“If you want to be great, you gotta win,” Scottie Barnes on his growth”

After putting together the best season of his young career, Scottie Barnes offered some insight into what has changed in his mindset.

“The level of aggression I was playing with… definitely flipped my mentality. If you want to be great, you gotta win, and my mindset, I was trying to go out there and win.” Barnes stated when asked about his own personal growth.

The way Barnes was playing throughout this series was extremely aggressive, with a focus on getting into the paint by any means possible. His motor was unbelievable on both ends of the floor, he used his size and strength in the post, he used his speed in transition, and he just made himself a nightmare to guard.

At the end of games you could see how spent Barnes would be, gasping for air after putting so much pressure on Cleveland’s defense.

Barnes took time to highlight how important his teammate Jakob Poeltl was during his presser as well.

“I think Jak was unbelievable for us, Jak helps me in so many ways …we need Jak on this team. He’s so important for us … I think he should’ve been out there more.” Barnes stated about Poeltl.

With a quote like this you see how Barnes has grown not only on the court, but as an off-court teammate as well. Publicly speaking out in support of a teammate who did not have his best showing this season shows a level of maturity leadership that is encouraging to see from your franchise star.

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The post “If you want to be great, you gotta win,” Scottie Barnes on his growth” first appeared on Raptors Republic.