Wembanyama’s historic unanimous win came with a clear top five on the ballot, behind him the voting results placed Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder second, Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons third, Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves fourth, and Barnes in fifth.
Barnes’ fifth-place finish implies a strong likelihood of All-Defensive Team recognition when that announcement is made, with the possibility of a first-team nod and at least a spot on the second team. This would mark a formal ascent for Barnes as one of the league’s elite defenders.
The Raptors’ playoff situation remains challenging as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference first round. After dropping Game 1 on the road, Toronto needs Barnes to be at his best on both ends of the floor, supported by contributions from the rest of the roster, to mount a series upset.
NBA veteran Kevin Garnett recently praised Barnes, drawing a comparison to a mini version of Nikola Jokic for his two-way impact. As Toronto eyes a deeper postseason run, Barnes’ defensive prowess and evolving offense will be central to the team’s chances against a veteran Cavaliers club.
