Date: November 6, 2025
Source: Hello and Welcome (YouTube)
Following Raptors practice, Scottie Barnes discussed his improved three-point shooting, leadership on defense, and the team’s growing chemistry with RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles.
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On His Three-Point Shooting Confidence
“I’m just stepping into it. I’ve been working on it, shooting, just going into it confidently. I want to shoot it — especially sometimes when I don’t really got nothing going and that’s what the defense is giving me. So I’m ready to take it. If I start off the game not really having nothing and have shots wide open, I’m eager to shoot it. I think just going in there with confidence, being ready to shoot it, wanting to shoot it. If they give it to me, I want to shoot it as well.”
On His Offseason Shooting Work
“Getting up a lot of reps and just getting a really good feel. Of course, I work out in Florida, but just getting a really good feel for it — following through, that’s the main thing. Just trying to get that follow through straight, most of that just getting that good feel.”
On His Development and Ceiling
“Yeah, this is something good, but you know, I still got a long ways to go to get there. Numbers are good, but I can exceed that by a lot. Just gotta be patient.”
On Staying Aggressive and Attacking Defenses
“I’m always gonna be aggressive going downhill. So, you know, it doesn’t matter if they’re playing or not — I’m going to be aggressive trying to go downhill with force. Even if they don’t give me that, I’m still gonna try to take it. That’s how you gotta be dominant, that’s how I gotta play, that’s how I gotta help our team out.”
On Defensive Leadership and Communication
“It’s basketball — these players are really good. Our teammates are gonna get beat, I’m gonna get beat. It’s about how we’re gonna help each other throughout those moments. It happens really fast, but you gotta be able to react and find those ways to help each other. I feel like we’ve been doing a good job of sniffing that out — that’s why our defense is better.”
On Team Chemistry with RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram
“We’re just playing the game how we should play — moving the ball, finding each other. Offense been doing its thing, and we end up in the right spot. Of course, our teammates been looking for us to put us in those spots. I think I’ve been doing a good job on my end screening — opens up a lot of offense. RJ’s been great playing off the catch, attacking downhill, and he’s an underrated passer. He’s been very efficient, making free throws too.”
On Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles
“I think he’s been doing a great job playing with physicality, helping us rebound, playing physical. He’s a really good defender, but he’s actually been impressing all of us on the offensive end as well. He’s been hitting shots, hitting threes — just tremendous. We already knew he was a really good defender, but he’s been exceeding expectations on offense too.”
Pulse Takeaway
Scottie Barnes continues to evolve as a two-way leader — confident in his jumper, vocal on defense, and balanced between scoring and playmaking. His connection with Barrett, Ingram, and Murray-Boyles is powering the Raptors’ early-season identity: aggressive, unselfish, and hungry.
Quotes from Scottie Barnes via Hello and Welcome (YouTube). Used for analysis and commentary.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
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