No matter what some people say, the race for NBA Rookie of the Year isn’t over, especially if you ask Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes.
Barnes was on a tear Monday night in a victory against the Brooklyn Nets.
Barnes made his first 11 shots and ended the game with 28 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.
As SB Nation points out, Barnes is the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal to have at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game.
No matter how tough the competition is, Barnes isn’t ready to give up the Rookie of the Year title just yet.
Rookies Of The Year
With just a few more weeks left in the NBA season, the fight over Rookie of the Year is heating up.
Some of the names in contention are Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic, and Barnes with the Raptors.
This year has one of the most stacked and talented rookie classes in a long time and all of those players have had incredible first seasons.
But in the end there can only be one Rookie of the Year and it’s obvious that none of these guys are giving up easily.
Barnes’ name hasn’t been tossed around as much as Mobley or Cunningham but if he keeps having nights like Monday, he will continue to make a case for himself as the best rookie of the season.
It’s becoming more and more obvious that this year’s Rookie of the Year race is only heating up and with just a few more weeks to go, it’ll likely go right down to the wire.
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