Scottie Barnes can’t stop winning over Raptors fans, both on the court and off of it, as evidenced by his viral appearance on a live TV news update last week.
The all-star forward was hanging outside of the team’s practice facility, enjoying some lunch with his headphones draped around his neck, when CTV News’ Sean Leathong went live on air for an update.
As the reporter delivered an update after general manager Bobby Webster’s press conference, Barnes walked around behind him while making exaggerated reactions to the news being delivered.
What did Scottie Barnes say about the video?
At the team’s season-opening media day on Monday, Raptors fans got their answer from the viral sensation himself and the reporter involved.
“I spent my weekend with people asking me if that was staged,” Leathong said. “Do you mind clearing that up? And what prompted you to do that?”
“It was not staged at all,” Barnes stated. “I was actually about to go somewhere. Oh no, I was bored to be honest. I was just bored and seen the camera.
“I was like, ‘Yo, just do your thing. Don’t worry about me back here.’ I think we had a great interaction. I think it went pretty well.”
Leathong then added that the two “didn’t really interact” during the live update.
“No, we really didn’t,” Barnes replied. “He tried to ask me a question. I said, ‘Just do your thing. I don’t want to be on. Don’t interview me. Just do your thing that you were gonna do.’ That’s really how it just went down.”
Leathong then joked that Barnes “avoided the interview nicely,” to which the Raptors star replied: “Yeah and here we are.”
What happened in the viral video?
Last Thursday afternoon, Barnes was seen leaning against doors outside of the OVO Athletic Centre, enjoying some food in a takeout box as Leathong began to speak about general manager Bobby Webster’s season-opening press conference, which had occurred earlier in the day.
While the reporter acknowledged that Barnes was “enjoying a little bit of lunch and a little bit of shade outside.”
But while Leathong thought that Barnes would be “back there eating while we talk about this,” the reporter didn’t realize the Raptors star had other plans.
What did Scottie Barnes do live on air?
As Leathong continued his update — completely unaware that Barnes had begun approaching him and was walking behind him — the 6-foot-8 forward began giving several exaggerated reactions to the news.
Barnes first nodded approvingly about Kawhi Leonard’s contract extension being finalized and mouthed “yes,” and “wow” after hearing the $115-million US total for the two-year pact.
Later, Leathong mentioned how the new all-star duo can set the team on a new trajectory; Barnes looked straight at the camera, raised his eyebrow and smiled as he heard his name.
The clip quickly went viral on social media, with many Raptors fans gushing over the potential memes that Barnes provided for the coming season.