Scottie Barnes has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team for the first time in his five-year career, after a regular season where he ranked among the league’s best in steals-plus-blocks and finished with nine clutch blocks.
Scottie Barnes didn’t just make Toronto’s fifth-ranked defence work — he became one of the league’s defining stoppers, and the NBA has finally put that impact on the record.
Barnes was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team on Friday, the league announced. It was the first selection of his five-year career.
The Raptors forward comes into the honour after finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting earlier in May. when Victor Wembanyama won the award. Barnes’ two-way production was reflected in the numbers: his 250 stocks (steals plus blocks) ranked third in the NBA. behind Wembanyama (322) and Ausar Thompson (268). He was also the only player in the league to log at least 100 steals and 100 blocks during the regular season.
What stood out even more was the timing of those defensive plays. Barnes led the league with nine clutch blocks — blocks that came within the final five minutes of games when the score was within less than five points. In those moments, the kind of stops that flip momentum weren’t happening randomly. They were coming from Toronto’s forward.
Barnes earned a total of 42 first-team votes and 46 second-team votes. making him the top first-team vote-getter among the players who were ultimately placed on the second team. Joining him 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).
The 2025-26 first-team all-defence squad went to 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 receive unanimous first-team voting.
Barnes’ season statistics matched the reputation he built: over 80 regular-season games in 2025-26. he averaged 18.1 points. 7.5 rebounds. 5.9 assists. 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks. In the playoffs, he elevated his numbers again, averaging 24.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.
His defensive credibility has been growing steadily. 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.
Toronto’s franchise defensive pedigree is part of the context, too. Barnes joins OG Anunoby (2022-23) and Kawhi Leonard (2018-19) as the only other Raptors to make the All-Defensive second team — and none have been selected to the first team.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković didn’t hold back when discussing what he sees in Barnes. In February, Rajaković declared him the Defensive Player of the Year and spoke in lofty terms about what comes next.
“Scottie is Defensive Player of the Year, Scottie is an all-star, Scottie is going to be NBA Finals MVP one day,” Rajaković said.
That versatility has been a real part of Barnes’ value. He has been able to guard both frontcourt and backcourt players, including against Cleveland Cavaliers bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell during their first-round playoff series.
The timing of the individual recognition lands with an edge, though. The Raptors were eliminated by the Cavaliers in seven games, ending Toronto’s first playoff appearance in four years, even with Barnes doing everything he could to keep the series alive.
The story now turns to what the Raptors can build around a defender who produced at elite volume — and who, for the first time in his career, has been named among the league’s best.
Scottie Barnes Toronto Raptors NBA All-Defensive All-Defensive second team Defensive Player of the Year voting clutch blocks steals plus blocks Cason Wallace Bam Adebayo OG Anunoby Dyson Daniels