The Toronto Raptors injury riddle season has claimed a familiar face. According to Shams, Scottie Barnes is set to miss several more weeks of games after a right ankle injury. Barnes sustained the injury Monday night against the New York Knicks. It happened in the middle of the third quarter after Barnes landed on Karl Anthony-Towns’ foot. Barnes and the Raptors can breathe a sigh of relief the injury wasn’t more severe after Barnes was seen saying he couldn’t feel his foot shortly after the landing.
Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is expected to miss several weeks with a right ankle injury suffered on Monday, sources tell ESPN. Barnes is averaging career highs of 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists this season. pic.twitter.com/J9IlbKNPcX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2024
Raptors Franchise Star Scottie Barnes Avoids the Worst
Another Set Back
Barnes missed 11 games early this season after suffering an orbital fracture late in a game against the Denver Nuggets. In the ten games since his return, Barnes has played some of the best NBA basketball of his career as the Raptors’ full-time point guard. Since his return, Barnes has averaged 21.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal, helping lead the Raptors to a 4-6 record. Barnes was building a lot of momentum over these last few games. Reaching a career-high 14 assists in the previous game and scoring a career-high 35 points three games ago against the Pacers. Barnes looked like he was on his way to another All-Star appearance. However, with another injury to rehab from, Barnes needs to start back at zero and build his way back to the level he was just reaching.
Scottie Barnes Injury Prone?
Barnes has missed significant time over the last two seasons due to injuries. He missed the last 22 games of the 2023-2024 season with a broken hand. Plus, he is already missing a large chunk of this year. However, in his first two years in the league, Barnes was an iron man, playing in 74 and 77 games, respectively. While the injuries have piled up the last couple of seasons, they have all been freak accidents. Like Immanuel Quickley kicking and breaking his hand or Nikola Jokic accidentally hitting him in the face with an elbow. He should avoid the injury-prone label until Barnes starts picking up a bunch of nick-nack injuries.
Season Awards
Since the new CBA was agreed to, players must play 65 games to be eligible for season awards. Having already missed 11 games this season and with the ankle injury sidling him for several weeks, Barnes will not reach the game-played threshold for awards. This offseason, Barnes signed a max contract extension that could be worth up to $270 million if he made an All-NBA team this year. With his injury, it is impossible for Barnes to play in enough games to qualify. This means Barnes will not be eligible for the supermax and will make $225 million over the next five years. Next season will start Barnes’s max contract, with him earning $39 million after missing out on the supermax. The final year of the deal will pay Barnes $51 million in the 2029-2030 season.
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