Thank you, really great article with tons of background info. The parts I thought were very telling:
"He's pretty advanced," VanVleet says. "It's either he's really advanced or he's just super talented or, probably, a combination of both. His reads are OK. He gets sped up -- you know, he's still 20 years old, he's figuring it out -- but he makes some good passes. He's understanding the game plan. And then he just goes out there and plays."
Basketball is Barnes' job now, but he says that watching film doesn't feel like work. Unlike plenty of his peers, he prefers full games to highlights. In November, after a one-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena, he ordered food and put on the Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans game. Jordan, who was visiting him, says Barnes was "standing in front of the TV and all into it."
Physically, he's got every tool in the bag (except maybe lateral quickness). Skill-wise, just needs to tighten up shooting, handle and footwork. Mentally, he shows an absurd level of drive, poise and motor. This is as scary as watching a young TMac in Toronto. He'd have these sequences that would just leave your jaw on the floor followed by long stretches where he'd be invisible, and you just knew superstardom was possible if he could put it all together.
The difference is that Scottie is so advanced and mature, it's almost impossible to me that he doesn't make it. Footwork and handle are incredibly easy things to improve on with time & reps. Even if he tops out as an average shooter (like LeBron), he's still a walking mismatch.
