Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is the winner of the Kia 2021-22 Rookie of the Year. He is the third player in franchise history to win the award joining Damon Stoudamire (1995-96) and Vince Carter (1998-99).
The 2021-22 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is Toronto Raptors guard-forward Scottie Barnes! pic.twitter.com/F08hLamB8Z
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 23, 2022
As expected, it was a very close race which was decided by a difference of 15 points. Barnes received 48 first-place votes and 43 second-place votes for a total of 378 points. In the second place, Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley had 43 first-place votes and 46 second-place votes for a total of 363 points.
The rest of the ballot is completed by Detroit Pistons Cade Cunnigham in third place, Houston Rockets Jalen Green in fourth, Orlando Magic Franz Wagner in fifth, and New Orleans Pelicans Herbert Jones in sixth.
For the season, Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.08 steals in 35.4 minutes per game. He also became the first rookie in Raptors history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 250 assists in a season.
In addition, he is expected to play in Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers as the Raptors are losing the series three games to nothing.
