Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic cheekily changes Scottie Barnes’ outlook on reaching potential

The Toronto Raptors’ season ended Sunday with a 114-102 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but head coach Darko Rajakovic quickly shifted focus to the future of Scottie Barnes, offering a lighthearted yet pointed update on the forward’s long-term development.

Speaking to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, Rajakovic revisited his earlier assessment that Barnes was operating at 60 percent of his full potential.

“58%… it’s going down,” Rajakovic said, laughing. “I just realized there’s more room for growth.”

Rajakovic’s comment followed a series in which Barnes continued to establish himself as the focal point of Toronto’s offense despite the team’s elimination. When asked about the pathway toward reaching that ceiling, Rajakovic emphasized refinement and versatility within Barnes’ already expansive role.

“As you know very well it’s like the way we use Scottie is so unique, right. We use him in postups, we use him in pick-and-rolls, we use him as a helper, screener… he’s amazing in transition. There’s a lot of things that he’s doing – just polishing those things and getting better at those things. Getting in better condition and getting his body in even better shape is just going to help his overall game.”

He added:

“The experience he’s gaining, the confidence he’s gaining is going to help him to understand that there’s more from him to give. For this summer specifically, we are going to focus more on his skill development, his ability to come up with a couple of moves on the dribble… to be an even better finisher at the rim and to continue to work on his shooting as well. Pretty much his overall game still needs to take another jump.”

Scottie is now down to 58% of his final form, per Darko. "I just realized there is more room for growth."

Rajakovic said the plan this summer is for Barnes to focus on his skill development, off the dribble moves, finishing at the rim, and continue working on his shooting. https://t.co/FVG77zs2LK pic.twitter.com/yTtcNuFQyu

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 5, 2026

Darko Rajakovic reiterates high expectations for Scottie Barnes after All-Star season

Rajakovic had previously voiced similar expectations following Toronto’s Game 4 win that evened the series at 2-2.

“I expect more from Scottie. Scottie is going to bring more. Scottie, right now, the way he’s playing, he’s at 60 percent of the player he’s going to be in two, three years. Scottie is going to be one of the best players in the league. He’s already one of the best players in the league,” Rajakovic said.

“How much he cares about winning is pushing him forward to do whatever it takes to win a game. That’s what makes him special. I expect him to continue getting better.”

Barnes, 24, earned his second All-Star selection during the 2025-26 season, averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game while shooting a career-best 50.7% from the field across 80 appearances. He also posted 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per contest, helping guide Toronto to a 46-36 record and the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.

In the first-round series against Cleveland, Barnes elevated his production further. He averaged 24.1 points, 8.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading the Raptors in scoring in five contests and in assists in six while shooting 50.9% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.

Despite the playoff exit, Rajakovic’s remarks underscored the organization’s belief that Barnes remains far from his ceiling, with the upcoming offseason centered on unlocking the next phase of his development.

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