Raptors Address Scottie Barnes' Leadership & Frustrations Following Monday's 'Mistake'
Scottie Barnes will not be disciplined.
Frankly, the Toronto Raptors don’t seem particularly fazed about Barnes’ decision to leave Monday’s 23-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs early. The All-Star forward was confused, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said, because he thought there was a shot clock violation that ended the game. It was an innocent mistake out of a lack of awareness, Rajaković suggested.
Barnes’ story seems a little different.
“There were just like two or three seconds, and I just left the game,” Barnes said in defense of himself. “We were all going to the locker room. That’s really it.”
The precedent would suggest Barnes should be suspended. Though Rajaković wasn’t in Toronto at the time, Pascal Siakam was benched for one game for essentially the same misconduct when he took a foul and walked off the court in frustration against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020. He did not play the following night in New York serving an unofficial suspension from the team.
This time, though, the Raptors have opted to take a different approach.
“I don't think we're gonna go with any disciplinary route but definitely accountability and awareness and hope that it never happens again,” Rajaković said.
Barnes did take some accountability for his early departure. He acknowledged it was a bad look and a mistake and said his frustrations throughout the game led to his at times alarming in-game performance. There were at least a few moments in which he appeared to walk back on defense following a mistake rather than hustle back to help his teammates.
After a bad pass to Jakob Poeltl in the second quarter, for example, Barnes looked exasperated and threw his hands in the air before walking back on defense. He had barely reached midcourt by the time San Antonio drilled a three-pointer thanks to a 5-on-4 opportunity.
“I think it's more when I'm frustrated or emotional, it's more on my part,” Barnes said. “I'm just frustrated, mad at myself. Just gotta take care of the ball. It led to easy fast-break points. Showing emotion, not getting back, it cost us.”
Rajaković said he met with Barnes on Tuesday morning to discuss what had transpired. They spoke about Barnes’ new leadership role on the team and how he cannot overlook the little things. The extra attention on him means people will notice how he carries himself.
“He's aware of it and he regrets his act from yesterday but it was genuinely, just not being aware,” Rajaković said.
But again, Barnes’ story was different.
“Nah. We didn’t have no conversation about it,” he said about a meeting with Rajaković. “I guess, we all can see that I’m frustrated a little bit. That’s more what it is.”
When pushed on his answer, Barnes acknowledged there was a meeting, but it was primarily about the game, he said.
Maybe this is just a learning experience for Barnes. It’d be understandable if a 22-year-old is still getting used to life in the NBA and his new role as the face of the organization in Toronto. But learning experiences are only learning experiences if they’re learned from.
For Barnes, this moment needs to be learned from.
