The slander that Scottie Barnes has received shows no signs of slowing down. Although Barnes has done his best to establish himself as one of the top young rising stars in the league with the Toronto Raptors, he has been subject to ridicule and mockery by the majority of the basketball community.
Theories that Barnes is Autistic have gained momentum over the past few years and only increased with each awkward or questionable interaction that was captured on camera.
While some may have hoped that ill-mannered fans promoted these acts and taunts, it turns out that even members of the media do not think twice before taking personal shots at the Raptors’ star.
Is Scottie Barnes Truly Autistic?
Video footage went viral, revealing that a member of the media who was interviewing Barnes during the Raptors’ media day disrespected him by saying, “How many times can somebody be called austic.”
This enraged a fair number of fans, with many demanding that the reporter who made that statement be fired. Although that might be an exaggerated reaction, there is no getting around the fact that the slander surrounding Barnes has gotten out of hand.
Raptors media disrespecting Scottie Barnes right after his interview 😳
“How many times can somebody be called austic.”
(Via scottierbarney/IG) pic.twitter.com/oUQvHYfWiH
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) September 30, 2025
Barnes has never confirmed any questions or provided an official diagnosis when asked about potentially dealing with Autism or any mental disorder. He appears to have a slight speech impediment, which can make it difficult for some to understand him at times. Most of the other incidents can be dismissed as scatterbrained or erratic behavior at best.
However, the internet is always looking for something to ridicule and ended up blowing this notion that he is autistic well out of proportion. One can only imagine how frustrating it must be for a young and talented NBA star to endure frequent taunts and mockery consistently, to the extent that it comes from the media and potentially within earshot.
Giving players cruel nicknames and making wild accusations against them is not uncommon in the NBA. Russell Westbrook’s infamous nickname, Westbrick, went viral rapidly. Josh Giddey’s controversy involving allegedly dating an underage girl continues to haunt him much later. As a result, it is doubtful that Barnes will be able to shake off this label that has been placed upon him.
Since he is earning hundreds of millions of dollars, this might seem like a small price to pay. Be that as it may, it is pretty sad to see that his fanbase wishes that the autism claims die down or be reduced at the very least. Hopefully, his performance on the court for the Raptors this upcoming 2025-2026 NBA season will give fans something more positive to talk about.
