Scottie Barnes was officially named to his second career All-Star team this season, and he was the lone Toronto Raptor to receive the honour. Brandon Ingram was the other Raptor widely expected to receive serious consideration, but ultimately fell short. Ingram still has a chance to represent Toronto if he is selected as an injury replacement by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, but for now, Barnes stands alone.
So how should Raptors fans feel about this year’s All-Star selections?
Scottie Barnes was an obvious choice
In truth, Scottie Barnes was never in serious danger of being left off the All-Star roster. He has been a top-12 player in the Eastern Conference this season, both in production and overall impact. Barnes is averaging19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, which are strong traditional numbers, but they do not show his overall impact.
Barnes has been one of the most impactful defensive players in the conference, anchoring Toronto’s defense while shouldering heavy offensive and playmaking responsibilities. That two way influence has helped propel the Raptors to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a key factor in his selection.
It was not surprising to see Barnes finish 12th in fan voting and 13th in player voting. Those groups tend to prioritize scoring volume, an area where Barnes does not always dominate. He has not averaged over 20 points per game and Brandon Ingram remains Toronto’s primary scoring option.
However, fan and player votes only determine the All-Star starters. Reserves are selected by NBA coaches, the people most attuned to which players consistently impact winning. Barnes’ ability to influence games on both ends of the floor is exactly the type of value coaches reward, and that is why he will represent Toronto this year.
Brandon Ingram may still be selected
Brandon Ingram being named an All-Star alongside Scottie Barnes would have been a dream scenario for Raptors fans. It would have marked just the seventh time in franchise history that Toronto had multiple All-Star selections in the same season. As mentioned earlier, that outcome is still possible if Ingram is chosen as an injury replacement, but for now, Raptors fans will have to wait.
Ingram always faced a steeper path to an All-Star selection than Barnes. His primary value comes as a scorer, and he leads Toronto with 21.9 points per game. However, that scoring average trails several Eastern Conference All-Star reserves, including Donovan Mitchell at 28.8 points per game, Norman Powell at 23.0, Pascal Siakam at 23.8, and Jalen Johnson at 23.1.
Ingram does average more points than Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, and Karl-Anthony Towns, but context matters. Barnes’ selection was driven by his two way impact, while Duren is averaging 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and has been the anchor of a Detroit team that sits atop the Eastern Conference.
The strongest debate is between Ingram and Towns. Ingram provides more scoring and playmaking, while Towns offers rebounding and plays a significant role on a team higher in the standings. In the end, the coaches opted to reward Towns, though I am sure the final decision was close.
Conclusion
Seeing homegrown talent Scottie Barnes represent Toronto in the All-Star Game will be rewarding for Raptors fans. Brandon Ingram may still have an opportunity to join him in the coming weeks, but Barnes’ selection alone speaks to the growth of this core and the type of basketball the Raptors are developing.