Few teams exceeded expectations this season quite like the Toronto Raptors.
After entering the year with modest expectations, the Raptors finished 46-36, secured the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and placed two players in the All-Star Game with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. The season ended with a Game 7 loss to Cleveland, but Toronto left the playoffs feeling far closer to contention than most expected.
That is why the Barnes-Ingram pairing is such an intriguing storyline. The Raptors already know this duo can win games. The bigger question now is how much both players can still improve alongside one of the NBA’s youngest cores.
Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram Could Lead Raptors’ Next Leap
The First Year Established The Foundation
The regular season answered many of the concerns surrounding the Barnes-Ingram pairing. Rather than taking away from each other, both players benefited from sharing responsibilities.
Ingram provided the half-court scoring and shot creation Toronto had lacked for years, finishing as one of the team’s primary offensive weapons. Barnes continued doing everything else, operating as the team’s offensive hub while remaining one of the most versatile defenders in basketball.
The result was a 46-win season and one of the biggest year-to-year improvements in the Eastern Conference. More importantly, the Raptors never looked like a team that had already reached its ceiling.
At multiple points throughout the season, they looked like a group still learning how to play together. That should be encouraging heading into Year 2.
Scottie Barnes Could Reach Another Tier In Year Six
A major reason for optimism is that Barnes may still have another leap in year six available.
As discussed throughout the season, Barnes has already evolved from Rookie of the Year into a two-time All-Star and one of the league’s best two-way players. His playoff performance against Cleveland only reinforced that trajectory.
Rather than shrinking under postseason pressure, Barnes elevated his game. He handled larger offensive responsibilities, continued impacting games defensively, and looked increasingly comfortable controlling possessions late in games.
The next step may not be about dramatically increasing his scoring. Instead, year six could be about efficiency. If Barnes becomes a more consistent perimeter shooter and continues improving his half-court scoring, he could realistically enter the All-NBA conversation.
Very few players already provide his combination of rebounding, playmaking, defensive versatility, rim protection, and transition scoring. The scary part for opposing teams is that he is still only entering his sixth season.
Brandon Ingram Has A Chance To Bounce Back
While Barnes elevated his reputation during the playoffs, Ingram experienced a much more difficult postseason. His production dropped significantly compared to the regular season, and he never fully found the offensive rhythm that made him an All-Star during the year.
For a player expected to be Toronto’s primary shot creator, it was undoubtedly a disappointing series. That said, there are reasons to believe it was more of a temporary slump than a long-term concern.
The first season in a new organization is rarely easy, especially for a player asked to integrate into an already established system. Throughout the regular season, Ingram showed exactly why Toronto acquired him, creating offense at all three levels and giving the Raptors a reliable scorer whenever possessions broke down.
The playoffs simply did not reflect the player he was for most of the season. History also suggests betting against Ingram is rarely wise. He has consistently responded well after difficult stretches throughout his career, and another offseason working within Darko Rajaković’s system could help him return to the level he displayed during the regular season.
If Toronto gets regular-season Ingram and playoff Barnes at the same time, the ceiling of this team changes dramatically.
The Young Core Could Make Life Easier for Both Stars
Perhaps the biggest reason to be optimistic about Year 2 is the growth happening around them. RJ Barrett played some of the best basketball of his career during the playoffs. Collin Murray-Boyles immediately looked like a long-term piece. Ja’Kobe Walter earned rotation minutes through his defense and improved shooting, while Jamal Shead continued proving he belongs in the NBA.
Unlike many playoff teams, Toronto’s supporting cast is still developing. That matters because internal improvement is often the easiest way for a team to take a significant step forward. If Walter continues progressing as a shooter, if Murray-Boyles expands offensively, and if Barrett builds on his playoff success, both Barnes and Ingram should see easier scoring opportunities.
The Raptors may not need a blockbuster move. Their next leap could come from the players already on the roster and another strong draft selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Why Year Two Feels Different
Many successful NBA duos need time before producing their best basketball. The first season is usually spent learning tendencies, understanding spacing, and figuring out how responsibilities should be divided.
Year two is often where the real growth begins. Toronto already knows the Barnes-Ingram pairing can lead to a winning team. They already know the pairing can produce All-Star-level results. They already know the roster around them is improving.
Now the focus shifts from proving the concept works to maximizing it.
The Last Word
The Raptors exceeded expectations this season. A 46-win campaign, a fifth seed, two All-Stars, and a competitive playoff series against Cleveland provided plenty of evidence that the organization is moving in the right direction. But the most encouraging part may be that their two best players still have room to grow.
Barnes appears to be entering the stage of his career where All-NBA conversations become realistic. Ingram has every opportunity to rebound from a disappointing playoff performance and rediscover the form that made him one of the Eastern Conference’s best scorers during the regular season.
Combined with one of the NBA’s fastest-improving young cores, the Barnes-Ingram pairing in year two could be about much more than maintaining success. It could be the season Toronto takes its biggest step yet.
Featured Image: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
