Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes claps back after being snubbed from NBA All-Defensive team

Scottie Barnes is accustomed to firing back at the haters.

Last summer, Barnes posted on X, predicting that the Toronto Raptors would defy the odds and make the postseason.

"A lot of people on this app that don’t watch ball man," he wrote. 

"It’s coo we got a lot to prove this year. Let’s get back to the playoffs."

That's exactly what Barnes and the Raptors did. 

They got off to a hot start and finished the season, locking up fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors then pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink before eventually bowing out in Game 7.

Barnes was a force all season, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

That's why on Friday, it was surprising to see that he wasn't named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.

It was a decision that even surprised Barnes.

Mannnn what do I tell ya🤦🏽‍♂️Bullshit😂 Let’s keep working😁❤️ https://t.co/KrtZBzKm9n

— Scott Barnes (@ScottBarnes561) May 23, 2026

The Florida native did make the NBA's All-Defensive second team, but that wasn't much solace for Raptors fans, who quickly backed Barnes up.

"You got robbed, it's clear as day," one fan said.

"Crazy AF you weren't on the first team," said another. "Second-best defensive player in the NBA next to [Victor Wembanyama]."

"Put Wemby in a Raptors jersey, and he gets 2nd in DPOY," one podcaster joked.

Barnes and Raptors fans could be more than justified in their take.

For starters, even though Barnes wasn't one of the five players to make the NBA's All-Defensive first team, he was top-five in voting for the league's best defensive player of the year.

Barnes received more votes than the Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, who surprisingly surpassed him as a first-time defensive player.

Many fans had questions about Barnes getting fewer votes than both White and Rudy Gobert. That could also be justified, as the 24-year-old had more stocks per game (combination of steals and blocks) than either player. His Defensive Win Share total of 4.5 also beat White, Gobert, and third-place vote-getter, Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons.

If there's any solace for Raptors fans, it's that more motivation for Barnes to propel Toronto up the standings can't be a bad thing.