Scottie Barnes says he's bigger and better than ever

Toronto Raptor Scottie Barnes says he's entering his third season in the NBA 9lbs heavier after an offseason focused on running and cardio work.

Video Transcript

- Scottie.

SCOTTIE BARNES: What's up?

- Not much. Good to see you. Darko has mentioned a couple of times in just this morning about how he sees you having a bigger role on the ball, with the ball in your hands, kind of navigating different situations on the floor. And how does that make you feel? And what have you done in the summer to kind of live up to what probably sounds like some pretty big responsibilities?

SCOTTIE BARNES: Yeah, it makes me feel good, just being able to have the ball in my hands, being able to play make more, being able to make more decisions with the ball. I feel like I'm really good with the ball in my hands, making great decisions. Whether if I need to pass or be able to score, I feel like I'm really good at that.

So this summer, I've just been working all around my game, just finding spots, working on my game, getting to the mid-range, getting to the basket with different moves. I'm confident in my game. It's really what it's about, just working on your game, just building your confidence. So when you go out there in the season, you can just go out there and dominate. I feel like that's my mindset to go out every game and be able to dominate and just try to win games.

- How is your left hand?

SCOTTIE BARNES: My left hand is pretty good.

- Scottie, I know you just touched a little bit on what you did in the summer. But was there anything you did differently this offseason compared to last or anything you learned from last season that made you do something differently this offseason? Or was it kind of an extension of what you usually do in summers?

SCOTTIE BARNES: I think one thing I probably worked on more this summer is just try to do more running. I feel like conditioning wise, I did more running. That's probably the main difference. I did more just a lot of full-court running, off the floor just trying to go outside and run, running after workouts. It was just more running.

- And just to follow up, is that just something that through last year, like you realized you had to do more of? Was it like a conditioning thing? Or what motivated you to do more of that as opposed to last summer or coming into the NBA?

SCOTTIE BARNES: I feel like with the ball in my hands more, I'll probably be doing more work. So it's just about trying to be prepared for that, be ready for that, and be able to try to take it to the next level. So I feel like being in the top shape, it takes a difference on-- at the end of the game moments, if you're tired and you can push through that, so I feel like that takes a different type of level.

[MUFFLED VOICES]

- Hey, Scottie, welcome back. Just following up on the conditioning because that's something you mentioned after the season that you were going to focus on. Do you feel physically a big difference right now going into the season, compared to how you felt a year ago?

SCOTTIE BARNES: Well, I feel really good. I put on some more muscle, gained about nine pounds. So for the first time, I've been like 240, so my body feels good. Everything feels great. I'm just ready to play.

- And then what are your impressions of Darko? He's had some really kind words in terms of his impressions of you and your game. Where do you see the fit in his system? And how have you guys been able to click so far?

SCOTTIE BARNES: Just going through things, just see his system as being able to play more together, being able to move the ball. That's just his main emphasis, less dribbles and more action, playing through different actions. I feel like that's what our goal is this year is trying to do that.

Meeting him as a person, he just brings a lot of energy. He brings a lot of joy. I love that about him. So I'm excited to get to work with him.

- Thanks, Scottie.

- Hey, Scottie, welcome back. How do you see the leadership of this team changing after the departure of Fred?

SCOTTIE BARNES: There's more opportunities for me to step into that leadership role. I feel like that's something that I'm really trying to step into. I don't think this is going to be that hard to be a leader.

I feel like I can lead, so it's just about me using my voice and being able to play hard and just being more focused on what I do on the floor. And then, of course, we've got some more vets on our team as well. So these guys have been through it all, so they can help out a lot as well.

- Is there something about the leadership style of some of the older guys on the team last year that the younger guys are hoping is going to look different this year?

SCOTTIE BARNES: Say that again.

- Is there something about the leadership style of some of the veterans on the team last year that the younger crew and maybe yourself is hoping will look different this year?

SCOTTIE BARNES: I think the vets we've got right now, they just come in and bring a lot of energy. They're just bringing more energy. They're bringing more positivity to the situation. I feel like that's what really just the difference between this year and last year.

[MUFFLED VOICES]

- Hey, Scottie, hope you're doing well. Kind of just piggybacking off that question, when you got here, there weren't a whole lot of older vets around. Now you have guys like Garrett Temple, Thad Young, Otto Porter.

I'm wondering how has that changed the locker room. How has that changed the culture? And, yeah, just having the presence of a bunch of vets, compared to, again, when you came on, it was not a lot of guys like that, what the difference is.

I'd say those guys that you just mentioned, they come in and bring a lot of positivity, a lot of energy, a lot of motivating. I feel like it was kind of-- I don't know. That's why I just feel like it's just a lot of more positivity and more motivating, more energy, just being able to be fun, having fun, enjoying the game. I feel like that's what we just really got to get back to doing and just be able to enjoy it and enjoy each other's presence.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Hey, Scottie.

SCOTTIE BARNES: What's up?

- Masai talked about selfishness within the team last season. When you look at kind of playing with that kind of vibe around the team last season, how did that impact you?

SCOTTIE BARNES: I will say it's an energy drainer. Sometimes out there, it feels like it's every man for themselves. But that's what we just really got to change. I feel like Darko is doing a good job inserting that into our offense, just being able to play more together.

And it just helps everybody just be able to have energy out there on the floor, wanting to play for each other, making those sacrifices. It makes you feel more comfortable sacrificing for one another once you're moving the ball, playing with energy. It helps our team morale, making us happy, knowing that you don't got to worry about anything else. You can just play your game. And you know that the ball is going to come to you, and you're going to be able to play your game.

- With the talk of the ball being in your hands more, do you feel a sense of responsibility and being able to set the tone for how you guys want to play this season?

- Of course, me having the ball in my hands, I love passing the ball. I'm a playmaker as well. So I like getting guys involved into the game. That's what I do.

So that's how we're going to play, and we've got guys on the team that want to play that way as well. So that's what it's about. Everybody just trying to make that sacrifice.

- Thanks very much. Thank you, everybody.