TORONTO – Scottie Barnes was so busy with the ups and downs of the Toronto Raptors’ season that he never gave himself a chance to process his first-ever All-Star Game appearance.
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster presented Barnes with an all-star ball during a brief pre-game ceremony ahead of Toronto’s 127-125 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The all-star break began the next day for Barnes, with the game itself to be held on Sunday in Indianapolis.
“It’s still surreal to me, still crazy,” said Barnes, who was named to the East’s team on Feb. 6 as an injury replacement. “It’s crazy playing in the all-star game. It’s a dream.
“Nothing I’ve really thought about but it’s a dream, I guess. But I’m just so happy. I’m blessed.”
Barnes is averaging 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and six assists this season. He and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young will replace Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid and New York Knicks forward Julius Randle.
Embiid (lateral meniscus injury in left knee) and Randle (dislocated right shoulder) will not play in the All-Star Game after being selected as a starter and a reserve, respectively.
Although it will be Barnes’s first appearance in an all-star game, it won’t be his first time participating in the weekend-long festivities. He played in the rookie-sophomore games in his first and second years in the league.