As the clock wound down on a demoralizing loss to the lowly San Antonio Spurs, Scottie Barnes left the Toronto Raptors’ bench and headed to the locker room
Barnes’s frustration was obvious after rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama had a triple-double to power San Antonio past Toronto 122-99 on Monday night. But leaving the courtside area with a few seconds left to play is considered poor form in basketball, especially for a player considered the future of the Raptors franchise and part of the team’s leadership core.
“It was a bad look,” said Barnes at practice the next day. “It was a mistake on my part.
“If it affected them in any way, it’s a mistake by me.”
Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocks in the Spurs victory. He also had five assists, putting him within range of an exceptionally rare quadruple-double.
Barnes has become the face of the Raptors franchise after all-star forward Pascal Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 17. He’s also become Toronto’s No. 1 scoring option, but he only had seven points in the loss to San Antonio, who has allowed the third most points per game in the NBA this season.
The six-foot-seven Barnes is trying to develop into a playmaker, and had nine assists against the Spurs but also led the Raptors with five turnovers. He acknowledged that his body language on the court can be bad when he’s not playing well and it can lead to him being distracted.
“I think it’s more when I’m frustrated or emotional, it’s more on my part,” said Barnes, noting he had most of his turnovers in the first quarter. “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. It’s more me being frustrated with myself and the way I’m playing. It’s not really anything to do with anybody else. I’m just more frustrated on my part.”