefiting from playing with Cade Cunningham. Zach Lowe countered that Duren also had a legitimate case, noting plus-minus performance when Duren played without Cade. Lowe added that Duren’s isolation scoring and offensive rebounding supported the argument, and that Barnes was not the only player competing for the same honors.
"“For the whole entire season, the Pistons in something like 700 minutes with Jalen Duren on the floor and Cade Cunningham off the floor were plus 11 per 100 possessions for the entire season,” Lowe said. “So there was a pretty airtight statistical case that Jalen Duren deserved to be All-NBA, and it's not like he was the only guy who made it at the expense of Scottie Barnes, so I just want to put that to bed.”"
"“There's legitimacy to the fact that Barnes plays a huge role for the Raptors as a go-to defender, primary playmaker, and key scorer, while Duren has the privilege of playing with Cade Cunningham.”"
"“Some of the stats he used to underline his point were Duren's scoring, especially in isolation, and his offensive rebounding.”"
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