The Raptors could be a problem defensively this season. Bleacher Report seems to agree, placing three Toronto players on its list of the NBA’s top 30 defenders entering 2026-27.
Kawhi Leonard, Collin Murray-Boyles and Scottie Barnes all earned spots, giving the Raptors plenty of reason to feel good about what they can bring on the defensive end.
Kawhi Leonard comes in at No. 16
Leonard recently earned a spot on Bleacher Report’s list of the NBA’s top 30 shooters, but this is the kind of ranking that feels more familiar.
You can’t talk about the NBA’s best defenders without bringing up Leonard. At his best, he has been one of the most disruptive two-way players the league has seen, capable of shutting down elite scorers while still carrying a major offensive workload.
His defensive resume speaks for itself. Leonard has won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, earned three All-Defensive First Team selections and four Second Team selections. He also led the league in steals during the 2014-15 season.
Even after years of injuries, Leonard showed last season that he can still make an impact defensively when he’s on the floor. He averaged 1.9 steals per game, ranking fourth in the NBA, and recorded a defensive swing rating in the 90th percentile or better for the fifth time in his career.
Collin-Murray Boyles comes in at No. 12
Being ranked among the NBA’s top 30 defenders so early in his career is impressive, particularly for a 21-year-old who is still developing his game. He doesn’t have the defensive accolades of Leonard or Barnes just yet, but his impact has already been noticeable.
Murray-Boyles averaged 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game during the playoffs last season, along with 6.4 rebounds. Those numbers offer a glimpse of the activity and versatility he brings to the floor.
His performance in Game 4 against Cleveland was another example of what he can do. In 27 minutes, he allowed just eight points on three made field goals, forced five misses, recorded two stocks and forced two turnovers.
He’s still early in his NBA career, but a ranking like this suggests the league is already taking notice. If he continues on this path, Murray-Boyles could become a major part of Toronto’s defensive identity for years to come.
Scottie Barnes comes in at No. 6
Barnes narrowly missed out on the top five, but sixth in the entire league is nothing to complain about. If anything, it gives him another target to chase.
Barnes earned his first All-Defensive Second Team selection last season and backed it up with a rare statistical combination. He was the only player in the NBA to average at least 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, and the only one to reach those marks in the same season over the past six years.
Barnes has said he expects to make the All-Defensive First Team this season. Given his ability on that end of the floor, it’s not an unreasonable goal. Luckily for him, this season he won’t have to do it alone.
With Leonard bringing years of defensive experience and Murray-Boyles adding another disruptive presence, Toronto has the personnel to make life difficult for just about anyone.
Barnes is the centerpiece of that group. If he takes another step forward, the Raptors could have one of the league’s nastiest defences, and a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate leading the way.