- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,097
- Reaction score
- 59
Scottie Barnes cemented himself as the face of the Toronto Raptors during the 2025-26 season. In 80 regular season games, Barnes averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. The two-time All-Star earned his first NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection and helped Toronto earn the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
He also led the Raptors through a hard-fought playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 24.1 points, 8.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.1 steals and shot 50.9% from the field.
But while Barnes led the team on the court, he believes another player captured the hearts of Raptors fans: rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles.
“I think that might be the Raptors’ new favorite player. I think CMB is a fan favorite now,” Barnes told Raptors reporter Omer Osman. “Y’all see what that guy was doing? CMB a dog. CMB was great in the playoffs, especially at his age. My boy was hooping.”
Murray-Boyles was the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of South Carolina and made an immediate impact during his first NBA season. The 21-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 57.9% from the field across 57 games, including 22 starts, in the regular season.
His breakout regular-season performance came on Jan. 11, when he recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in a 116-115 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the first player in Raptors history to post that statistical line in a single game.
Murray-Boyles then elevated his game in the playoffs and his production nearly doubled despite facing a tough defense. Against Cleveland, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 65.6% from the field in 27.3 minutes per game.
His biggest performances included 22 points and eight rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting in Game 3, a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in Game 4, and 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in Toronto’s overtime Game 6 victory.
The postseason run placed Murray-Boyles in rare company. He became just the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks during a playoff run.
His emergence earned league-wide recognition. Murray-Boyles was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, becoming the first Raptors player to receive All-Rookie honors since Barnes in 2022.
Barnes and Murray-Boyles are expected to play even larger roles under head coach Darko Rajakovic next season.
Continue reading...
He also led the Raptors through a hard-fought playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 24.1 points, 8.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.1 steals and shot 50.9% from the field.
But while Barnes led the team on the court, he believes another player captured the hearts of Raptors fans: rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles.
“I think that might be the Raptors’ new favorite player. I think CMB is a fan favorite now,” Barnes told Raptors reporter Omer Osman. “Y’all see what that guy was doing? CMB a dog. CMB was great in the playoffs, especially at his age. My boy was hooping.”
Murray-Boyles was the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of South Carolina and made an immediate impact during his first NBA season. The 21-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 57.9% from the field across 57 games, including 22 starts, in the regular season.
His breakout regular-season performance came on Jan. 11, when he recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in a 116-115 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the first player in Raptors history to post that statistical line in a single game.
Murray-Boyles then elevated his game in the playoffs and his production nearly doubled despite facing a tough defense. Against Cleveland, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 65.6% from the field in 27.3 minutes per game.
His biggest performances included 22 points and eight rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting in Game 3, a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in Game 4, and 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in Toronto’s overtime Game 6 victory.
The postseason run placed Murray-Boyles in rare company. He became just the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks during a playoff run.
His emergence earned league-wide recognition. Murray-Boyles was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, becoming the first Raptors player to receive All-Rookie honors since Barnes in 2022.
Barnes and Murray-Boyles are expected to play even larger roles under head coach Darko Rajakovic next season.
Continue reading...
