The heart-warming moment Vince Carter crowned Raptors’ Scottie Barnes as ROTY
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Scottie Barnes
The race to win the Rookie of The Year accolade in the 2021-22 season seemed pretty tough. With Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes all in strong contention for the award. However, there was just one candidate who seemed to be leading his team even in the postseason, Scottie. Ahead of Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers, it was legendary Vince Carter who came on a screen to hand-over the accolade to the most-deserving winner.
In a video which was released by the Toronto Raptors, it was coach Nick Nurse who interrupted the pregame preparations and gathered the entire team around a screen. Legendary 1998-1999 Raptors rookie Vince Carter appeared on the screen to specially call out Power Forward Scottie Barnes, which seemed to have taken him by a bit of surprise.
Scottie Barnes wins 2021-22 Rookie of The Year
“I know you’re busy and locked in for the game,” Carter said to Scottie Barnes. “I’ve truly enjoyed watching you play this year. It takes me back to when I was a rookie, and I was able to win the 1998 Rookie of the Year Award trophy.” At that moment, Power Forward, Barnes and his teammates started to realize what was going on. Carter was crowning the young chap as the 2022 Rookie of the Year.
“There’s only been three Raptors players in franchise history to win this award…Damon Stoudamire, me, and a six-foot-seven rookie from West Palm Beach Florida, my fellow Florida boy, Scottie Barnes…you’re up next, bro,” Carter said.
That being said, Scottie Barnes’ teammates immediately attacked him with an overwhelming amount of praise in the form of group hugs and hair tousles. Joy erupted in the gym, celebrating the 20-year-old from West Palm Beach.
This surprise from former Raptors player seemed to have motivated the current team enough as they went out in game 4 to register a win against their name. With James Harden and Joel Embiid in fine form, it was Pascal Siakam’s game-high night which secured the first-round series to be extended. Will we see a comeback from the 2019 NBA Champs? Remains to be seen.
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Yakshpat Bhargava
(3989 Articles Published)