He's having a stellar season on a winning Raptors team, and it seems people are starting to believe in the 24-year-old's untapped potential.
Scottie Barnes is having his best year as a professional for the Toronto Raptors this season. Leading the team to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 34-23 record, Barnes has inserted himself into conversations for All-NBA, All-Defense, and even Defensive Player of the Year, all after participating on the winning USA Stars squad in the All-Star Game.
While his counting stats are eerily similar to his previous two years, his impact is unmatched on both sides of the ball. He has progressed in both field goal and free throw percentage, while commanding more attention on the offensive end due to his increased ball-handling and playmaking abilities. He also leads the league in total stocks (steals + blocks) with 159 and sits tied for fourth in individual defensive rating with 109.5 (via StatMuse).
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) | © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With the Winter Olympics having just finished, rumblings have started for the projections of a roster for the USA Men’s National Team for Basketball in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. There are several candidates who should be considered locks to be key contributors for the red, white, and blue, but other members gain buzz due to their potential impact in two years.
ESPN’s Zach Kram provided his list of players tasked to bring home the gold medals for the sixth-straight Olympic games, and the two-time All-Star forward was one of the premier all-around players in the league. This is contrary to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton’s list, which was made just after winning gold in the summer of 2024, largely due to Barnes’ rise into potential superstardom this season.
Of course, this list realistically means little to nothing with the event over two years away. While potential seems imminent for certain young players like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, durability is always the most important quality when the time comes. This was seen in the last Olympics, when Kawhi Leonard was unable to join the team in Paris due to a lingering knee injury that plagued him the season prior.
Keeping this in mind, there is no telling whether more experienced players like Anthony Davis or Joel Embiid will be available and willing to represent the stars and stripes again. With the next draft class set to have one of the best top-five prospects in NBA history, who knows whether one of these stars will break out in their first two years in the pros and earn a spot on the Olympic roster.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and Washington Wizards forward/center Anthony Davis (23) | © Candice Ward-Imagn Images
After mentioning all these potential factors that can influence who will make the final roster, one thing that can surely earn a player a spot in international basketball is defense. Being that he is slated to be considered for a nod for a First-Team All-Defense selection this season, the former No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft should be considered one of the most likely candidates to represent the USA on home turf in 2028.