Scottie Barnes will once again represent the Toronto Raptors at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game after being selected as a reserve by the league’s coaches on Sunday. The 24-year-old forward has been instrumental in leading the Raptors this season, showcasing his all-around skills and proving why he remains one of the league’s rising stars.
Barnes’ Impressive Season Statistics and Impact
This season, Barnes is averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists through 49 games, establishing himself as a top performer for the Raptors, who currently sit fourth in the standings. He also leads the NBA in total “stocks”—a combined count of steals and blocks—with 136, underlining his defensive prowess. Barnes first earned All-Star recognition during the 2023-24 season, when he posted averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 60 games.
Barnes Joins Elite Company Among Raptors’ All-Stars
By making his second All-Star appearance as a Raptor, Barnes becomes just the sixth player in franchise history to earn multiple All-Star selections while with the team. He joins distinguished company, including Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam. This marks Barnes as a key figure in the Raptors’ current core, and he is the team’s sole representative for the 30-21 Raptors this season, barring any injury-related roster changes.
Coach Rajakovic’s Expectations and Commentary on Team’s All-Star Representation
Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic expressed hope of having more than one All-Star from the roster before the announcements, pointing to Barnes and teammate Brandon Ingram. Ingram, who leads the Raptors in scoring with 21.9 points per game, was expected by Rajakovic to also secure a spot. He said,
“I think what our team accomplished so far in the second year of a rebuild, the way Scottie is playing this season, the way BI is playing this season, I think those two guys deserve consideration, nomination and to be announced as all-stars tonight,”
adding,
“We’ll take it. We’ll take both of those guys being in the all-star game.”
– Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors Head Coach
Barnes Reacts to His Nomination and Ingram’s Snub
After Toronto’s victory over the Utah Jazz, Barnes spoke about his own selection and voiced surprise that Brandon Ingram was not named to the All-Star roster. Barnes remarked,
“He’s been balling, he’s been doing so much for our team,”
and stressed Ingram’s vital role in the Raptors’ progress from last season. Barnes described Ingram’s contributions as “instrumental to our success” and called his omission “just ridiculous.”
Other Canadian and Former Raptors’ Recognitions in 2026 All-Star Selections
While Ingram missed the cut, other former Raptors received All-Star nods, including Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers, marking his fourth selection, and Norman Powell of the Miami Heat, who earned his first All-Star berth. Additionally, Jamal Murray from the Denver Nuggets, a native of Kitchener, Ontario, was honored with his first All-Star nomination following his standout season. Murray’s impressive averages of 25.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, combined with efficient shooting splits, placed him among a select group of Canadians in NBA All-Star history. Only four Canadians have made the All-Star Game more than once or at all before him: Steve Nash (eight-time), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (three times), Andrew Wiggins, and Jamaal Magloire.
Overview of the 2026 NBA All-Star Reserves
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held on February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The list of reserves includes notable players representing both the Eastern and Western Conferences:
Eastern Conference Reserves:
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
- Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
- Norman Powell, Miami Heat
- Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
- Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Western Conference Reserves:
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
- Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
- Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
