Florida State Professional Athletes

Florida State alumni have found a home together in Toronto — and the early returns suggest the Raptors may have quietly built something special.

The Kawhi Effect Is Real for Barnes

Scottie Barnes didn't need long to have his "aha moment." One preseason game alongside Kawhi Leonard, and the former FSU forward was already talking like a player who understands what a true number-one option changes for everyone around him. Barnes described Leonard's gravity as a revelation — a force that opens the floor in ways he hadn't experienced before — and the box score backed him up. In Toronto's blowout 148-98 win over the New York Knicks, Barnes posted 19 points while Leonard led the team with 21.

Leonard, making his first appearance in a Raptors uniform since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, looked every bit the two-time Finals MVP Toronto traded for. And for Barnes, sharing the court with that kind of credentialed star isn't just a stylistic upgrade — it's a ceiling-raiser. Sports Illustrated noted that Leonard's presence is already making Barnes' job measurably easier, a dynamic that could define Toronto's dark-horse contender case heading into the 2026-27 season.

Murray-Boyles Turns Heads in His Own Right

Barnes wasn't the only Seminole making noise in that rout of New York. Fellow FSU product Collin Murray-Boyles matched Barnes' 19 points and punctuated the performance with a vicious putback dunk — getting way up over multiple Knicks defenders to finish off a Barnes miss with the kind of hard-nosed play that's become his calling card. Leonard himself singled out both Barnes and Murray-Boyles for a trait he values, a notable endorsement from one of the game's most respected winners.

Murray-Boyles is early in his NBA career, but the preseason has offered a compelling preview. Playing alongside Barnes and Leonard, he's not just filling a role — he's asserting one.

On the Periphery: Vassell in San Antonio

Away from the Raptors' buzz, FSU's Devin Vassell is navigating a new-look Spurs roster in San Antonio. Vassell was part of an experimental three-guard starting lineup alongside De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper — a unit that struggled in its debut but drew measured optimism from Victor Wembanyama. Vassell also made headlines for championing rookie big man Tarris Reed Jr., whom he's already dubbed a "monster" for his rebounding in preseason play. Vassell's role within San Antonio's evolving structure remains a live storyline as the regular season approaches.

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The bigger picture for Florida State: two of its alumni are occupying the same roster at a pivotal moment for a franchise reloading around a future Hall of Famer. Barnes and Murray-Boyles playing meaningful minutes together in Toronto is the kind of alumni crossover that doesn't happen often — and if the Raptors' preseason is any indication, Seminole fans will have plenty of reason to tune into the Atlantic Division this year.

Scottie Barnes Is the Story — and He Knows It

Florida State's most prominent NBA ambassador is entering the 2026-27 season under a brighter spotlight than ever, and the week of October 4–10 made clear that Scottie Barnes is ready for it.

The central narrative around the Toronto Raptors this preseason isn't just Kawhi Leonard's return — it's what Leonard's presence means for Barnes. Head coach Darko Rajakovic made that plain in a candid interview, spelling out the organization's championship ambitions and positioning the Barnes-Leonard pairing as the engine behind them. Barnes himself has been equally direct, publicly embracing the on-court dynamic with Leonard and expressing genuine enthusiasm about what the duo can build together. For a franchise that spent several years in careful rebuild mode, that kind of championship language is new — and Barnes is at the center of it.

Sports Illustrated went deeper on the developmental angle, reporting that Leonard's influence is already reshaping how Barnes approaches the game. The piece frames the veteran's return not merely as a win-now move but as a mentorship accelerant for the 25-year-old FSU product who has steadily grown into one of the league's more versatile forwards.

Preseason Debut, Knee Scare Included

Barnes made his 2026-27 preseason debut in Toronto's opener against the Miami Heat — a game the Raptors dropped 105-129, with Leonard sitting out. The FSU alum had a productive showing alongside RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but the headline out of the game wasn't the score. Barnes banged his knee during the contest, sending a momentary jolt of anxiety through Raptors Nation. The good news: per Heavy Sports, the injury update that followed was a positive one. No significant damage was reported, and Barnes avoided the kind of early setback that has haunted Leonard for much of his career.

It's a storyline the franchise will be managing all season — keeping Barnes healthy while integrating a returning star whose own availability has always been a question mark.

The Rest of the FSU Board

Barnes dominated the FSU NBA news this week, but a few other Seminoles logged preseason activity worth noting.

Devin Vassell suited up for the San Antonio Spurs in their preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks, appearing in the starting lineup alongside De'Aaron Fox (who was a late scratch and replaced by Julian Champagnie), Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs lost, but Harper's 16-point performance drew most of the attention. Vassell's role in San Antonio's crowded backcourt remains one to watch as the preseason progresses.

Jamir Watkins of the Washington Wizards was listed as out for both of Washington's preseason contests this week — a Thursday matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden and a Saturday home game against the Detroit Pistons. No specific injury designation was detailed beyond his absence from both availability reports.

The week belonged overwhelmingly to Barnes. With championship talk swirling in Toronto and a knee scare already in the rearview, the former FSU standout is shaping up to be one of the more compelling players to track when the real games begin.