Fred VanVleet stars in the upbringing of Scottie Barnes

Fred VanVleet sees greatness in Scottie Barnes and he also sees those infuriating rookie moments that all freshmen go through.

They often occur in the same game and VanVleet, the wise man of the Raptors, stays as positive as he can be, supporting, encouraging and teaching.

Always teaching.

“I’m definitely on his butt for being great, and he’s been improving steadily throughout the year,” VanVleet said Friday night after the Raptors beat the New York Knicks. “So I think it’s going to be huge for us.”

Barnes is having a tremendous rookie season and is showing a feeling for the game that belies his inexperience. He is an excellent passer with a vision of the game, at full speed, that is more intuitive than taught, and will be a central figure in the outcome of every game.

He was all over the court Friday, finishing with 12 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, a pair of blocked shots and two steals while playing perhaps his best defensive game of the season.

Barnes seems destined to be an anchor for the franchise for years to come, a fact that VanVleet did not overlook as the veteran continues to nurture the 20-year-old.

Sometimes it can be challenging. VanVleet broke into a veteran team that would win more than 50 games per season and ultimately a championship; his teammates could take few mistakes because the stakes were high.

That’s not the reality now, so VanVleet has to smile and bear it and support in those “oh my gosh” moments.

“You can see certain plays and certain trends and certain lapses or … lack of detail in the moments that you would expect from a young child,” VanVleet said. “But he has a leading role on the team … you have to keep clapping and saying ‘good job’ to him.”

The nuanced part of the game that Barnes is developing is impressive. He shoots a pass from the wing to a cutting teammate or to a shooter on the perimeter, and has the ability to work the deep post and somehow be aware enough of where the rim is to make a little six foot meter. jump hooks.

“He seems to have two, three or four attempts right to the front of the rim, he forces himself and uses his length,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

“It also surprises you with a change of course, or a kind of imbalance, without even looking. He’s totally (looking) the other way and suddenly he turns around and sometimes he’s inside. “

Barnes’ learning is largely about constant effort. He has had a tendency to easily get into games too often when he has the skills to dominate every minute on the court.

That’s where VanVleet’s guidance and willingness to speak sternly with the newbie come to the fore.

“He had a couple of games where he didn’t have the energy, but more than that is just being loose and understanding the value of possessions, time and scoring and how quickly momentum can change,” VanVleet said.

“Just because we are 18 or 17 years old, this is not the time to start trying things. You can go the wrong side of that race really fast. So it’s been great, we have great conversations. I think he leans on me a lot as someone to learn the game and how to play it, and I certainly rely on him a lot on the court. It has been very, very good for us this year. “