Rookie of the Year NBA

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year, edging out Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley.

Barnes, the fifth overall pick out of Florida State, averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.08 steals, 0.74 blocks and 35.4 minutes in 74 games for Toronto, leading all rookies in minutes, ranking third in points and rebounds and finishing fifth in assists, steals and blocks. Mobley, who was picked third by Cleveland out of USC, averaged 15 points and 8.3 rebounds in 69 games for the Cavaliers, helping turn them back into a playoff contender for the first time since LeBron James left the franchise four years ago. Barnes, who returned to action Saturday in Game 4 of Toronto's Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing Games 2 and 3 with a sprained left ankle, had 48 first-place votes and finished with 358 points, while being listed on every ballot.

Barnes becomes just the 3rd player in Raptors history to win the award, joining Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter.

The commemorative trophy, composed of a solid crystal basketball, features the NBA 75 logo 3D laser etched and suspended within its center. On March 18, Barnes posted career highs of 31 points and 17 rebounds to go with six assists against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the first rookie to have at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game since Blake Griffin in March 2011. Barnes helped the Raptors improve to 48-34 this season after finishing 27-45 last season, with Toronto earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2022 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. He set the franchise rookie record for offensive rebounds with 195, which was a team high and ranked 15th among all NBA players. Barnes received 378 points (48 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. He is the third player to win the annual award with Toronto, joining Damon Stoudamire (1995-96) and Vince Carter (1998-99).

TORONTO — Chants of "Scottie! Scottie! Scottie!" rained down at Scotiabank Arena Saturday as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was named the NBA's ...

He finished with a team-high 11 rebounds and six points in 25:34 of play. "We are incredibly proud of Scottie, and are thrilled and grateful that his hard work has been recognized with this honour,” said Ujiri in a statement. A pre-game ceremony honouring Barnes drew joyous applause from Toronto fans excited about both the award and his return to the Raptors' lineup. Barnes' teammates mobbed him before Carter could point at the camera and say "you." "They're cheering me on and supporting me throughout the whole year. News of Barnes' award broke less than an hour prior to tipoff in the Raptors' 110-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Barnes beat out Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley for the honor.

Eric Koreen Eric Koreen It was the closest ROY vote between first and second place since the current formation began in 2002-03.

Barnes, the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft, becomes the third Raptor to win rookie honours after Damon Stoudamire (1996) and Carter (1999). Stoudamire was also ...

The news broke just as Barnes was cleared to play in the Raptors' game Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers, after missing two games with a sprained ankle. He had missed two games of the series with a sprained ankle as Toronto fell behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. "We are incredibly proud of Scottie, and are thrilled and grateful that his hard work has been recognized with this honour,” said Raptors vice-chairman and president Masai Ujiri in a statement. He's upstairs right now getting his fitness test to see how he's doing," said Nurse in a pre-game news conference. "We're still just waiting. Joyful. Athletic. Skilled, and a winner.