Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season on Saturday, the basketball league announced Saturday.

The 20-year-old American outvoted power forward Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) and point guard Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), who were considered favorites for the award.

Versatile 2.04m tall forward, Barnes was chosen by Toronto in fourth place in the last Draft and averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.08 steals per game in the campaign.

Barnes is the third Raptors player to receive the award after Damon Stoudamire in 1996 and Vince Carter in 1999.

In the vote carried out by an international media panel, the new figure from Toronto received a total of 378 points, with 48 votes in the first position, the smallest margin of victory in this award.

Mobley followed close behind, being elected in second place with 363 points and 43 votes for first place.

Furthest away, Cunningham was third with 153 points and nine first-place votes.

Barnes led all rookies of the year in playing time with 35.4 minutes per night in 74 games, all of them starting.

The Raptors, champions in 2019, finished the regular phase in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, with 48 wins (21 more than the previous season) and 34 losses.

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