Since the departure of Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors could not assert their dominance over the NBA. After finishing the 2020-21 season with a 27-45 record, the franchise would earn the 4th pick in the 2021 draft. They would use the pick to select the up-and-coming sensation that is Scottie Barnes.

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In his latest game for Toronto, Barnes would put on a show as he led his team to a 36 point victory. He would finish the game with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists. In light of the rookie’s strong performance, NBA legend Isiah Thomas made a bold claim by comparing Barnes to Kawhi Leonard.

Isiah Thomas on the Raptors Rookie

On the NBA GAMETIME show, Isiah Thomas explained that Scottie Barnes could develop into a player like Kawhi Leonard.

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“They have a good rookie in Scottie. I do think that one day he’ll develop into a Kawhi Leonard type player,” said Thomas.

“I don’t think he’ll be as good as Kawhi, but you never know,” he added.

Clearly, this was a bold claim considering that Barnes is just a rookie. Additionally, it also shows his ceiling as a player. If he turns out to be like Kawhi or better, then the franchise has essentially found themselves a star for the future. Furthermore, if Barnes continues to progress, then playing alongside co-stars like Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam will make Toronto into a powerhouse in the East.

Additionally, looking at the numbers, Barnes, in his rookie year, appears to be better than Kawhi Leonard at the same age. In fact, looking at their Per 36 Minutes stats, Barnes averages higher points, assists, and rebounds as compared to Leonard.

But we must not forget Leonard’s impact as a young star on the Spurs. He took on a prime LeBron James and helped the Spurs win the title in the 2013-14 season. Moreover, he was named as Finals MVP in that matchup. Thereafter, he played a tremendous role in helping Toronto win its first-ever NBA title.

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So, living up to a name like Kawhi Leonard is not easy. However, this isn’t impossible. At present, the rookie is one of the top players in the ‘KIA Rookie Ladder’. If he continues to improve, then we could see the next Kawhi Leonard.