Raptors’ Scottie Barnes makes NBA’s All-Defensive second team

The anchor of the Toronto Raptors‘ fifth-ranked defence is being rightfully acknowledged.

Scottie Barnes was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team on Friday, the league announced. It marked the first selection of his five-year career.

The news comes after he finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting earlier in May, when Victor Wembanyama won the award.

Barnes’ 250 stocks (steals plus blocks) ranked third in the NBA behind Victor Wembanyama (322) and Ausar Thompson (268). He was also the only player in the league to record at least 100 steals and 100 blocks during the regular season.

The 24-year-old forward also led the league with nine clutch blocks — blocks that came within the final five minutes of a game when the score was within less than five points.

Joining Barnes on the All-Defensive second team were Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), OG Anunoby (New York Knicks) and Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks). Barnes received 42 first-team votes and 46 second-team votes — he was the top first-team vote-getter among those on the second team.

The 2025-26 first-team all-defence squad comprised of Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Derrick White (Boston Celtics). Wembanyama was the only player to be unanimously voted to the first team.

As for Barnes, he finished 2025-26 averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks over 80 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Barnes found a new gear, averaging 24.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.

Barnes made the all-star team for the second time in his career this season and was also named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October and November. He joined Anunoby (2022-23) and Kawhi Leonard (2018-19) as the only other Raptors to make the All-Defensive second team — none have been selected to the first team.

Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković was effusive in his praise of Barnes’ defence throughout the season, declaring him the Defensive Player of the Year in February.

“Scottie is Defensive Player of the Year, Scottie is an all-star, Scottie is going to be NBA Finals MVP one day,” Rajaković said.

Barnes’ versatility on defence is of particular note, as he’s been able to effectively guard both frontcourt and backcourt players, as he did against Cleveland Cavaliers bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in their first-round playoff series.

The Raptors were ultimately eliminated by the Cavaliers in seven games, ending their first playoff appearance in four years, despite Barnes’ best efforts.