Scottie Barnes Earns All-Star Nod as Injury Replacement

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes earned All-Star Game honors as an injury replacement in the East

Scottie Barnes will be an All-Star.

The Toronto Raptors third-year forward had been named an Eastern Conference injury replacement alongside Trae Young, the NBA announced Tuesday. He and Young will replace Joel Embiid and Julius Randle both of whom will miss the All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

Barnes had all the stats to qualify as an All-Star this season, averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 47.9% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range. He'd bounced back from a disappointing sophomore season and solidified himself as one of the league's most exciting young stars.

The issue for Barnes had been Toronto's 17-33 disappointing record this season which had certainly hurt his chances to earn initial All-Star honors. He was beat out by Randle, Paolo Banchero, Jaylen Brown, and Bam Adebayo as Eastern Conference frontcourt reserves as decided upon by conference coaches earlier this month.

Barnes becomes the ninth Raptors player to be named to an All-Star Game and the youngest to earn the honor since Chris Bosh. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet represented Toronto in each of the last two All-Star Games.

The league does not reveal who else would have been on the list, but Barnes beat out Mikal Bridges, Pascal Siakam, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jarrett Allen among others for the final spot. 

The All-Star Game will take place in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET. It has reverted to the traditional East vs. West game and Barnes will represent the conference off the bench as a member of the team's frontcourt.