It was his versatility, so vital for the very best players in the NBA in these times, that set Scottie Barnes apart from every other rookie last season.
Ball handling and athleticism; post play and exploiting wing mismatches; the ability to guard multiple positions and an effervescent personality that was at times contagious were a unique package the Raptors used to their best advantage.
Fans loved him — it’s hard to think of another rookie in franchise history not named Vince Carter who captured their attention as quickly and as much — and teammates were willing to overlook the odd rookie mental blip, and there were several, because they saw something special in the 21-year-old.